Simple array to multidimensional array for file listings

Question

I'm quite new to programming and I've been trying to get something, that seemed rather simple, done but it's taking me way too long and I do not have the feeling that I'm getting anywhere close...

I'm trying to format an array that looks like this:

Array (
    [1] = "index.php"
    [2] = "page.php"
    [3] = "sub/subpage.php"
    [4] = "sub/subpage2.php"
    [5] = "sub/subsub/subsubpage.php"
    [6] = "sub/subsub/subsubpage2.php"
    [7] = "sub2/sub2page.php"
)

Into an array that looks like this:

Array (
    [/] => Array (
              [0] => "index.php"
              [1] => "page.php"
          )
    [/sub] => Array (
              [0] => "subpage.php"
              [1] => "subpage2.php"
              [/subsub] => Array (
                  [0] => "subsubpage.php"
                  [1] => "subsubpage2.php"
              )
          )
    [/sub2] => Array (
              [0] => "sub2page.php"
          )
)

I'm hoping this example shows what I'm trying to do... Which is basically reformatting my original (simple) array into an array that I can use to create some kind of navigation in HTML (using nested ul's)

Thanks in advance!

EDIT:

I've tried this to create the multidimensional array...

 $parts = explode('/', trim($page["parent"], "/"));
 while ( !empty($parts) ) {
     $pageList[array_pop($parts)] = $page["filename"];
 }

 // $page = array("filename" => "example.php", "parent" => "sub/sub/")

I'm having problems coming up with a function that does this... I added something I tried to the OP. — Cas Cornelissen
– Cas Cornelissen, Commented Feb 11, 2013 at 20:08

hek2mgl · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-11 20:40:34Z

1

I've prepared an example how to achieve this. The array $from

$from = array (
    "index.php",
    "page.php",
    "sub/subpage2.php",
    "sub/subsub/subpage2.php",
    "sub2/sub2page.php",
);

will be converted to $to:

$to = array();
foreach($from as $element) {
    $path = explode('/', $element);
    if(count($path) === 1) {
        array_unshift($path, '/');
    }
    $_to = &$to;
    for($i=0; $i<count($path) -1; $i++) {
        if(!array_key_exists($path[$i], $_to)) {
            $_to[$path[$i]]= array();
        }
        $_to = &$_to[$path[$i]];
    }
    $_to []= $path[count($path) -1];
}
var_dump($to);

.. what gives you the following array:

array(3) {
  '/' =>
  array(2) {
    [0] =>
    string(9) "index.php"
    [1] =>
    string(8) "page.php"
  }
  'sub' =>
  array(2) {
    [0] =>
    string(11) "subpage.php"
    'subsub' =>
    array(1) {
      [0] =>
      string(12) "subpage2.php"
    }
  }
  'sub2' =>
  array(1) {
    [0] =>
    string(12) "sub2page.php"
  }
}

edited Feb 11, 2013 at 20:40

answered Feb 11, 2013 at 20:12

hek2mgl

159k31 gold badges263 silver badges279 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

8 Comments

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

A little less close than Philip. There are 2 problems with this approach. 1) I need index.php and page.php in one array (with key /) and 2) I need /subsub inside /sub...

hek2mgl Over a year ago

@CasCornelissen If you need subsub in sub, then you'll have just to change $from. My code works with that

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

Oh wow, it works! Thanks so much... I'm going to try to understand it now, haha.

hek2mgl Over a year ago

Yes. I'm looping over directories in path ( < count($path) -1) If a directory does not exist in $to I create it. The last element is always the filename and will get added to the corresponding directory entry.

hek2mgl Over a year ago

Note one last thing. If you don't expect NULL values (unlikely) you can replace array_key_exists() by isset() which is faster.

|

Philipp · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-11 20:45:12Z

1

You mean something like this - thats just an simple parser

$test = array(
    "index.php",
    "page.php",
    "sub/subpage.php",
    "sub/subpage2.php",
    "sub/subsub/subsubpage.php",
    "sub/subsub/subsubpage2.php",
    "sub2/sub2page.php"
);


function buildPathArray($array)
{
    $t = array();

    foreach ($array as $file) {
        $path = "/";
        $name = $file;

        if (preg_match('~^(.*)/([^/]+)$~', $file, $m)) {
            $path = $m[1];
            $name = $m[2];
        }

        $p = &arrayPath($t, $path);

        $p[] = $name;
    }

    return $t;
}

function &arrayPath(&$array, $path = false)
{
    if ($path == false) {
        return $array;
    }
    else
    {
        if (strpos($path, '/') === false) {
            if (!isset($array[$path])) {
                $array[$path] = array();
            }

            return $array[$path];
        }
        else
        {
            preg_match('~([^/]*)/(.*)~', $path, $m);
            if (!isset($array[$m[1]])) {
                $array[$m[1]] = array();
            }

            return arrayPath($array[$m[1]], $m[2]);
        }
    }
}

edited Feb 11, 2013 at 20:45

answered Feb 11, 2013 at 20:11

Philipp

15.7k4 gold badges38 silver badges53 bronze badges

5 Comments

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

This is getting closer but I already got this once (forgot how to though). I need /subsub inside /sub...

Philipp Over a year ago

But this information isn't available in your array structure... you have to replace subsub/subsubpage.php with sub/subsub/subsubpage.php or this isn't possible

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

Oh god, I made a mistake. It has to be like that... I'll fix my OP, could you then look at it again?

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

Nevermind, hek2mgl's approach worked. Thanks for your time though!

Philipp Over a year ago

Postet an solution as well - especially because of arrayPath which could be usefull for other persons too

djthoms · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-11 20:01:34Z

0

If you want to use an array like that you key values need to be in quotes as well. For consider:

$array = array(
    '/' => array('index.php', 'page.php'),
    '/sub' => array('blah', 'blah', 'blah'),
    '/sub2' => array('foo', 'bar', 'foobar')
);

How you correctly set key values using the array keyword is without bracket notation. This is incorrect

$array = array(
    [key] => 'value'
);

However, if you want to add something to an array...

$array = array();
$array['foo'] = 'bar'; // named key value
$array[] = 'blah'; // automatic numeric key value
$array[] = array('foo', 'bar'); // md array (array inside an array)

Hopefully this helps you out some!

answered Feb 11, 2013 at 20:01

djthoms

3,1062 gold badges35 silver badges58 bronze badges

1 Comment

Cas Cornelissen Over a year ago

I know how to define arrays, I was using the notation in the example since I want to look them that way when using print_r

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Simple array to multidimensional array for file listings

3 Answers 3

8 Comments

5 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

8 Comments

5 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related