Similar_text() syntax problem

Hi,

i'm having a go at coding a simple, quick-n-dirty searchengine, which involves the similar_text() function. However, I can't seem to get it to calculate the percent-wise similarity between two variables. The manual states that to the syntax:

int similar_text(string first, string second, double [percent]);

adding the third argument as a 'reference' (what's that?) will calculate the similarity in percent. How would I get that value?

Thanx in advance.

Thomas, Denmark

Untested, but I think this is how it'd work:

$a = similar_text("bear", "bean", $b);

After the function runs, $a would have the integer value '3' because there are 3 letters that are the same. $b would have the double-precision real number .75 (or maybe 75) because 3/4's of the letters match.

What you're seeing is a sneaky way of getting a function to return two variables.

Yeah, that's exactly what I thought, however I never get a return value from $b - there's simply no output at all when i print the variable.

Any suggestions?

Regards - Thomas

Do you mean, "pass by reference"?

To do so, place a & before the variable name.

a_function (&$x) {

}

$y = a_function (&$z);

--Chris

Thanx a bunch - that did the trick! And I even found it now in the manual. Kinda embarrasing now that you've provided the solution, but I was a bit confused about the reference-part that was a bit blurry methinks.

Anyway, thanks again and cheers.

- Thomas