Thread

{exp:channel:entries channel="registrations" dynamic="off" author_id="CURRENT_USER" start_on="<?php echo $paramStart; ?>" stop_before="<?php echo $paramStop; ?>"}
{if total_results > 2}
Disallow entering.
{if:else}
Allow to enter.
{/if}
{/exp:channel:entries}

<?php
  $test = "1";
?>

{exp:channel:entries channel="registrations" dynamic="off" author_id="CURRENT_USER" start_on="<?php echo $paramStart; ?>" stop_before="<?php echo $paramStop; ?>"}

<!--THIS RIGHT HERE IS JUST TO PRINT THE RESULT OF TESTING PURPOSES AND IT RETURNS THE CORRECT NUMBER OF ENTRIES-->
  The total number of results is: {total_results}
  

<!--END-->

  {if total_results > "2"}
  
<!--SO HERE I AM TRYING TO CHANGE THE VALUE OF THE VARIABLE CREATED BEFORE THE LOOP TO '0'-->
    <?php
      $test = "0";
    ?>
<!--END-->
    
    First loop works
    

 
  {/if}
  {if total_results <= "2"}

<!--AND HERE I AM TRYING TO CHANGE THE VALUE OF THE VARIABLE CREATED BEFORE THE LOOP TO '1'-->   
    <?php
      $test = "1";
    ?>
<!---->
    
  Second loop works
  

    
  {/if}

{/exp:channel:entries}

<!--SO THE LOOP ENDS AND NOW DEPENDING ON HOW THE $TEST VARIABLE HAS BEEN CHANGED THE SYSTEM IS TO DISPLAY ONE OF THE TWO OPTIONS-->

<!--THIS FOR SOME REASON DOESN'T GET CHANGED TO '0' AND CONTINUES BEING ONE EVEN THOUGH IT ENTERS THE FIRST IF STATEMENT IN THE LOOP ABOVE-->
<?php echo $test; ?>
<!---->

{if <?php echo $test; ?> == "0"}
    <div>
      Sorry, you've already entered more than 3 times this week
    </div>
{if:else}
  <div>
      You are about to enter to win tickets for {event_title}. You can enter once a week, don't forget to try again next week!
  </div>
{/if}