Insert multidimensional array data into MySQL DB - php

Question

I need to insert array data into MySQL DB. My code is provided below. The problem is that query is equal to
INSERT INTO MyTab (Array) VALUES
(Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array,Array)
So, why do I get Array instead of array values?
$columns = array();
$values = array();
$columns[] = array('Num','appearanceTime');
$curr_time = new DateTime();
while($row=mysql_fetch_assoc($result_arr)) {
$values[] = array($row['Num_arr'],$curr_time);
}
$cols = implode(",",$columns);
$vals = implode(",",$values);
$query = "INSERT INTO `MyTab` ($cols) VALUES ($vals)";
UPDATE
This code returns Internal Server Error at the line $vals = implode(...).
$columns = array('Num','appearanceTime','earliestTime');
$values = array();
$curr_time = new DateTime();
while($row=mysql_fetch_assoc($result_arr)) {
$values[] = array($row['Num_arr'],$curr_time,$row['ETA']);
}
$cols = implode(",",$columns);
function get_values($arr) {
return '(' . implode(',', $arr) . ')';
}
$vals = implode(',', array_map('get_values', $values));
$query_queue = "INSERT INTO `MyTab` ('" . $cols . "') VALUES ('" . $vals . "')";

Answer 1

The values inside the arrays are arrays. You need to implode each of them, too:
$vals = implode(',', array_map(function($arr) {
return '(' . implode(',', $arr) . ')';
}, $values));
As for the columns, I think you want:
$columns = array('Num','appearanceTime');
$values = array();
Not:
$columns = array();
$values = array();
$columns[] = array('Num','appearanceTime');
You'll also need to quote everything to put it in the query. You should use PDO or MySQLi and prepared statements instead of mysql_ if you can.
Given PHP 5.2, the first example needs to be changed to:
function implode_comma($arr) {
return '(' . implode(',', $arr) . ')';
}
# ...
$vals = implode(',', array_map('implode_comma', $values));