PHP class: assigning static property via constructor

Question

Simplified example of a class:

class Table extends TableAbstract{
    protected static $tablename;

    function __construct($str){
       $this->tablename = "table_" . $str;
       $this->insert();    // abstract function
    }

}

When I've used classes like this in the past I've assigned the $tablename directly when writing the class. This time however I would like it to be decided by the constructor. But when I then call the function referencing $tablename the variable seems to be empty, when I echo the SQL.

What am I doing wrong, or could someone suggest a way to achieve what I want here?

Thanks for any comments/answers..

Answer 1

As the property is static, access it using Table::$tablename - or alternatively self::$tablename to refer implicitly to the current class.