topic = $topic_in; $this->title = NULL; } function getTopic() {return $this->topic;} //this is the end of the chain - returns title or says there is none function getTitle() { if (NULL != $this->title) { return $this->title; } else { return 'there is no title avaialble'; } } function setTitle($title_in) {$this->title = $title_in;} } ?>