Using Associate Array to Pass Database Information with PHP and CodeIgniter - php

Question

Issue/Question: I'm using CodeIgniter to build an event calendar, and I have included a sharing option. This option works at a base level, but only displays the users' ID (primary key) in an <ul>. This isn't ideal, and I would like to show the users' first and last names in the <ul> instead. I thought creating an associative array would work, but I'm receiving funky results. The first and last name echo out as "Array Array" when the page loads, and the URL id comes up as "Array" when you select the "Array Array" link. I'm wondering what is wrong in my logic.
Funky link generated in view:
Array Array
Funky URL that is linked to "Array Array":
http://example.com/user/shared/view/Array
Modified Controller:
<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');
class Shared extends Common_Auth_Controller {
private $end_user;
public function __construct()
{
parent::__construct();
$this->end_user = $this->ion_auth->user()->row();
$data['end_user'] = $this->end_user;
$this->load->vars($data);
$this->load->model('events_model', 'events');
}
public function index()
{
$title['title'] = 'Shared';
$this->load->model('shared_model','shared');
$data['sharers'][] = array(
'shared_owner_id' => $this->shared->get($this->end_user->id),
'owner_first_name' => $this->shared->get($this->end_user->first_name),
'owner_last_name' => $this->shared->get($this->end_user->last_name),
);
$this->load->view('public/head_view', $title);
$this->load->view('user/header_view');
$this->load->view('user/shared_view', $data);
$this->load->view('user/footer_view');
}
Modified View:
<div class="hide-on-phones">
<ul>
<?php foreach($sharers as $key => $value): ?>
<li><?php echo $value['owner_first_name']." ".$value['owner_last_name'] ?></li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
</div>
Model:
class Shared_model extends crud_model {
public function __construct()
{
parent::__construct();
$this->pk = 'id';
$this->table_name = 'shared';
}
public function get($shared_to_user_id)
{
$this->db->where('shared_to_id', $shared_to_user_id);
$ids = parent::get_all();
$users = array();
foreach ($ids as $id)
{
$users[] = $id->owner_id;
}
return $users;
}
}
Thank you so much for your help, and let me know if there is any more information that may be required. Below are the original view and controllers that work, but are not preferable.
Original Controller:
public function index()
{
$title['title'] = 'Shared';
$this->load->model('shared_model','shared');
$data['sharers'] = $this->shared->get($this->end_user->id);
$this->load->view('user/head_view', $title);
$this->load->view('user/header_view');
$this->load->view('user/navigation_view');
$this->load->view('user/shared_view', $data);
$this->load->view('user/footer_view');
}
Original View:
<?php foreach($sharers as $s): ?>
<li><?php echo $s ?></li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
Disclaimer: I'm new to web development, and I suck at associative arrays (apparently).

Answer 1

Your $data['sharers'] array doesn't have arrays as $values. Therefore, the way you are calling the $value[]'s in your foreach aren't working. You have no reason for calling the foreach at this point.
<div class="hide-on-phones">
<ul>
<li><a href="<?=base_url('user/shared/view/'.$sharers['shared_pk_id'])?>">
<?=$sharers['first_name'] . ' ' . $sharers['last_name']?>
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
I expect you will later on fill an array with the data, in which case you can fill it as
$data['sharers'][] = array(
'shared_pk' => $this->shared->get($this->end_user->id),
'first_name' => $this->events->get($this->end_user->first_name),
'last_name' => $this->events->get($this->end_user->last_name)
);
Which, in turn can be looped using
<div class="hide-on-phones">
<ul>
<? foreach($sharers as $sharer): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?=base_url('user/shared/view/' . $sharer['shared_pk'])?>">
<?=$sharer['first_name'] . ' ' . $sharer['last_name']?>
</a>
</li>
<? endforeach; ?>
</ul>
</div>

Answer 2

I've figured it out. I needed to create an associative array in my model; not my controller. Thanks to everyone for your help!
Model:
class Shares_model extends crud_model {
public function __construct()
{
parent::__construct();
$this->pk = 'id';
$this->table_name = 'shares';
}
public function get($shared_to_user_id)
{
$this->db->where('shared_to_id', $shared_to_user_id);
$ids = parent::get_all();
$users = array();
foreach ($ids as $id)
{
$users[$id->owner_id]['owner_id'] = $id->owner_id;
$users[$id->owner_id]['owner_first_name'] = $id->owner_first_name;
$users[$id->owner_id]['owner_last_name'] = $id->owner_last_name;
}
return $users;
}
}
View:
<ul>
<?php foreach($sharers as $s): ?>
<li><?php echo $s['owner_first_name']." ".$s['owner_last_name'] ?></li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
Controller:
public function index()
{
$title['title'] = 'Shared';
$this->load->model('shares_model','shares');
$data['sharers'] = $this->shares->get($this->end_user->id);
$this->load->view('public/head_view', $title);
$this->load->view('user/header_view');
$this->load->view('user/shared_view', $data);
$this->load->view('user/footer_view');
}

Answer 3

If we take your $data['sharers'] array and put in values for the php, then we would get something like this:
$data['sharers'] = array(
0 => array(
'id' => 1234,
'first_name' => 'John',
'last_name' => 'Doe'
),
1 => array(
'id' => 1235,
'first_name' => 'Jane',
'last_name' => 'Doe'
)
);
So, when you loop through this in your view, you need to access these correctly:
foreach($sharers as $key => $value):
// at this point, in the first iteration of the loop
// $key is 'id', or 'first_name', or 'last_name'
// and $value is 1234, or 'John', or 'Doe'
endforeach;
So, to loop through the sharers a bit easier, you just need to update your foreach a bit. At this point, change your view to this:
<div class="hide-on-phones">
<ul>
<?php foreach($sharers as $sharer): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo base_url('user/shared/view/'.$sharer['shared_pk_id']) ?>">
<?php echo $sharer['first_name']. " " .$sharer['last_name'] ?>
</a>
</li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
</div>