template variable print_r/var_dump
 

Is there a way to dump out all variables that is available at the template level?

If not, is there at least a way to use print_r/var_dump inside a template?

Yes and No. (use hooks prior to template call or modify fetch_template to instead of echoing out the template, it does a print_r call.)

It would be easier to look at where the template is called from and work out template scope from there.

Best idea I can come up with is a plugin that sets a variable with your vardump like this:
$var = print_r($var,true);

then put $var into your template.

That wont work. print_r prints directly to stdout.

You would need to use output buffering at the very least, and variable scope could change between the plugin and the template.

Thanks for the info guys but I was hoping there was a debug mode for the template (ex. smarty's debug mode) that prints out all variables at the template scope.

This way I dont have to know the variable name in order to find what I'm looking for.

If you want to print_r to a variable, use "print_r($var, true)" the second arguement makes it return instead of echo/print it.

I always just do it in the file I'm working on (which is usually a custom file, not a vB file... even if it is a vB file, just put it back after because that is MUCH easier than working with plugins for debug code).

Try using vBulletin's print_r function. I think it is is functions_misc.php (either print_array() or print_ar(). It is a formatted version of print_r.

Didnt know that one, thanks :)

As for a template debug mode, just modify the function temporarily.

you can also just use print_r($array); exit;

Then the results will be viewable with nothing else clogging the screen.

I usually do that, though I created a few simple functions to include when testing something. Basically they include the <pre> tags, and an optional parameter to exit the script.

Whatever makes debugging faster is good! :)