[RESOLVED] Multidimensional Array Confusion

[koddos]

Hello,

I am making a web form. For some of the variables I need to use multidimensional arrays to capture user input. I have no problems when I use single arrays.

echo "Unit ID: <input type='text' name='unitIDHVT[$i][$j]' value='$unitIDHVT[$i][$j]'>";

Initially, I want the textbox to be blank. After submit is pressed, I want whatever value is inputted to remain. Like I said, this is working fine with all the other fields, some of which use 1 dimensional arrays.

When I test the form, the output in the offending text box is '[0]'. When I click 'submit', it switches to 'Array[0]'

I am oblivious to what is going on here. Appreciate any help. 😕

[Installer]

Can you show us more of your test code?

[koddos]

Here is a little more context. First, the part with multidimensional array that is giving me trouble. Second, the part with single array that is working fine.

echo "Number of Objectives: <input type='text' name='numObjectives' value='$numObjectives' size='3' maxlength='3'> (1-999)";
$i=0;
do {
[INDENT]
echo "Number of Units: <input type='text' name='numUnitsHVT[$i]' value='$numUnitsHVT[$i]' size='3' maxlength='3'> (1-999)";
$j=0;
do {
[INDENT]$countUnits=$j+1;
echo "$countUnits. Unit ID: <input type='text' name='$unitIDHVT[$i][$j]' value='$unitIDHVT[$i][$j]'>"; //Doesn't work
$j++;[/INDENT]
} while($j<$numUnitsHVT[$i]);

Coord: <input type='text' name='coord[$i]' value='$coord[$i]'> //Works fine and dandy like sour candy

$i++;[/INDENT]

} while($i<$numObjectives);

[koddos]

Note that I added a $ sign in the following under 'name': <input type='text' name='$unitIDHVT[$i][$j]' value='$unitIDHVT[$i][$j]'>

This was erroneous, someone from another forum told me I needed it when I knew I didn't. My code for that portion is as it was in the first post.

[Houdini]

I am not sure what you mean you must use a multidimensional array for user input because whatever in evtered into a text box is going to be a single value. You may assiign a single value to a multimimensional array but with a text box I dont see how this could be achieved. A multidimensional array is really just an array of arrays. No matter how it is defined if I defined lets say an associative array as follows;

$student[univeristy][Harvard][science][year1]="freshman";

what is the value of $student[univeristy][Harvard][science][year1] well it would be freshman. what if I just did $student=:freshman" it is not even an array and the value is the same. The only input that even uses an array is the checkbox such as;

<input type="checkbox" name="fruit[apple]" value ="apple">Apple<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="fruit[pear]" value ="pear">Pear<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="fruit[peach]" value ="peach">Peach<br>

Not really sure just what you are trying to do but no matter how you assign a value to a textbox you are still going to get a single value from that particular text box, so maybe you really need several textboxes to go into an array.

[koddos]

I have a dynamic form that is set up like this. It starts off with only one objective but more can be added via the 'numObjectives' text box. So $i loops through each objective. For each objective I can have multiple units. These can be added via the numUnitsHVT box. Hence $j loops through each unit. I need to preserve the user-entered text in each box after submit is clicked. I believe this necessitates some way to uniquely identify each Unit. So I am trying to use a multidimensional array.

An example of the structure is as follows:

1. Objective
   [INDENT]1.1. Unit 1
   1.2. Unit 2
   1.3 Unit 3[/INDENT]

2. Objective
   [INDENT]2.1 Unit 1
   2.2 Unit 2[/INDENT]

3. Objective
   [INDENT]3.1 Unit 1[/INDENT]

4. Objective
   [INDENT]4.1 Unit 1[/INDENT]

Appreciate the help.

[bradgrafelman]

You can't reference array indeces inside of a string (at least, you're not supposed to - you can probably get by if you're going only 1 index deep, but definitely NOT multi-dimensional arrays) without using braces or simply concatenating the array and string pieces.

$myArray = array(
     array('hi')
);
echo "$myArray"; // Array
echo "$myArray[0]"; // Array
echo "$myArray[0][0]"; // Array[0]
echo "{$myArray[0][0]}"; // hi
echo 'It says: ' . $myArray[0][0] . '!!'; // It says: hi!!

[koddos]

Thanks very much. Adding curly braces fixed the problem, I was unaware of this use.