Offset PHP array results - php

Question

I am looking to offset a group of PHP array results to create multiple rows of data.
For example, the first row will contain the first four array results, with the second row displaying results 5-8 and the third row containing results 9-12.
Currently, I am printing out all 12 in one list, however I'd like a bit more display control (i.e. ordering the results into columns which I can style independent of each), hence why I'd like to offset the results.
My current PHP is below:
<?php
if (empty($tmdb_cast['cast'])) {
} else {?>
<section class="cast">
<p class="title">Cast</p>
<ul class="section_body"><?php
foreach($tmdb_cast['cast'] as $key => $castMember){
if ($key < 12) {?>
<li class="actor_instance clearfix"><?php
if ($castMember['profile_path'] != '') {?>
<img src="http://cf2.imgobject.com/t/p/w45<?php echo $castMember['profile_path']; ?>" class="actor_image pull-left" alt="<?php echo $castMember['name']; ?>" title="<?php echo $castMember['name']; ?>" /><?php
} else {?>
<img src="assets/images/castpic_unavailable.png" class="actor_image pull-left" alt="No image available" title="No image available" /><?php
}?>
<p class="actor"><?php echo $castMember['character']; ?> - <?php echo $castMember['name']; ?></p>
</li><?php
}
}?>
<div class="morecast pull-right">[...view all cast]</div>
</ul>
</section><?php
}?>
P.S. Apologies for how I've formatted the code in the above block - I'm still not 100% sure how to make it look "nice" on StackOverflow.

Answer 1

Use array_chunk to break a single dimension array into a 2D array. Then you can loop through each chunk, and then each result, to get that "offset" effect between them.
$chunks = array_chunk($tmdb_cast['cast'], 4); // 4 here, is the number you want each group to have
foreach($chunks as $key => $chunk)
{
foreach($chunk as $castMember)
{
//display castMember here
}
// add code between groups of 4 cast members here
}

Answer 2

First: mixing php and html this way is a very bad habbit... one day you will have to maintain your code and that day you will vomit all over your desk because you mixed different languages in one file...
That being said..
and without creating a new array:
foreach($tmdb_cast['cast'] as $key => $castMember)
{
if ($key < 12)
{
// your code goes here
// if key is 3, or 7 the code below will close the listcontainer and open a new one...
if( ($key+1)%4 == 0 AND $key <11)
echo '</ul> <ul class="section_body">';
}
}
Also replace this:
if (empty($tmdb_cast['cast']))
{
}
else {
with this:
if (!empty($tmdb_cast['cast']))
{

Answer 3

I'm not entirely sure what you're looking for but here's how I would format your code. Alternative syntax for 'if' is a little more readable, and the use of for loops instead of a foreach will give you the control over row numbers you say you're looking for.
<?php if( ! empty($tmdb_cast['cast'])): ?>
<section class="cast">
<p class="title">Cast</p>
<ul class="section_body">
<?php
for($i = 0; $i < 12; $i++):
$castMember = $tmdb_cast['cast'][$i];
?>
<li class="actor_instance clearfix">
<?php if($castMember['profile_path'] != ''): ?>
<img src="http://cf2.imgobject.com/t/p/w45<?php echo $castMember['profile_path']; ?>" class="actor_image pull-left" alt="<?php echo $castMember['name']; ?>" title="<?php echo $castMember['name']; ?>" />
<?php else: ?>
<img src="assets/images/castpic_unavailable.png" class="actor_image pull-left" alt="No image available" title="No image available" />
<?php endif; ?>
<p class="actor"><?php echo $castMember['character']; ?> - <?php echo $castMember['name']; ?></p>
</li>
<?php endfor; ?>
<div class="morecast pull-right">[...view all cast]</div>
</ul>
</section>
<?php endif; ?>