creating an array on the fly

[lupercal]

Hi I am using a 2 column mysql table to represent a parent child hierachy . columns are parent, child,

I wish to create arrays named after each of the parent element containing the names of all child elements.

I have created an initial array call main array to hold the parent arrays, but I cannot think of a way to create the child arrays and fill them.

parent child
fish trout
fish mackeral
dog terrier
dog bulldog
dog
fish

<?php

function Recursive_call ($parent, $level) {

$main array = array();

while ($row= mysql_fetch_array($result_test) ){
$cat_parent = $row ['parent'];
$cat_child = $row ['child'];
}

// find parent catgories

if (!$cat_parent){

array_push ($main_array, $cat_title);

}

// for all other catgories

if ($cat_parent && $cat_child)
{

array_push ($cat_parent, $cat_child)

}

Recursive_call ($row['child'], $level+1);

}

// call function
Recursive_call ('', 0);

[_e_r_k]

Try using this code in your while loop:

while ($row= mysql_fetch_array($result_test) )
{
     $main_array[$row['parent']][] = $row['child'];
}

Then you'll get an array that looks like this:

$main_array[fish][0] = trout
$main_array[fish][1] = mackeral
$main_array[dog][0] = terrier
$main_array[dog][1] = bulldog

[steadyguy]

A variation on [e]r!k's great response :

while ($resultArray = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
        extract($result);
        $families[$parent][] = $child;
}
extract($families); 

This will give you arrays named after the parents, populated by numerically indexed children.