Compatibility with PHP 5.x broken

[SamLowrie]

I have to maintain some outdated PHP 5.x installations.
The laminas libraries break the compatibility with PHP 5.x for me, as they require php >=v 7. Requirements for PHP in file README.md should probably be updated.

[liborm85]

PHPWord works correctly with PHP 5.3+. Add information, if something doesn't work..

[SamLowrie]

When installing via composer 0.18.1, the libraries vendor/laminas/* are installed and included in the autoloader. At least the file vendor/laminas/laminas-zendframework-bridge/src/Autoloader.php contains code which does not run in PHP 5.3:

Line 15++: use function ... (>=5.6)
Line 49, 114, ...: []-Shortcut operator for array creation (>=5.4)

I had a quick look into the other files from the laminas libraries ... they all seem to have the same problem.

[liborm85]

This bug is introduced in 0.18.1 version via PR #2032.
Add this to your composer.json to disable unnecessary package, to fix it:

    "replace": {
        "laminas/laminas-zendframework-bridge": "*"
    },

[SamLowrie]

Thanks for the fast answer! 👍

I managed to get it to run, but I also had to remove the laminas-escaper with

  "replace": {
        "laminas/laminas-zendframework-bridge": "*",
        "laminas/laminas-escaper": "*"
    }

Now PHPOffice seems to work, not sure where the escaper library is actually needed. I am only using the template part of PHPOffice.

[liborm85]

PHPWord using laminas/laminas-escaper library with minimal version 2.2, which is compatible with PHP 5.3, see https://github.com/laminas/laminas-escaper/blob/2.2.10/composer.json#L28

[SamLowrie]

Ah, ok. Then an older version of the laminas escaper library must be installed (2.2), as the latest version also uses array declaration shortcut operators (>=5.4).

I got everything running with php 5.3.x with following composer.json config:

{
    "require": {
        "phpoffice/phpword": "^0.18.1",
        "laminas/laminas-escaper": "2.2"
    },
    "replace": {
        "laminas/laminas-zendframework-bridge": "*"
    }
}

Thanks again for the help.