Access to preprocess variables in a custom block

Question

I have created a custom block to display some contact information.

I have a preprocess function that sets a contact variable like so:

function atstump_preprocess(&$vars, $hook) {
    $vars['contact'] = array(
        'name' => 'Doug Gillum',
        'business' => 'Portland Stump Grinding',
        /...
    );
}

I enabled the PHP filter, and set this as the text:

<ul>
  <li><?php print $contact['name']; ?></li>
  <li><?php print $contact['phone']; ?></li>
  <li><?php print $contact['email']; ?></li>
</ul>

However it doesn't recognize $contact as a proper variable and generates the PHP error E_NOTICE:

Notice: Undefined variable: contact in eval() (line 2 of C:\xampp\htdocs\stumpgrinding\modules\php\php.module(75) : eval()'d code).
Notice: Undefined variable: contact in eval() (line 3 of C:\xampp\htdocs\stumpgrinding\modules\php\php.module(75) : eval()'d code).
Notice: Undefined variable: contact in eval() (line 4 of C:\xampp\htdocs\stumpgrinding\modules\php\php.module(75) : eval()'d code).

Is it even possible to access the preprocess variables in a PHP filter? if not, is there a better way than hard coding them? maybe variable_set and variable_get and how would I set that up via the theme, I'd rather not make a module for this.

Answer 1

It won't work.
If you use a preprocess function, the variables will be available in the template of the block.

I think that, in your case, you should edit the settings.php file and add the following line:

$GLOBALS['email1'] = 'example@email.com';

You'll be able to use the variable $email1 through the whole site.

Have in mind that it's not a good Drupal practice.

Answer 2

Another alternative is to add variables in the site information variables table using the hook hook_form_FORM_ID_alter as follows:

function mymodule_form_system_site_information_settings_alter ( &$form, &$form_state ) {
    $form['contact'] = array(
        '#type' => 'fieldset',
        '#title' => t('Contact'),
    );
    $form['contact']['contact_name'] = array(
        '#type' => 'textfield',
        '#title' => t('Contact name'),
        '#default_value' => variable_get('contact_name', ''),
        '#size' => 40,
    );
}

Then in the php filter input you can get these variables using:

<?php echo variable_get('contact_name', '');?>