$wpdb not being defined in function: Fatal error: Call to a member function query() on a non-object

Question

For some reason the $wpdb object is not being defined in one particular function. I have four other functions in the file that are using $wpdb and all are working fine except this one simple delete function where I get the error: Call to a member function query() on a non-object... The following is the function in question:

function delete_gallery( $gallery_id ) {
    global $wpdb;

    $sql = "DELETE from galleries WHERE gallery_id = $gallery_id";
    $deleted = $wpdb->query( $sql );

} 

I have a link (delete gallery) on the plugin admin settings page that links to delete-gallery.php that calls the delete function and returns back to the admin page. The contents of that file are:

include 'ga-functions.php';

if (isset($_GET['gallery_id'])) {
    $gallery_id = $_GET['gallery_id'];
    delete_gallery($gallery_id);

    wp_redirect( $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] );
    exit();
}

If I var_dump on the $wpdb after initializing I get the result of NULL. Anyone have any suggestions on what could be causing this in only one particular function like this.

Answer 1

Okay, new solution. First off, I'd recommend making the link a submit button and making the name something unique:

<submit name 'del_gallery' />

Then in the code of your admin page:

include 'ga-functions.php';
//checks to see if certain button was pressed
if(isset($_REQUEST['del_gallery'] && isset($_GET['gallery_id']) ) {     
    $gallery_id = $_GET['gallery_id'];
    delete_gallery($gallery_id);

    wp_redirect( $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] );
    exit();        
}