array_almost_unique()? multi-dim headache...

[dalecosp]

I've given myself a headache on this one ... not that it's difficult to do so...I gave the managers the ability to add items to more than one category by 'copying' an entry to the db with a different value in one field. (Yup, dropped primary key...)

Now if you search for something that matches, you get that item in your result array once for each entry in the db. If an item's in 3 categories, it shows up 3 times in the search results.

I tried $result_array=array_unique($result_array); but that, apparently, only allows one entry in the array, since a single-level call like that matches "Array" for each entry...and not really a big surprise, that. I kludged around with the MySQL "DISTINCT" keyword, and with various permutations of conditionals nested in foreach() and while() statements; I looked at the manual for array_multisort until my head hurts, my wife wants me to do something else for a while, and I think I agree....

If any of you wizards could quietly mutter the correct incantation and perhaps drop a copy here, I'd be much obliged. Shoot, you don't have to be a wizard, just provide a working solootion that doesn't eat all the C-P-U cycles. If not, I'll hit it again tomorrow or Monday. Further information is available upon request...example array follows. Desired outcome is that the array has only one "HS-9300 series" in it...it should be freakin' easy, but I'm giving up for the time being...

array(3) { 
   [0]=> array(8) { 
      ["sku"]=> string(6) "HS-659" 
      ["manf"]=> string(12) "Horace Small" 
      ["name"]=> string(27) "Deputy Deluxe, Short Sleeve" 
      ["color"]=> string(14) "Dark Navy, Tan" 
      ["size"]=> string(10) "S, M, L, X" 
      ["catid"]=> string(1) "3" 
      ["price"]=> string(5) "39.95" 
      ["description"]=> string(38) "Outstanding garment from Horace Small." 
      } 
   [1]=> array(8) { 
      ["sku"]=> string(14) "HS-8300-SERIES" 
      ["manf"]=> string(12) "Horace Small" 
      ["name"]=> string(10) "Honor Corp" 
      ["color"]=> string(22) "Dark Navy, French Blue" 
      ["size"]=> string(20) "32,34,36,38,40,42,44" 
      ["catid"]=> string(1) "1" 
      ["price"]=> string(5) "44.95" 
      ["description"]=> string(56) "100% Poly/Elastique fabric, great fitting pant." 
      } 
   [2]=> array(8) { 
      ["sku"]=> string(14) "HS-8300-SERIES" 
      ["manf"]=> string(12) "Horace Small" 
      ["name"]=> string(10) "Honor Corp" 
      ["color"]=> string(22) "Dark Navy, French Blue" 
      ["size"]=> string(20) "32,34,36,38,40,42,44" 
      ["catid"]=> string(1) "3" 
      ["price"]=> string(5) "44.95" 
      ["description"]=> string(56) "100%Poly/Elastique fabric, great fitting pant." 
      } 
}

[daphreeek]

one posibility is to have another table with the catagories.

ie. in the second table have the original tables id and then also the catagory for that item

that way, if an item is in 5 catagories, there is only the one item in the original table but 5 in the catagory table.

searches would then only find the one result + updating/changing the data would be easier coz there is only the 1 entry 🙂

hope that helps
- matt

[dalecosp]

Vëry gööd ídëä. Î wöndër íf Î'm töö fär älöng tö rëdësígn thë db. Përsönäl dëädlínë för thís pröjëct ís Wëdnësdäy.

Î fëlt bëttër thís mörníng, sö Î häckëd thís tögëthër.

Dëfínítëly ä hügë klüdgë...

#####  Remove Duplicate Entries--Multidimension Array 

$ct=count($test_array); $x=0; $y=0;
while ($x<$ct) {

 # Get the sku of the first array element
 $test1=$test_array[$x]['sku'];
 # Run the rest of the elements
 $y=$x+1;
 $ctt=$ct;
 while ($y<$ctt) {
         $test2=$test_array[$y]['sku'];
         if ($test2==$test1) {    # Look for a match...
         unset($test_array[$y]); # If a match, remove the matching element
         }
         $y++;
 }
# Back to the beginning, use the next element
$x++;
}

Îf Î hävë tímë (sö müch dëbüg/tëstíng ríght nöw) ... Î mäy ímplëmënt thë db chängë. Wöüld símplífy thíngs ä bít.

TY!! 🙂