How to use variables in a PHP evaluation in a rule?

Question

I created a rule with the actions "Provide a variable: mynumber" and "Grant points to a user". I'd like to evaluate the points with PHP, using "mynumber". For some reason, I can't use $mynumber, although that is possible in the PHP evalution of the sections 'Operation' and 'Description'. As the replacement pattern [mynumber] is available, I tried to use it in my code with and without the square brackets, but in both cases, I get the error:

Notice: Use of undefined constant mynumber - assumed 'mynumber' in eval() (line 1 of C:\wamp\www\mysite\sites\all\modules\rules\modules\php.eval.inc(146) : eval()'d code).

Is this a missing feature, a bug in the Rules module or did I do something wrong?

Answer 1

You can achieve this, use variable module and define variable which you want use in rule.

To define a variable you need to write custom module , which will contain following function

function My_module_variable_info() {
  $variables['rainbow_count'] = array(
  // 'name' isn't really necessary, as it will get populated from the key of this array above.
 'name' => 'rainbow_count',
 'title' => t('Number of Rainbows'),
 'type' => 'number',
 'group' => 'UserPoints Config',
 'token' => TRUE,
'default' => 0,
'description' => t('Specify the number of rainbows.')
); 

}

Set value for variable which you want use in rule through :

configuration>>variables>>modules>>My_module_...

Now go to rules >action> grant points to a user > Points:

Set data type =current-user:uid and put return variable_get('rainbow_count'); code in PHP evaluation.

This solution worked for me,hope will help you also.

Answer 2

It turned out that the problem is caused by the way Rules handles integers and numbers in general. Instead of trying to calculate the Userpoints in the action "Grant points to a user", one should provide a new variable earlier.

1. Provide a new variable (text type!), called "Number", with the necessary PHP code (wrapped with <?php ... ?>). One can then use earlier calculated results like $mynumber.

2. Convert "Number" to an integer, called "Points".

3. Grant "Points" to the user.

Hopefully, Rules will cope a little bit better with numbers in the future, but until then, I hope this trick helps a lot of people.