Sorting arrays

[fezzik]

I need help with how to accomplish the following...

I have a multidimesional array with an unlimited number of rows and 5 columns called $myArray.The array is created from a database query. I would like to create 2 different displays from this array that are printed to a page. The first display would be grouping all rows which share the same value for a specified column (i.e. $myArray[$row][0]) and then printing them. Similar to:

// array data
$myArray[1][0] = "sifl";
$myArray[1][1] = "apple";
$myArray[2][0] = "olly";
$myArray[2][1] = "orange";
$myArray[3][0] = "sifl";
$myArray[3][1] = "pear";
$myArray[4][0] = "sifl";
$myArray[4][1] = "banana";

// printed output would look like

sifl
apple
pear
banana

olly
orange

The second display would be similar but it would group rows which shared the same values for specified 2 columns. If anyone has the time to help me possibly create 2 functions to accomplish this task I would appreciate it. Any information is appreciated.

Best,

Fezzik

[doni49]

Can you explain what you're looking for a little more clearly?  And show any code you've tried--maybe that'll help me understand what you're after.

[fezzik]

Sure!

So I have a multidimensional array of many rows and 5 columns per row. The data is similar to:

$myArray[0][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[0][1] = "Bumblebee";
$myArray[0][2] = "VW Bug";
$myArray[0][3] = "Yellow";
$myArray[0][4] = "Smog Check";

$myArray[0][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[0][1] = "Jazz";
$myArray[0][2] = "Porsche";
$myArray[0][3] = "White";
$myArray[0][4] = "Steering Realignment";

$myArray[0][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[0][1] = "Optimus Prime";
$myArray[0][2] = "Diesel";
$myArray[0][3] = "Red and Blue";
$myArray[0][4] = "Catalytic Converter";

$myArray[0][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[0][1] = "Starscream";
$myArray[0][2] = "Flying Machine";
$myArray[0][3] = "Red";
$myArray[0][4] = "Girly Voice";

$myArray[0][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[0][1] = "Megatron";
$myArray[0][2] = "Pea Shooter";
$myArray[0][3] = "Purple and Black";
$myArray[0][4] = "Everything";

I would like to create a function that will cycle through the array and print something similar to (grouping every row by the value of the 1st column):

Autobots
-----------------
Bumblebee
Jazz
Optimus Prime

Decepticons
-----------------
Megatron
Starscream

Thus grouping and ordering the information that is printed by the value of the first column of the row. Here is my coding attempt:

[code]
// region
$previousRegion = "";
$currentRegion = "";
// company
$currentCompany = "";
$previousCompany = "";
// counter
$tradeCounter = 0;
foreach ($tradeInfo as $book) {
foreach ($book as $key => $value){
// region
if ( $key == 0 ) {
$currentRegion = $value;
if ( $currentRegion != $previousRegion ) {
if ( $tradeCounter != 0 ) { echo "<br />"; }
echo "<strong>".$value."</strong><br /><br />";
$previousCompany = "";
}
}
// company
if ( $key == 1 ) {
$currentCompany = $value;
if ( $currentCompany != $previousCompany ) { echo "<span style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#5d5d5d;\">".$value."</span><br /><br />"; }
}
if ( !empty($value) && $key != 0 && $key != 1) {
echo "$value <br />\n";
}
if ( $key == 0 ) { $previousRegion = $value; }
if ( $key == 1 ) { $previousCompany = $value; }
if ( $key == 4 ) { echo "<br />"; }
$tradeCounter ++;
}
}
[/code]

The variable names in my code do not reflect the sample data which I provided in this post. This code is just a reflection of my attempt to sort the array using foreach() and print the information how I would like it arranged. I hope this is clearer. Please let me know if you need additional details. Thanks for your response.

Cheers,

Fezzik

[.josh]

how about sorting the array or even usorting it and then looping it, dividing it by simply checking for a new value (like autobot vs. decepticon)

[Jenk]

You are mixing keys with values; sorting will be nigh on impossible like this, unless you have a whitelist of keys.

Reorganise your array:

[code]<?php

$array = array(
    'Autobots' => array(
        'Bumblebee',
        'Optimus Prime',
        /* etc */
    ),
    'Decepticons' => array(
        'Galvatron',
        'Starscream',
        /* etc */
    )
);

?>[/code]

then you can reference them as...
[code]<?php

foreach ($array['Autobots'] as $autobot)
{
    echo $autobot . ' transform!' . chr(10);
}

foreach ($array['Decepticons'] as $decepticon)
{
    echo $decepticon . ' transform!' . chr(10);
}

?>[/code]

[fezzik]

Thanks for the responses. I'll see what I can come up with using your example.

[sasa]

try[code]<?php
$myArray[0][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[0][1] = "Bumblebee";
$myArray[0][2] = "VW Bug";
$myArray[0][3] = "Yellow";
$myArray[0][4] = "Smog Check";

$myArray[1][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[1][1] = "Jazz";
$myArray[1][2] = "Porsche";
$myArray[1][3] = "White";
$myArray[1][4] = "Steering Realignment";

$myArray[2][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[2][1] = "Optimus Prime";
$myArray[2][2] = "Diesel";
$myArray[2][3] = "Red and Blue";
$myArray[2][4] = "Catalytic Converter";

$myArray[3][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[3][1] = "Starscream";
$myArray[3][2] = "Flying Machine";
$myArray[3][3] = "Red";
$myArray[3][4] = "Girly Voice";

$myArray[3][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[3][1] = "Megatron";
$myArray[3][2] = "Pea Shooter";
$myArray[3][3] = "Purple and Black";
$myArray[3][4] = "Everything";
function gr($group_key,$data_key,$aray) {
foreach ($aray as $a) $b[$a[$group_key]] .= " => $a[$data_key]<br />";
foreach ($b as $c => $d) $output .= "$c<br />------------<br />$d<br />";
return $output;
}

print gr(0,1,$myArray);
?>[/code]

[fezzik]

Thanks sasa! This function is splendid! I've been trying to modify your function so that it lists all the $data_key's associated with the $group_key but have been unsuccessful. Is this easily accomplished with the function you provided?

Cheers,

Fezzik

[sasa]

[code]<?php
$myArray[0][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[0][1] = "Bumblebee";
$myArray[0][2] = "VW Bug";
$myArray[0][3] = "Yellow";
$myArray[0][4] = "Smog Check";

$myArray[1][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[1][1] = "Jazz";
$myArray[1][2] = "Porsche";
$myArray[1][3] = "White";
$myArray[1][4] = "Steering Realignment";

$myArray[2][0] = "Autobots";
$myArray[2][1] = "Optimus Prime";
$myArray[2][2] = "Diesel";
$myArray[2][3] = "Red and Blue";
$myArray[2][4] = "Catalytic Converter";

$myArray[3][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[3][1] = "Starscream";
$myArray[3][2] = "Flying Machine";
$myArray[3][3] = "Red";
$myArray[3][4] = "Girly Voice";

$myArray[3][0] = "Decepticons";
$myArray[3][1] = "Megatron";
$myArray[3][2] = "Pea Shooter";
$myArray[3][3] = "Purple and Black";
$myArray[3][4] = "Everything";
function gr($group_key,$data_key,$aray) { //reorganize array
if (!is_array($data_key)) $data_key = array($data_key);
foreach ($aray as $a) {
$o1 = array();
foreach ($data_key as $e) $o1[] = $a[$e];
$b[$a[$group_key]][] = $o1;
}
return $b;
}
function out($a) { //output array
foreach ($a as $b => $c) {
$out .= $b."\n".'<table border="3">'."\n";
foreach ($c as $d) {
$out .= '<tr>'."\n";
foreach ($d as $e) $out .= "\t<td width=\"150\">$e</td>\n";
$out .= '</tr>'."\n";
}
$out .= '</table>'."\n<br />\n\n";
}
return $out;
}
$a = array(1,3,4,2);
$b = gr(0,$a,$myArray);
//print_r($b);
$c = out($b);
echo $c;
?>[/code]

[fezzik]

Thank you again!