Associative Array within Associative Array - php

Question

I am new to PHP and am trying to apply a named array within a named array. I have been able to apply each rope name (i.e. "Poly Soak") along with img, title, blurb, desc, etc. but am having a difficult time trying to apply $specTable into a table. I am also trying to apply $applications and $benefits with no luck.
I am using the using the GET command to generate each page. Pages populate as follows:
water-rescue-ropes.php?value=aqua-d
water-rescue-ropes.php?value=poly-soak... etc
function strip_bad_chars( $input ) {
$output = preg_replace( "/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]/", "", $input );
return $output; }
if (isset($_GET['value'])) {
$waterRescueRope = strip_bad_chars( $_GET['value'] );
$rope = $waterRescueRopes[$waterRescueRope];}
Here is the edited array info:
$waterRescueRopes = array(
"poly-soak" => array(
'img' => "3P",
'title' => "Poly Soak™",
'blurb' => "Pelican’s 16 strand kernmantle construction is a...",
'desc' => "Polypropylene Water Rescue Rope",
'construction' => "16 Strand",
'cover' => "Polypropylene",
'core' => "Polypropylene",
array(
array(
'sku' => "3P-12Y",
'diameter' => "3/8"",
'tensile' => 3000,
'weight' => 3.4,
),
array(
'sku' => "3P-14Y",
'diameter' => "7/16"",
'tensile' => 3380,
'weight' => 4.7,
),
),
array("Water Rescue", "Canyoneering"),
array("Lightweight", "Buoyant", "High Visibility"),
),
"poly-soak-economy" => array(
'img' => "FQK",
'title' => "Poly Soak™ Economy",
'blurb' => "All the great benefits and features of our Poly Soak rope but at a lower cost.",
'desc' => "Polypropylene Economy Water Rescue Rope",
'construction' => "16 Strand",
'cover' => "Polypropylene",
'core' => "Polypropylene",
array(
array(
'sku' => "FQK-502",
'diameter' => "1/8"",
'tensile' => 2000,
'weight' => 1.5,
),
),
array("Water Rescue"),
array("Economical", "Lightweight", "Buoyant"),
),
"poly-soak-2" => array(
'img' => "3PN",
'title' => "Poly Soak™",
'blurb' => "This UL certified polypropylene rope is approved for...",
'desc' => "NFPA® Water Rescue Rope",
'construction' => "24 Strand",
'cover' => "Polypropylene",
'core' => "Polypropylene",
array(
array(
'sku' => "3PN-12Y",
'diameter' => "3/8"",
'tensile' => 4200,
'weight' => 3.05,
),
),
array("Water Rescue", "Canyoneering", "Mooring"),
array("Bright Colors for Greater Visibility", "Supple for Compact Storage", "Certified to the Highest Standard", "Buoyant"),
),
"aqua-d" => array(
'img' => "3q",
'title' => "Aqua-D™",
'blurb' => "This water rescue rope has a blended Dyneema® and polypropylene core. With a multifilament polypropylene cover, this rope floats and has near zero water retention. It is extremely strong, light 'weight', and has a no-stretch braid that meets the needs of coastal and river rescue professionals worldwide.",
'desc' => "Dyneema® Polypropylene Water Rescue Rope",
'construction' => "16 Strand",
'cover' => "Polypropylene",
'core' => "Dyneema®",
array(
array(
'sku' => "3Q-08Y",
'diameter' => "1/4"",
'tensile' => "3200",
'weight' => "1.7",
),
array(
'sku' => "3Q-10Y",
'diameter' => "5/16"",
'tensile' => "3400",
'weight' => "2.3",
),
array(
'sku' => "3Q-12Y",
'diameter' => "3/8"",
'tensile' => "4950",
'weight' => "3.4",
),
),
array("Minimal Water Retention", "Strong & Lightweight", "Buoyant"),
array("Water Rescue"),
), );
Additional included functions:
function get_specs($array = false)
{
if (!is_array($array))
return array();
elseif(empty($array))
return array();
foreach($array as $polytype => $polydata) {
$new[$polytype]['specs'] = (!empty($polydata[0]))? $polydata[0]:array();
$new[$polytype]['applications'] = (!empty($polydata[1]))? $polydata[1]:array();
$new[$polytype]['benefits'] = (!empty($polydata[2]))? $polydata[2]:array();
}
return $new;
}
Here is the edited specTable:
<?php function display_specs($spec = array(),$name = false)
{
if(!empty($spec[$name]['specs'])) {
ob_start();
foreach($spec[$name]['specs'] as $specs) {
?>
<tr>
<td><?php echo $specs['sku']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['diameter']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['tensile']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['weight']; ?></td>
</tr>
<?php
}
$data = ob_get_contents();
}
} ?>
// Isolates the specs from the main array
$specs = get_specs($waterRescueRopes);
// Alternately, you can loop through the main array and get all
<?php foreach($specs as $polytype => $spec) {
echo display_specs($specs,$_GET['value']);
}
?>
Edited Applications (Benefits is in similar list):
<?php function display_applications($spec = array(),$name = false)
{
if(!empty($spec[$name]['applications'])) {
ob_start();
foreach($spec[$name]['applications'] as $apps) {
?>
<li><?php echo $apps; ?></li>
<?php
}
$data = ob_get_contents();
return $data;
}
}
?>
<tr valign='top'>
<td class="td-item-cell"><article>
<div class="rel_product_wrapper">
<h3>Applications</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<?php
foreach($specs as $polytype => $spec) {
echo display_applications($specs,$_GET['value']);
}
?>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</article></td>
</tr>
I currently have them populating what I need but multiple times ( four times for the four types of rope, I am assuming).
Thank you for your time! I appreciate it! :)

Answer 1

Remove the variables in your array, then create a function to extract just those aspects you need separately. The reason what you are doing does not work is because each time you write $specTable on each array, you re-assign/overwrite the previously-assigned $specTable to the current array until finally it is assigned the last array in the main array. That is why only one shows up. You need to save out those aspects to new arrays:
FUNCTIONS: Place functions at the top of the page OR in a different file that you include on this page for use. It is better to include using something like include("function.specs.php") because then you can reuse the functions on different pages if you want.
function get_specs($array = false)
{
if (!is_array($array))
return array();
elseif(empty($array))
return array();
foreach($array as $polytype => $polydata) {
$new[$polytype]['specs'] = (!empty($polydata[0]))? $polydata[0]:array();
$new[$polytype]['applications'] = (!empty($polydata[1]))? $polydata[1]:array();
$new[$polytype]['benefits'] = (!empty($polydata[2]))? $polydata[2]:array();
}
return $new;
}
function display_specs($spec = array(),$name = false)
{
if(!empty($spec[$name]['specs'])) {
ob_start();
foreach($spec[$name]['specs'] as $specs) {
?>
<tr>
<td><?php echo $specs['sku']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['diameter']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['tensile']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $specs['weight']; ?></td>
</tr>
<?php
}
$data = ob_get_contents();
return $data;
}
}
// For sake of ease, you can do an application one by itself,
// Normally, you could just do one class/method that handles all the
// the different arrays
function display_applications($spec = array(),$name = false)
{
if(!empty($spec[$name]['applications'])) {
ob_start();
foreach($spec[$name]['applications'] as $apps) {
?>
<tr>
<td><?php echo $apps; ?></td>
</tr>
<?php
}
$data = ob_get_contents();
return $data;
}
}
Using the functions on your page:
// Isolates the specs from the main array
$specs = get_specs($waterRescueRopes);
// To select one product out of the bunch, just use the name from the array.
// Note, you need the $specs array as the first argument
echo display_specs($specs,"poly-soak");
echo display_applications($specs,"poly-soak");
// Alternately, you can loop through the main array and get all: ?>
<table>
<?php
foreach($specs as $polytype => $spec) {
echo display_specs($specs,$polytype);
echo display_applications($specs,$polytype);
}
?>
</table>
Applications Part: Because the function already does the loop for you, you just need to echo it:
<tr valign='top'>
<td class="td-item-cell"><article>
<div class="rel_product_wrapper">
<h3>Applications</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<?php echo display_applications($specs,$_GET['value']); ?>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</article></td>
</tr>
The RAW print_r($specs) gives you:
Array
(
[poly-soak] => Array
(
[specs] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[sku] => 3P-12Y
[diameter] => 3/8"
[tensile] => 3000
[weight] => 3.4
)
[1] => Array
(
[sku] => 3P-14Y
[diameter] => 7/16"
[tensile] => 3380
[weight] => 4.7
)
)
[applications] => Array
(
[0] => Water Rescue
[1] => Canyoneering
)
[benefits] => Array
(
[0] => Lightweight
[1] => Buoyant
[2] => High Visibility
)
)
[poly-soak-economy] => Array
(
[specs] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[sku] => FQK-502
[diameter] => 1/8"
[tensile] => 2000
[weight] => 1.5
)
)
[applications] => Array
(
[0] => Water Rescue
)
[benefits] => Array
(
[0] => Economical
[1] => Lightweight
[2] => Buoyant
)
)
[poly-soak-2] => Array
(
[specs] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[sku] => 3PN-12Y
[diameter] => 3/8"
[tensile] => 4200
[weight] => 3.05
)
)
[applications] => Array
(
[0] => Water Rescue
[1] => Canyoneering
[2] => Mooring
)
[benefits] => Array
(
[0] => Bright Colors for Greater Visibility
[1] => Supple for Compact Storage
[2] => Certified to the Highest Standard
[3] => Buoyant
)
)
[aqua-d] => Array
(
[specs] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[sku] => 3Q-08Y
[diameter] => 1/4"
[tensile] => 3200
[weight] => 1.7
)
[1] => Array
(
[sku] => 3Q-10Y
[diameter] => 5/16"
[tensile] => 3400
[weight] => 2.3
)
[2] => Array
(
[sku] => 3Q-12Y
[diameter] => 3/8"
[tensile] => 4950
[weight] => 3.4
)
)
[applications] => Array
(
[0] => Minimal Water Retention
[1] => Strong & Lightweight
[2] => Buoyant
)
[benefits] => Array
(
[0] => Water Rescue
)
)
)