OsCommerce - Fatal error: Cannot use string offset as an array in /catalog/admin/includes/classes/table_block.php


PHP5 Error message that is caused by attempting to assign a value to an array element of a variable that is declared as a string.

Example that generates error:
$foo=’bar’;
$foo[0]=’bar’;
Get error message Fatal error: Cannot use string offset as an array in …

Explanation
$foo was declared as a string in $foo=’bar’.
$foo[0] is trying to append an element onto a string variable.

Example that does not generate error:
$foo[0]=’bar’;
$foo=’bar’;
Does NOT generate error.

Explanation
$foo[0]=’bar’ instantiates variable $foo as array since it has not been instantiated. Then assigns ‘bar’ to element $foo[0].
$foo=’bar’ implicitly re-declares $foo as a string and assigns ‘bar’ to it.

Example that does not generate error:
$foo=’bar’;
$foo=array();
$foo[0]=’bar’;

Explanation
$foo=’bar’ implicitly declares $foo as a string variable then assigns ‘bar’ as the value.
$foo=array() explicitly re-declares $foo as an array.
$foo[0]=’bar’ can now be executed as $foo is declared as an array.