Creating neat little sub-array from big array

[ChenXiu]

My longest post of the year..... (thank you in advance for scrolling 😀)
Here is what my $_POST array looks like using print_r($_POST)

Array
(
    [newQuantity77777] => 3
    [newPrice77777] => 5.00
    [usedQuantity77777] => 1
    [usedPrice77777] => 3.99
    [total77777] => 18.99
    [newQuantity88888] => // sometimes empty
    [newPrice88888] =>
    [usedQuantity88888] => 4
    [usedPrice88888] => 12.00
    [total88888] => 48.00
    [newQuantity44444] => 2
    [newPrice44444] => 4.00
    [usedQuantity44444] => 0
    [usedPrice44444] => 3.99
    [total44444] => 8.00 // these values I don't need
    [date] => July 25 2021 // these values below I don't need
    [address] => 123 Anystreet Avenue
    [address2] =>
    [zipcode] => 90210
    [city] => Beverly Hills
    [state] => CA
    [planet] => Mars
)

I've been trying to use that array to create a special "sub-array" for only the SKU numbers and just their new and used quantities and prices.

DESIRED RESULT:

Array
(
    [77777] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 3
            [newPrice] => 5.00
            [usedQuantity] => 1
            [usedPrice] => 3.99
        )

    [88888] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 0
            [newPrice] => 0
            [usedQuantity] => 4
            [usedPrice] => 12.00
        )

    [44444] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 2
            [newPrice] => 4.00
            [usedQuantity] => 0
            [usedPrice] => 3.99
        )

)

Knowing that my SKU numbers are always exactly 5 digits, and no other $_POST keys will ever have 5 digits, I've been able to accomplish this with horribly convoluted and unsatisfactory code like this:

$sku = array();
foreach($_POST as $var => $val) {
$number = substr($var,-5);
if (preg_match("/\d{5}/",$sku)) {
$sku[$number] = // the array keys will be the SKU numbers
// then I keep looping to look for the string "newQuantity"
// capture that value... and create little mini arrays
// for my big multidimensional array.....

Is there a better way to go about this?

Thank you.

[Barand]

When you create the original array, instead of

$array['newQuantity77777'] = 3;

use

$array[77777]['newQuantity'] = 3;

Job done

[ChenXiu]

I know, I agree! But I can't. That posted array comes from a 3rd party.
Actually, not too long ago when you were helping me with another mySQL issue, I learned about how use create those mini-arrays with my POST data (at first I thought it was complicated, but here's a perfect example of why doing a little prep work in the beginning is an excellent idea).

Anyway, I'm stuck with receiving this type of an array. Over the past couple years, I throw about an hour or two a day at it to try to come up with something better -- I have several solutions that work..... but they all involve looping and either using strpos or preg_match. At the end of each daily 2-hour sessions I spend on this, I end up scrapping my work and reverting to what I have because, at least, my original work never triggers any errors 😃

If you can think of any ideas to point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. The only consistant thing I have to go on is the SKU numbers always are digits, are always 5 digits long, and nothing else in the $_POST variable ever has 5 consecutive digits. I cannot think of any other sure-fire way than to loop through each value, capture those 5 digits, and then find every post variable with the captured 5 digits to then capture the quantity and price.

(And, once I have that, the rest of my code is starting to shape up nicely).

Edited July 28, 2021 by ChenXiu

[Barand]

I would ...

foreach ($array as $k => $v)  {
    $id = substr($k, -5);
    if (ctype_digit($id)) {
        $len = strlen($k);
        $k = substr($k, 0, $len-5);
        $sku[$id][$k] = $v;
    }
    else $sku[$k] = $v;
}
echo '<pre>' . print_r($sku, 1) . '</pre>';

giving...

Array
(
    [77777] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 3
            [newPrice] => 5
            [usedQuantity] => 1
            [usedPrice] => 3.99
            [total] => 18.99
        )

    [88888] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 0
            [newPrice] => 0
            [usedQuantity] => 4
            [usedPrice] => 12
            [total] => 48
        )

    [44444] => Array
        (
            [newQuantity] => 2
            [newPrice] => 4
            [usedQuantity] => 0
            [usedPrice] => 3.99
            [total] => 8
        )

    [date] => July 25 2021
    [address] => 123 Anystreet Avenue
    [address2] => 
    [zipcode] => 90210
    [city] => Beverly Hills
    [state] => CA
    [planet] => Mars
)

 

[Barand]

PS

It would better to change line 6 above to

$sku['products'][$id][$k] = $v;
    

 

[ChenXiu]

That is fantastic! I also like your change to line 6 -- it makes for clearer code.
These days I'm learning to make my code neater, and to use actual words (like your $sku['products']) so at a later time, I know what the heck my code means.
Years ago I thought it "saved space" and "made PHP faster" if I scrunched everything on one line!
(made-up example): $aaa=array($cz =>$w8);$c=$5;foreach($a as $b){if($b!=0){$czn = $rrr}} <--- OMG!

That works fine until 6 months later an "error on line 10" appears and not only do I not remember what any of the variables mean, I can't find the line -- because the entire code is all on one line haha LOL.

Anyway, thank you!!

[Barand]

1 hour ago, ChenXiu said:

it makes for clearer code.

It also gives a better structure to the resulting array, to make those with numbered keys a sub-group

Array
(
    [products] => Array
        (
            [77777] => Array
                (
                    [newQuantity] => 3
                    [newPrice] => 5
                    [usedQuantity] => 1
                    [usedPrice] => 3.99
                    [total] => 18.99
                )

            [88888] => Array
                (
                    [newQuantity] => 0
                    [newPrice] => 0
                    [usedQuantity] => 4
                    [usedPrice] => 12
                    [total] => 48
                )

            [44444] => Array
                (
                    [newQuantity] => 2
                    [newPrice] => 4
                    [usedQuantity] => 0
                    [usedPrice] => 3.99
                    [total] => 8
                )

        )

    [date] => July 25 2021
    [address] => 123 Anystreet Avenue
    [address2] => 
    [zipcode] => 90210
    [city] => Beverly Hills
    [state] => CA
    [planet] => Mars
)