PHP 5.3.2 alternative to using $this inside an anonymous function? - php

Question

I am using Laravel 4 and PHP to build a new application. It works fine on my dev server running PHP 5.4.x however my boss insist that it has to run version 5.3.2
I have spent the whole day fixing everything to work with 5.3.2 and almost have everything, so I thought, until I ran into an issue with the code below.
My problems start at this line...
DB::transaction(function($clock_in_webcam_image) use ($clock_in_webcam_image)
I believe this type of code might not work with this version of PHP? If that is the case, what are my options to run this same code or have it doing the same action?
Would appreciate any help with this. Very unfortunate that my boss told me straight out that no he will not allow us to update to a newer PHP so I am stuck in a hard spot right now
// Create a new time card record when a User Clocks In
public function createTimeCard($clock_in_webcam_image) {
// Create both Timecard and timecard record tables in a Transaction
DB::transaction(
function ($clock_in_webcam_image) use ($clock_in_webcam_image) {
$timeCard = DB::table('timeclock_timecard')->insertGetId(
array(
'user_id' => $this->user->user_id,
'clock_in_datetime' => $this->dateTime->format($this->dateFormat),
'clock_in_timestamp' => $this->dateTime->getTimestamp(),
'clock_in_webcam_image' => $clock_in_webcam_image
)
);
$timeCardPunchEntry = DB::table('timeclock_punch_entry')
->insertGetId(
array(
'timecard_id' => $timeCard,
'user_id' => $this->user->user_id,
'created_at_datetime' => $this->dateTime->format($this->dateFormat),
'created_at_timestamp' => $this->dateTime->getTimestamp(),
'clock_type' => 'clock_in',
'webcam_image' => $clock_in_webcam_image
)
);
return $timeCard;
}
);
}
UPDATE
In response to bansi's comment...is this what you mean to do...
DB::transaction(function() use($myModel){
$myModel->updateTable1();
$myModel->updateTable2();
})

Answer 1

Before PHP 5.4.0, you could not use $this inside an anonymous function. There is a simple workaround though where you can use the use construct to pass variables into the functions scope. Also, you are using the use construct incorrectly as $clock_in_webcam_image is not defined in the parent scope.
$user = $this->user;
$dateTime = $this->dateTime;
DB::transaction(function($clock_in_webcam_image) use ($user, $dateTime) {
// snip
array(
'user_id' => $user->user_id,
'clock_in_datetime' => $dateTime->format($this->dateFormat),
'clock_in_timestamp' => $dateTime->getTimestamp(),
'clock_in_webcam_image' => $clock_in_webcam_image
)
// snip
});

Answer 2

try this. please check you don't have another insertTimecard defined.
// Create a new time card record when a User Clocks In
public function createTimeCard($clock_in_webcam_image)
{
// Create both Timecard and timecard record tables in a Transaction
DB::transaction($this->insertTimecard($clock_in_webcam_image));
}
private function insertTimecard($clock_in_webcam_image)
{
$timeCard = DB::table('timeclock_timecard')->insertGetId(
array(
'user_id' => $this->user->user_id,
'clock_in_datetime' => $this->dateTime->format($this->dateFormat),
'clock_in_timestamp' => $this->dateTime->getTimestamp(),
'clock_in_webcam_image' => $clock_in_webcam_image
)
);
$timeCardPunchEntry = DB::table('timeclock_punch_entry')->insertGetId(
array(
'timecard_id' => $timeCard,
'user_id' => $this->user->user_id,
'created_at_datetime' => $this->dateTime->format($this->dateFormat),
'created_at_timestamp' => $this->dateTime->getTimestamp(),
'clock_type' => 'clock_in',
'webcam_image' => $clock_in_webcam_image
)
);
return $timeCard;
}