2D Dynamic Arrays from Form - possible?

[Anon]

I have a need to generate anumber of 2D arrays from an HTML form, this is
because the number of text fields / sub fields is generated according to
other criteria.

I have no problem getting a single dimension array back from the form,
but 2D array's don't work, any ideas?

Currently the HTML looks similar to;

<input type="text" name="offer_group[]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_group[]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_group[]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[][]" size="10">

The offer_group array is fine, it is offer_lines that doesn't come back,
or if I play about comes back as a 1D array.

Becuase these are all generated from within a for loop, so I have tried
changing the offer_lines HTML output to;
<input type="text" name="offer_line[0][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[0][]" size="10">
<input type="text" name="offer_line[0][]" size="10">

<input type="text" name="offer_line[1][]" size="10">

etc, etc.

None of this works, I have a solution but that involves passing hidden
values in the form, I would rather avoid this as I want to process the
data based on what IS there, not what SHOULD be there. I hope you
follow. Has anyone any experience of 2D arrays from HTML? If so, what
is the correct method of checking the size of the second dimension, in
the same manner that count () checks a single array, I was hoping
count(offer_line[0]) or similar, but obviously the fact that the array's
aren't constructed properly didn't help ;-)

Finally, is it true that the good old 'for each' loop doesn't work in
PHP3, the site ref claims it's true, surely this must be a boo boo? If
not what's the best alternative (hence my need to be able to count the
sum of the 2nd array dimension :-( ) I know of the 'while each' loop but
that looks far too messy and involves using key/value pairs which I
thought were hashes not arrays? Anyway, enough rambling, any pointers
would be useful, I've been through most of the PHP Manual but nothing
jumped out.

--
Andy Flisher

'All postings are a reflection of my state of mind,
and not necessarily of any worthwhile opinion'

[e-mail]  http://www.flish.co.uk

[Anon]

Ok, not to worry, I still can't find a way to get multi-dimensional arrays from a form, but I resolved it by creating dynamic single dimension arrays; ie
group_text[]=

offer_line0[]=
offer_line1[]=

Then when processing the form it's done by;

for ($i=0; $i<count($group_text); $i++)
{
echo $group_text[$i]."<br><br>";
for ($j=0; $j<count(${'offer_line'.$i}); $j++)
{
echo ${'offer_line'.$i}[$j]."<br>";
}
}

Feels messy, but does work, hopefully this will help someone else ;-)