Explode db unorodered list

[azunoman]

I have the following mysql db field:

$row_rs_pwc['ProdFeatures'.$lang]

<ul>

<li>Midi-Drive™ construction

<li>User adjustable Anti-Tips

<li>Com-For-Back™ Seating

<li>Fully programmable controller

<li>Precise quality control & 100% pre-ship inspection

<li>Adjustable wheelbase length (Not available on Scout RF4)

<li>Rigorous design testing

<li>Mirror Glaze™ thru & thru color

<li>Ergonomic design

<li>Adjustable independent suspension

<li>Ample horsepower

<li>Three-level brake system

<li>Multiple seating choices

</ul>

 

I need to dig out each <li> into an array so I coded the following:

 

$listitems = explode('<li>',$row_rs_pwc['ProdFeatures'.$lang],-1);

 

But when I dump the array it contains the <ul> at index 0.  Why would it not put the </ul> into my array but the <ul>?????

 

print_r($listitems);
  Array
(
    [0] => <ul>

    [1] => Midi-Drive™ construction

    [2] => User adjustable Anti-Tips

    [3] => Com-For-Back™ Seating

    [4] => Fully programmable controller 

    [5] => Precise quality control & 100% pre-ship inspection

    [6] => Adjustable wheelbase length (Not available on Scout RF4)

    [7] => Rigorous design testing

    [8] => Mirror Glaze™ thru & thru color

    [9] => Ergonomic design

    [10] => Adjustable independent suspension

    [11] => Ample horsepower

    [12] => Three-level brake system

 

 

 

[premiso]

Because you are exploding at <li> not at </ul>.

 

If you notice there is a <li> before the <ul> which splits that into a new variable. Since there is not a <li> before </ul> it just keeps it with the last index line.

 

EDIT:

To avoid this you can use strip_tags on the string before you parse it:

 

$row_rs_pwc['ProdFeatures'.$lang] = strip_tags($row_rs_pwc['ProdFeatures'.$lang], '<li>');

 

Granted you would want to array_shift the first element off as it probably will contain a blank space.

[azunoman]

It worked just as you explained above including the '?' value in index 0.

Array

(

    [0] =>

    [1] => Midi-Drive™ construction

    [2] => User adjustable Anti-Tips

    [3] => Com-For-Back™ Seating

    [4] => Fully programmable controller

    [5] => Precise quality control & 100% pre-ship inspection

    [6] => Adjustable wheelbase length (Not available on Scout RF4)

    [7] => Rigorous design testing

    [8] => Mirror Glaze™ thru & thru color

    [9] => Ergonomic design

    [10] => Adjustable independent suspension

    [11] => Ample horsepower

    [12] => Three-level brake system

)

My question would be the '?' value for index 0?, if for example my db field only contained <li>'s and not the <ul>, I would shift off a valid <li>.  To avoid the shift I tried checking the array after the explode to not print out a <li> if the value in index 0 wasr a ' ' (blank) and (also !is_null) but the echo of the <li> was executed so I get a ul with no text.

			if(" " != $listitems[$listitemindex]) {	
			echo "<li>".$listitems[$listitemindex];	//display the <li>
		}		

 

Thanks for your time and patience.  Getting this right will allow me to delete a field for each product, i.e. a shortened features field.  I should have done it originally but I struggled then to.