Serialize/unserialize in AutoIt (PHP compatible)

[Jefrey]

Hey

I made this to convert data to PHP's serialize() function return format.

This is for those who, somewhy [?], can't use JSON, for example.

Just two simple functions: Serialize() and Unserialize(). Data may be all accepted types in PHP (array, float, int, string), except objects.

Examples (included in package):
 

#include 'serialize.au3'

Dim $otherArray[4] = ["hai", "halo", "apa", "kabar"]
Dim $aArray[7] = ['test', 'lol', 'cool', 'amazing', 123, $otherArray, 2.50]

$sSerialized = Serialize($aArray)
MsgBox(0, "", $sSerialized)

It will show:

a:7:{i:0;s:4:"test";i:1;s:3:"lol";i:2;s:4:"cool";i:3;s:7:"amazing";i:4;i:123;i:5;a:4:{i:0;s:3:"hai";i:1;s:4:"halo";i:2;s:3:"apa";i:3;s:5:"kabar";}i:6;d:2.5;}

Now, if we want to do the contrary, which is, converting from serialized string back to original data:

#include 'serialize.au3'

#include <Array.au3> ; Needed only to use _ArrayDisplay. Not required to use serialize.

$aUnserialized = Unserialize('a:7:{i:0;s:4:"test";i:1;s:3:"lol";i:2;s:4:"cool";i:3;s:7:"amazing";i:4;i:123;i:5;a:4:{i:0;s:3:"hai";i:1;s:4:"halo";i:2;s:3:"apa";i:3;s:5:"kabar";}i:6;d:2.5;}')

_ArrayDisplay($aUnserialized)
_ArrayDisplay($aUnserialized[6])

As _ArrayDisplay doesn't support multidimensional array (and, in the previous example, we converted a multidimensional array to serialized data), we must use it twice. So we will see:

Please notice the differences between AutoIt and PHP's approach of arrays. It is different. Be careful, mainly when getting arrays from PHP and putting into AutoIt. I really recommend using only integer array keys, or switching to JSON.

License: CC BY 4.0

Download: https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/files/file/348-unserialize-in-autoit-php-compatible/ 

Edited July 18, 2015 by Jefrey

[guinness]

This is awesome. I did something similar (just a little bit) last year, but at the time wasn't really aware of PHP. A couple of points to make about the UDF:

• Don't use Dim, as it can have massive consequences with those who declare $ret as a Global variable
• Be explicit with scope (see warnings from running Au3Check)
• Provide the download using a non-proprietary compression format. I am cool with rar as I use 7-Zip) as not everybody will be able to "unrar"
• If you're using the SciTE4utoIt3 package, place this (see below) at the top and see the "warnings" in the code. It's what we use for the official AutoIt UDFs
• Look at using Switch...EndSwitch instead of If...ElseIf...ElseIf. It's what I would use in PHP
• I have found a bug in your code with using { inside  a string

#AutoIt3Wrapper_Au3Check_Parameters=-d -w 1 -w 2 -w 3 -w- 4 -w 5 -w 6 -w- 7
; Search Au3Check in the help file to see what it all means

Bug:

#include <Array.au3> ; Needed only to use _ArrayDisplay. Not required to use
#include 'Serialize.au3'

Local $aOne = ["hai", "ARRAY", "apa", "kabar"]
Local $aArray = ['test', 'lol', '{cool', 'amazing', 123, $aOne, 2.50]

Local $sSerialized = Serialize($aArray)
LOcal $aUnserialized = Unserialize($sSerialized)

MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "", $sSerialized)
_ArrayDisplay($aUnserialized)
_ArrayDisplay($aUnserialized[6])

Settings INI - My approach with basic datatypes

One thing to ponder over

Local $bIsTrue = False

; There is no block scope in AutoIt
If $bIsTrue Then
    Local $sSomething = 'Something'
EndIf

; $sSomething is not declared as $bIsTrue didn't "fire"
ConsoleWrite($sSomething & @CRLF)

; Better way would be

Local $bIsTrue = False
Local $sSomething = ''
If $bIsTrue Then
    $sSomething = 'Something'
EndIf

; $sSomething is not declared as $bIsTrue didn't "fire"
ConsoleWrite($sSomething & @CRLF)

Thanks for posting

Edited July 18, 2015 by guinness

[Jefrey]

Thanks for the points, @guinness! I'm already on it and soon I'll be uploading a patch!

• Don't use Dim, as it can have massive consequences with those who declare $ret as a Global variable OK
• Be explicit with scope (see warnings from running Au3Check) OK
• If you're using the SciTE4utoIt3 package, place this (see below) at the top and see the "warnings" in the code. It's what we use for the official AutoIt UDFs OK
• Look at using Switch...EndSwitch instead of If...ElseIf...ElseIf. It's what I would use in PHP OK
• I have found a bug in your code with using { inside  a string on it

• Provide the download using a non-proprietary compression format. I am cool with rar as I use 7-Zip) as not everybody will be able to "unrar" soon

(Patch will be provided when all these items are done)

Edited July 18, 2015 by Jefrey

[Luigi]

@Jefrey, good work!

Every form of communication between different platforms is very welcome!

But using JSON would be easier? Like this? https://github.com/ez2sugul/stopwatch_client/blob/master/JSMN.au3

The notation is very similar how PHP write in sessions, is corretly?

Work with object, is easy: Scripting.Dictionary.

 

Edited July 18, 2015 by Luigi

[Jefrey]

@Jefrey, good work!

Every form of communication between different platforms is very welcome!

But using JSON would be easier? Like this? https://github.com/ez2sugul/stopwatch_client/blob/master/JSMN.au3

The notation is very similar how PHP write in sessions, is corretly?

Work with object, is easy: Scripting.Dictionary.

 

Hi, Luigi!

I really think JSON would be easier. I also have a JSON udf (which is also linked on the original post). But, well, everything is possible. If someone must interact with a MySQL database to change settings on some system which adopts serialize() as data storage format, so this UDF will be useful. At the moment I'm fixing the bug pointed by guiness.

I'll take a look on Scripting.Dictionary. Seems easy and useful. Thanks!

[Luigi]

I have a good practice in $SD, i you need, ask. I share.

[guinness]

An example of Scripting.Dictionary can be found in the Settings INI I mentioned above