Sorting multi-dimensional array

[denhamd2]

I have a muli-dimensional array (see below).

 

I'm trying to use PHP to group matching events. Basically any matchname that is a duplicate (eg. Reds vs Whites) to group them together and group their linksets...

Array
(
    [matches] => Array
        (
            [match] => Array
                (
                    [sportname] => Football
                    [tournamentname] => Crown League
                    [thetime] => 201308021600
                    [matchname] => Reds vs Whites
                            [linkset] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => link1.html
                                ) 
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [sportname] => Football
                            [tournamentname] => Prince League
                            [thetime] => 201308021130
                            [matchname] => Blues vs Yellows
                            [linkset] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => link2.html
                                ) 
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [sportname] => Football
                            [tournamentname] => Crown League
                            [thetime] => 201308021000
                            [matchname] => Reds vs Whites
                            [linkset] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => link3.html
                                ) 
                       )
  )
 )
)

I am trying to end up with

Football: Reds vs Whites (201308021600) - Crown League
Links: link1.html, link3.html

 

Football: Blues vs Yellows (201308021130) - Prince League
Links: link2.html

 

I've been looking at the PHP manual but tearing my hair out trying to get it to output the above. Any ideas would be most welcome.

 

Thanks

Edited September 1, 2013 by denhamd2

[Barand]

First step is to create a consistent array structure.

 

If the data is coming from a database it is probably easier to do it in the query.

[denhamd2]

HI,

 

How would you change the array structure?

 

Also this needs to come from an XML file rather than a DB.

[Barand]

like this

[matches] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [sportname] => Football
                    [tournamentname] => Crown League
                    [thetime] => 201308021600
                    [matchname] => Reds vs Whites
                    [linkset] => Array
                        (
                            [link] => link1.html
                        )
                ) 
            [1] => Array
                (
                    [sportname] => Football
                    [tournamentname] => Prince League
                    [thetime] => 201308021130
                    [matchname] => Blues vs Yellows
                    [linkset] => Array
                        (
                            [link] => link2.html
                        ) 
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [sportname] => Football
                    [tournamentname] => Crown League
                    [thetime] => 201308021000
                    [matchname] => Reds vs Whites
                    [linkset] => Array
                        (
                            [link] => link3.html
                        ) 
               )
        )

[Barand]

The matchsort() custom sort function will sort the array by sportname - tournamentname - matchname.

$matches = Array
        (
            0 => Array
                (
                    'sportname' => 'Football',
                    'tournamentname' => 'Crown League',
                    'thetime' => 201308021600,
                    'matchname' => 'Reds vs Whites',
                    'linkset' => Array
                        (
                            'link' => 'link1.html'
                        )
                ) ,
            1 => Array
                (
                    'sportname' => 'Football',
                    'tournamentname' => 'Prince League',
                    'thetime' => 201308021130,
                    'matchname' => 'Blues vs Yellows',
                    'linkset' => Array
                        (
                            'link' => 'link2.html'
                        ) 
                ),

            2 => Array
                (
                    'sportname' => 'Football',
                    'tournamentname' => 'Crown League',
                    'thetime' => 201308021000,
                    'matchname' => 'Greys vs Whites',
                    'linkset' => Array
                        (
                            'link' => 'link3.html'
                        ) 
               )
        );

usort($matches, 'matchsort');        
echo '<pre>',print_r($matches, true),'</pre>';

function matchsort ($a, $b)
{
    $x = strcmp($a['sportname'], $b['sportname']);
    if ($x==0) {
        $y = strcmp($a['tournamentname'], $b['tournamentname']);
        if ($y==0) {
            return strcmp($a['matchname'], $b['matchname']);
        } else{
            return $y;
        }
    } else {
        return $x;
    }
}

OUTPUT

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [sportname] => Football
            [tournamentname] => Crown League
            [thetime] => 201308021000
            [matchname] => Greys vs Whites
            [linkset] => Array
                (
                    [link] => link3.html
                )

        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [sportname] => Football
            [tournamentname] => Crown League
            [thetime] => 201308021600
            [matchname] => Reds vs Whites
            [linkset] => Array
                (
                    [link] => link1.html
                )

        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [sportname] => Football
            [tournamentname] => Prince League
            [thetime] => 201308021130
            [matchname] => Blues vs Yellows
            [linkset] => Array
                (
                    [link] => link2.html
                )

        )

)