[RESOLVED] Multi-Dimensional array select confusion

[dmacman1962]

Hi All,

I am new to MD arrays and especially when trying to get the data in an orderly fashion from a DB with this.

Here is what the data looks like in my db...
question_id -------- answer
1 ------------------ Because a pencil is cheap
1 ------------------ Because everyone uses a pencil
2 ------------------ Mining
2 ------------------ Logging

etc.

I need to retrieve the data into an array for my function as such...

$answer = array();
$answer[1] = array("A" => "Because a pencil is cheap", "B" => "Because everyone uses a pencil");
$answer[2] = array("A" => "Mining", "B" => "Logging");

but I am not even getting close trying to combine it like this example I found...

$query="SELECT question_id, answer FROM answers WHERE quiz_id='1'";

$result = mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());

foreach ($array as $key => $value)
{
    echo '<b>top level:</b> ' . $key . '<br>';
    foreach ($value as $subkey => $subvalue)
    {
        echo $subkey . ') '.$subvalue .'<br />';

}
}

Can someone give me some guidance?

I appreciate the help in advance,

Don

[leatherback]

Hi there again Don,

The example you show, look like an example to DISPLAY the data, not to store it in an array. What do you need!?

Assuming you need the array; Do you have an ID for the answers? The a, b, c, d? You should, as otherwise you run into trouble later on when you verify the answers...

Does this look like something that might work for you?:

// get the info from the database, make sure to sort by question, and answer_id!
$query="
SELECT question_id, answer 
  FROM answers 
  WHERE quiz_id='1'
  order by question_id, answerid";

$result = mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());
if($result)
  {
  $i = 0;
  $answers = array(); 
  while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
    {
    if($i <> $row['QUESTIONID']) // test whether you have a new question
      {
      $answers[$row['QUESTIONID']] = array();
      $i = $row['QUESTIONID'];
      }
   $answers[$row['QUESTIONID']]['ANSWERID'] = $row['ANSWER'];
   }
 }

[dmacman1962]

Hi lb,

I have the questions in one table, the answers in another. I may not have labelled them correctly. Here are the 2 tables.

questions <--table name
ID---quiz_id-----question_id ----------------- answer <-- field names
1------1---------------1 ------------------ Because a pencil is cheap
2------1---------------1 ------------------ Because everyone uses a pencil
3------1---------------2 ------------------ Mining
4------1---------------2 ------------------ Logging

answers <-- table name
ID ------ quiz_id ----- question_id ---------- answer ------- correct <-- field names
1-------------1---------------1----------------1--------------0
2-------------1---------------1----------------2--------------1
3-------------1---------------2----------------1--------------1
4-------------1---------------2----------------2--------------0

And what I have is a function to build the quiz and it needs the questions and answer in an array. Here is the link I had for that. You helped me on that one also!

In the end, the results would be...

Question
1)
--A
--B
--C
--D

2)
--A
--B
--C
--D

Is this close or making sense?

Thanks
Don

[firemankurt]

// get the info from the database, make sure to sort by question, and answer_id!
$query="
SELECT question_id, answer
  FROM answers
  WHERE quiz_id='1'
  order by question_id, answerid";

$result = mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());
if($result)
  {
  // make an array of alphabet keys to be used in answer array
  $AlphKeys=array('A','B','C','D','E');

  while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
    {
   // count the number of answers already processed with the same 'question_id'
   $count = count ( $answ[$row['question_id']]);  

   // use the count to set a new alphabet key from the $AlphaKeys array  

   $answ[$row['question_id']][$AlphKeys[$count]] = $row['answerid'];
   }
}

[dmacman1962]

Thanks firemankurt and leatherback,

That helped me resolve this.

Nice!

Now I have a quiz application and I can setup the admin side for them to generate their own quizzes whenever they want.

You two rock!

Don