Search Facebook using PHP SDK - search

Question

In the last days, I'm working on the application which needs to search for users on Facebook. Since the FQL query for "username" was deprecated/canceled, I have decided to use common search API.
I use PHP so FB PHP SDK is the way I'd prefer. I have used it earlier for FQL queries, just like this:
// $api is already initialized, with access_key, app secret and so on
$users = $api(array(
'method' => 'fql.query',
'query' => "SELECT first_name,last_name FROM user WHERE uid='12345'",
));
I'd like to build the search query in the similar way. Especially, I don't want to urlencode the parameters, specify access key, app secret and all the stuff the SDK is supposed to do for me. However, I haven't been able to build this query using SDK yet. Is there any possibility to do it? If yes, how? I have found long list of sdk-supported "api calls" but I need to build the query for graph.facebook.com/search?arguments.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: To make it clear, I don't want to build the string by myself. I know this solution works. But imho it's ugly when I have SDK:
$name = urlencode(trim($first_name . " " . $last_name_));
$users = $this->facebook->api("/search?q=$name&type=user&access_token=$key");

Answer 1

Searching User via Graph API using php-sdk 3.1.1
User will need to authorize your app before making a search for
users.
{
"error": {
"message": "A user access token is required to request this resource.",
"type": "OAuthException"
}
}
Php-skd 3.1.1 init.
<?php
require './src/facebook.php';
$facebook = new Facebook(array(
'appId' => 'your-app-id',
'secret' => 'your-app-secret',
));
$user = $facebook->getUser();
if ($user) {
try {
// Proceed knowing you have a logged in user who's authenticated.
$user_profile = $facebook->api('/me');
} catch (FacebookApiException $e) {
error_log($e);
$user = null;
}
}
/* */
if ($user) {
$logoutUrl = $facebook->getLogoutUrl();
} else {
$loginUrl = $facebook->getLoginUrl();
}
?>
Search includes, encoding search term, setting results limit, and
offset for paging.
<?php
/* Get Search parameter from url or post and urlencode it. */
$q = urlencode($_GET['qs']);
if(!$_GET['qs']){
$q = urlencode($_POST['qs']);
if(!$_POST['qs']){
/* Default Search Term */
$q = "Shawn+E+Carter";
}
}
/* Get Results Limit from url or set default. */
$limit = $_GET['limit'];
if (!$_GET['limit']){
$limit = 60;
}
/* Get Offset from url or set default for paging. */
$offset = $_GET['offset'];
if (!$_GET['offset']){
$offset = 0;
}
/* Make Graph API call to user */
$usersearch = 'search%3Fq='.$q.'%26type=user%26limit='.$limit.'%26offset='.$offset.'';
echo '<pre style="text-align: left;">';
print_r($usersearch);
echo '</pre>';
?>