Help with json_decode

[alecthorne]

I am using the application ZOO with Joomla, which stores information within a multi dimensional array with a field named 'elements'. The format is similar to that shown below.

 

 {
    "0ad767a2-b0d6-42fe-abb9-cf7d3e62c88b":  {
        "0":  {
            "value": "NameABCD"
        }
    },
    "4adc7e1d-1124-450a-986f-a4df1bb7b4c0":  {
        "0":  {
            "value": "E-MailABCD"
        }
    },
}

 

I am not a php programmer, but with help I managed to extract the information using the a @mysql_query and the following:

 

        $elements = $row['elements'];
        $zooelements = json_decode($elements);
        $name = $zooelements->{"0ad767a2-b0d6-42fe-abb9-cf7d3e62c88b"}->{"0"}->value;

 

My problem is if I want to change any value e.g. $name="NameEFGH", how can I propogate this new value back to the array using a @mysql_query such as:

 

                $query = "UPDATE link_zoo_item SET elements=????

 

Any help as a beginner would be much appreciated,

 

Alec

[requinix]

First, use an array for the decoded JSON. Having to use that {""} syntax is unfortunate and awkward.

$zooelements = json_decode($elements, true);
$name = $zooelements["0ad767cantbebotheredtocopypaste"][0]["value"];

Second, are you actually using a @ when you call mysql_query? That will hide any errors that may happen. Hiding errors is very bad. Don't use @.

 

Is your question about how to update $zooelements? Surely the answer is just

$zooelements["0adblahblahblah"][0]["value"] = "NameEFGH";

[benanamen]

Third, you are using deprecated MySql Code. You need to use PDO with prepared statements.

[alecthorne]

Dear requinix and benanamen, apologies for the extremely late reply to both your answers.

 

Sadly the syntax of the array is set by the ZOO application I use for Joolma.

 

The PHP routines I wrote originally are extremely old, and sadly represent my lacking knowledge in PHP, but I would like to update the values in-line with what I have written before (if possible)

 

I tried the following, but the new value is not returned to the array

 

$zooelements["de37ea08-9c88-4479-8453-fc020fe91eb9"] = "NameEFGH";

$query5 = "UPDATE link_zoo_item SET elements=$zooelements WHERE id=$id";
$result5 = mysql_query($query5);

 

Is there something that I have missed?

 

Many thanks,

 

Alec

[requinix]

$zooelements is an array. You can't just stick an array into a string like that.

 

Do you mean to store the JSON? Use json_encode() to turn the modified array back into a JSON string, then escape it (with mysql_real_escape_string()) before sticking it, quoted, into the SQL.