Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Cannot use string offset as an array

Question

A custom field extension is added to a blog plugin causing this error "Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Cannot use string offset as an array" I'm using PHP7 I tried to use array_key_exists() but this didn't solve the error it accidentally disabled the extension

public function getCustomFields()
  {
    $cfData = getXML(BLOGCUSTOMFIELDS);
    $cf = array('options' => '', 'main' => '');
    $count_options = 0;
    $count_main = 0;
    $count_opt = 0;
    foreach($cfData->item as $custom_field)
    {
      if($custom_field->area == 'options')
      {
        $cf['options'][$count_options]['key'] = (string) $custom_field->desc;
        $cf['options'][$count_options]['label'] = (string) $custom_field->label;
        $cf['options'][$count_options]['type'] = (string) $custom_field->type;
        $cf['options'][$count_options]['value'] = (string) $custom_field->value;
        if ($custom_field->type == "dropdown") 
        {
          $count_opt = 0;
          $cf['options'][$count_options]['options'] = array();
          foreach ($custom_field->option as $option) 
          {
            $cf['options'][$count_options]['options'][] = (string) $option;
            $count_opt++;
          }
        }
        $count_options++;
      }
      elseif($custom_field->area == 'main')
      {
        $cf['main'][$count_main]['key'] = (string) $custom_field->desc;
        $cf['main'][$count_main]['label'] = (string) $custom_field->label;
        $cf['main'][$count_main]['type'] = (string) $custom_field->type;
        $cf['main'][$count_main]['value'] = (string) $custom_field->value;
        if ($custom_field->type == "dropdown") 
        {
          $count_opt = 0;
          $cf['main'][$count_main]['options'] = array();
          foreach ($custom_field->option as $option) 
          {
            $cf['main'][$count_main]['options'][] = (string) $option;
            $count_opt++;
          }
        }
        $count_main++;
      }
    }
    return $cf;
  }

According to the error it's referring to

$cf = array('options' => '', 'main' => '');

Your help is much appreciated.

EDIT: Dumping the XML File

object(SimpleXMLExtended)#483 (1) { ["item"]=> array(8) { [0]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#484 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(4) "slug" ["label"]=> string(8) "Slug/URL" ["type"]=> string(4) "text" } [1]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#485 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(4) "tags" ["label"]=> string(32) "Tags (separate tags with commas)" ["type"]=> string(4) "text" } [2]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#486 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(4) "date" ["label"]=> string(25) "Publish date (any format)" ["type"]=> string(4) "text" } [3]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#487 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(8) "category" ["label"]=> string(30) "Assign This Post To A Category" ["type"]=> string(8) "dropdown" } [4]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#488 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(6) "author" ["label"]=> string(14) "Author's Name:" ["type"]=> string(4) "text" } [5]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#489 (4) { ["area"]=> string(7) "options" ["desc"]=> string(7) "private" ["label"]=> string(15) "Post is private" ["type"]=> string(8) "checkbox" } [6]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#490 (4) { ["area"]=> string(4) "main" ["desc"]=> string(5) "title" ["label"]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#492 (0) { } ["type"]=> string(5) "title" } [7]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#491 (4) { ["area"]=> string(4) "main" ["desc"]=> string(7) "content" ["label"]=> object(SimpleXMLExtended)#493 (0) { } ["type"]=> string(8) "textarea" } } }

Could you explain $cfData = getXML(BLOGCUSTOMFIELDS); a bit? — IncredibleHat
– IncredibleHat, Commented Aug 15, 2018 at 0:53
Are you sure with that (string) $option; because it can be array defined in foreach loop with any key like $option[xxx] ?? It look like $option is an array and can not be typed to string. And you should see row number where error was occured. — daremachine
– daremachine, Commented Aug 15, 2018 at 0:53
@IncredibleHat it's a flat file CMS saving data in XML file instead of DB the CMS is called GetSimpleCMS get-simple.info so here it's querying the data from the XML file related to BLOGCUSTOMFIELDS section — David Buik
– David Buik, Commented Aug 15, 2018 at 0:57
@daremachine the row number is 25 - 30 this one $cf['options'][$count_options]['key'] = (string) $custom_field->desc; till $cf['options'][$count_options]['value'] = (string) $custom_field->value; — David Buik
– David Buik, Commented Aug 15, 2018 at 0:58
Ok. Because, just copy pasting your code into a test script, I'm not seeing that fatal error (making up some output for getXML). Soooo I'm not sure why you are getting that error too! — IncredibleHat
– IncredibleHat, Commented Aug 15, 2018 at 0:59

daremachine · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-15 01:22:47Z

1

Change
$cf = array('options' => '', 'main' => '');
to
$cf = array('options' => array(), 'main' => array());

The error says that

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Cannot use string offset as an array

Your code is wrong because you are trying add new key into $cf['options'] but it is string and not array

$cf['options'][$count_options] .....

answered Aug 15, 2018 at 1:22

daremachine

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Marcello Marino · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-19 10:22:04Z

1

Since the release PHP 7.1+, is not more possible to initialize an array witrh As of PHP 7.1.0, applying the empty index operator on a string throws a fatal error. Formerly, the string was silently converted to an array.

answered Nov 19, 2020 at 10:22

Marcello Marino

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