The continuing saga (Assoc Arrays)

[Anon]

Hi,

I'm still having a problem trying to sort an associative array by "value". Here is a specific example of code. As you can see I simply declare the associative array with its "key/value" pairs. Having done that I need to sort them by "value", in descending order. In other, words, SMITH John should be first, followed by STERLING Penny, DOOR Joe, etc....

I have tried various permutations and workings around the PHP array functions, such as arsort() etc.... and am getting nowhere - FAST! If someone could help me out on this, it would be grately appreciated as it is becoming extremely frustrating - to say the least!!!

Thanks

<?php
$entrantpoints = array( "SMITH, John" => 28,
"SMYTHE, Paris" => 10,
"DAVIES, Jenny" => 1,
"JONES, Simon" => 20,
"BONE, Simon" => 0,
"ANSTEYS, Michelle" => 3,
"HART, Darren" => 15,
"DOOR, Joe" => 22,
"WILLIAMS, Andy" => 0,
"STERLING, Penny" => 27
);

echo "<table border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\">";
	while (list ($entrant, $points) = each ($entrantpoints)) {
		echo "<tr>";
			echo "<td>";
				echo "$entrant: $points\n <br>";
			echo "</td>";
		echo "</tr>";
	}
echo "<table>";

?>

[Anon]

OK, I think I've sorted it, although it seems a little messy; I am sure this can be done more elegantly. If anyone else has a better way, please let me know.

Basically, I have added the following 2 lines, immediately after creating the array:
$sorted = array_flip($entrantpoints);
krsort($sorted);

In all, the script now looks like :

<?php
$entrantpoints = array( "SMITH, John" => 28,
"SMYTHE, Paris" => 10,
"DAVIES, Jenny" => 1,
"JONES, Simon" => 20,
"BONE, Simon" => 0,
"ANSTEYS, Michelle" => 3,
"HART, Darren" => 15,
"DOOR, Joe" => 22,
"WILLIAMS, Andy" => 0,
"STERLING, Penny" => 27
);
$sorted = array_flip($entrantpoints);
krsort($sorted);
echo "<table border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\">";
while (list ($entrant, $points) = each ($sorted)) {
echo "<tr>";
echo "<td>";
echo "$entrant: $points\n <br>";
echo "</td>";
echo "</tr>";
}
echo "<table>";

?>

[Anon]

OK, I'm still looking for help. It does work like this, but I have just found out the machine this has to be deployed on does not have the latest build - and as such can not make use of the array_flip() function. The owner of the site has no control over the machine.

So, how can I resolve this problem without making use of array_flip(). Please bear in mind that upgrading is not an option

Thanks

WAPMail wrote:

OK, I think I've sorted it, although it seems a little messy; I am sure this can be done more elegantly. If anyone else has a better way, please let me know.

Basically, I have added the following 2 lines, immediately after creating the array:
$sorted = array_flip($entrantpoints);
krsort($sorted);

In all, the script now looks like :

<?php
$entrantpoints = array( "SMITH, John" => 28,
"SMYTHE, Paris" => 10,
"DAVIES, Jenny" => 1,
"JONES, Simon" => 20,
"BONE, Simon" => 0,
"ANSTEYS, Michelle" => 3,
"HART, Darren" => 15,
"DOOR, Joe" => 22,
"WILLIAMS, Andy" => 0,
"STERLING, Penny" => 27
);
$sorted = array_flip($entrantpoints);
krsort($sorted);
echo "<table border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\">";
while (list ($entrant, $points) = each ($sorted)) {
echo "<tr>";
echo "<td>";
echo "$entrant: $points\n ";
echo "</td>";
echo "</tr>";
}
echo "<table>";

?>

[polson]

This :

$sorted = array_flip($entrantpoints);
krsort($sorted);

Is exactly the same as :

arsort($entrantpoints);

Except it flips the keys and values in the array. Also note, since you're flipping an array with duplicate values, it will eliminate the duplicates so "BONE, Simon" disappears in your example above as "WILLIAMS, Andy" overtakes it.

Moral of story : use arsort()

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.arsort.php