[Resolved] handling multi-level arrays

babygodzilla

how do i handle multi-level arrays? i have an array that consists of, in this order, continents-countires-cities

for example:

Array
(
    [America] => Array
        (
            [United States of America] => Array
                (
                    [0] => San Francisco
                    [1] => Berkeley
                )
            [Mexico] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Mexico City
                )
        )
    [Europe] => Array
        (
            [Great Britain] => Array
                (
                    [0] => London
                )
            [Germany] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Berlin
                )
        )
    [Asia] => Array
        (
            [Japan] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Tokyo
                )
            [China] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Beijing
                )
        )
)

based on his inputs, a string will be built where users can define where he wants to go. for example: based on a series of inputs the string $path can look like

$path = America/United States of America/

now based on this $path I would like to display the data in that specific 'folder,' which in this case would be

$folder['America']['United States of America']

so i guess my first question is how can i 'build' that array name so i can check its conents? im not sure if that sentence made sense. im trying to say how can i dynamically tell the script to check
$folder['America']['United States of America'] when it could easily be

$folder['Milky Way']['Earth']['Western Hemisphere']['America']['Mexico]...(and so on) or maybe even

$folder['Bob']['Jake']['Lisa']

there is no specific number of levels for this array. it could have 1 level or 10 levels. all i know are the keys to the arrays, in order of levels.

i had more questions about multi-level arrays but i cant remember them rite now. ill post more later.

THANKS A LOT ANYONE AND EVERYONE!

ZibingsCoder

Well, as long as you know the format of the string form which you'll be getting your keys...

$path = explode("/", $path);

$tmp = null;
$cnt = count($path);

for ( $i = 0; $i < $cnt; $i++ )
{
   $tmp = $folder[$path[$i]];
}

Then $tmp will be whatever you need it to be.

babygodzilla

wait im sorry i dont understand. how does that work?

tekky

let me explain his uncommented code that you were supposed to understand 😉

$path = explode("/", $path); //makes an array of your path string based on the /'s

$tmp = null; //blank the variable
$cnt = count($path); //cnt is now equal to the number of variables in the $path var

for ( $i = 0; $i < $cnt; $i++ ) //typical for loop, to cover the number of vars in the $path array
{
   $tmp = $folder[$path[$i]]; //temp is now an array of $folder['countryname'] based on your example string above... then on the next iteration it becomes the array of $folder[country][state] then [city] etc etc
}

so $tmp at first loop is $temp[countryname]
second loop it becomes $temp[countryname][statename]
third, $temp[countryname][statename][cityname]
and so on and so forth...

that help some more?

Weedpacket

Originally posted by tekky

so $tmp at first loop is $temp[countryname]
second loop it becomes $temp[countryname][statename]
third, $temp[countryname][statename][cityname]
and so on and so forth...

Well, it's buggy ($tmp gets set and reset but never used). Set $tmp to $folder initially, and use $tmp on both sides of the = in the loop.

The other hairy bit is the trailling '/', but rtrim() will take care of that.

babygodzilla

Originally posted by Weedpacket
Well, it's buggy ($tmp gets set and reset but never used). Set $tmp to $folder initially, and use $tmp on both sides of the = in the loop.

The other hairy bit is the trailling '/', but rtrim() will take care of that.

ok! yea thats what i was confused about. it seemed that $tmp will be overwritten over and over again. should it be something like

$tmp = $tmp + $folder[$path[$i]]; 
//or
$tmp = $tmp.$folder[$path[$i]];

is either of those correct?

btw THANKS ZibingsCoder, Tekky, Weedpacket!!

ZibingsCoder

Wait wait...people don't understand uncommented code that I make while half asleep?! WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO!?!?!?!?!

runs into wall

Oh, and btw, to answer your last question, do something like this...

//blech at thee Weedpacketh
$path = explode("/", rtrim($path));

$tmp = $folder;
$cnt = count($path);

for ( $i = 0; $i < $cnt; $i++ )
{
   $tmp = $tmp[$path[$i]];
}

//now the current folder is held in $tmp

babygodzilla

aaaaaaaahhh!!!! ok i think i get it! im gonna try it soon!

THANKS!

kidgeek_dfw

I have a similar question only a little bit more complex...
What if the number of the folders get smaller or if the number of the folders stay the same...

In otherwords a file directory... Where you may have many files/folders under the same folder...

see:
http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10284529

Weedpacket

Originally posted by kidgeek_dfw
I have a similar question only a little bit more complex...
What if the number of the folders get smaller or if the number of the folders stay the same...

That is what $cnt is for.