PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Cannot re-assign $this in ../app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php with PHP 7.1

Question

I'm using magento C.E. 1.9.1.0 and PHP 7.1 and I get the following error when I visit a category page:

PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Error: Cannot re-assign $this in /var/www/magento/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php Line 215

This error happens here (Line 215):

extract ($this->_viewVars, EXTR_SKIP);

This is due to dynamic calls being forbidden in PHP 7.1

Does anyone knows of a fix for this?

Answer 1

1. copy app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php to app/code/local/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php

2. in app/code/local/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php comment out line 215 and add line 216 as shown below:

   215         #extract ($this->_viewVars, EXTR_SKIP);                                                                                                                               
   216         foreach($this->_viewVars as $k => $v) if(!isset(${$k}) && $k != 'this') ${$k} = $v;