PHP - For each loop problems - php

Question

In Wordpress I'm trying to create a metabox script from scratch to better understand both Wordpress and PHP.
I'm having some problems with a for each loop on a multidimensional array though. I'm using PHP5.
This is the array:
$meta_box = array();
$meta_box[] = array(
'id' => 'monitor-specs',
'title' => 'Monitor Specifications',
'context' => 'normal',
'priority' => 'default',
'pages' => array('monitors', 'products'),
'fields' => array(
array(
'name' => 'Brand',
'desc' => 'Enter the brand of the monitor.',
'id' => $prefix . 'monitor_brand',
'type' => 'text',
'std' => ''
)
)
);
And this is the for each loop:
foreach ($meta_box['pages'] as $post_type => $value) {
add_meta_box($value['id'], $value['title'], 'je_format_metabox', $post_type, $value['context'], $value['priority']);
}
What I'm trying to do is loop through the keys in the 'pages' array which is an array inside the 'meta_box' array and at the same time be able to use the key values of the 'meta_box' array.
Do I need to nest some for each loops?
Would be grateful for some pointers in the right direction so I can solve this.

Answer 1

foreach ($meta_box[0]['pages'] as $post_type => $value) {
or
$meta_box = array(...

Answer 2

Your foreach starts with $meta_box['pages'], but there is no $meta_box['pages'].
You do have a $meta_box[0]['pages'] though, so you need two loops:
foreach($meta_box as $i => $box)
foreach($box['pages'] as $page)
add_meta_box(.., ..); // do whatever
What were you expecting to be in your $value variable?

Answer 3

this here:
$meta_box = array();
$meta_box[] = array(......
suggests that there is no $meta_box['pages']. meta_box is an array with numerical indexes (check the [] operator) and each of its elements is an array that has the key 'pages'.
so you need to use foreach on $meta_box, and on each element you need to use the pages key.. id, title, context are elements on the same level as pages, as you can see

Answer 4

You are referencing to the wrong array key
$meta_box[] <-- $meta_box[0]
But, you refer using :-
foreach ($meta_box['pages'] as $post_type => $value) {
Add the array key will solve the problem :-
foreach ($meta_box[0]['pages'] as $post_type => $value) {

Answer 5

Maybe it could be nice to create some class to hold this information.
class Metabox
{
public $id, $title, $context, $priority, $pages, $fields;
public function __construct($id, $title, $pages, $fiels, $context='normal', $priority='default')
{
$this->id = $id;
$this->title = $title;
$this->pages = $pages;
$this->fields = $fields;
$this->context = $context;
$this->priority = $priority;
}
}
$meta_box = array();
$meta_box[] = new Metabox(
'monitor-specs',
'Monitor Specifications',
array('monitors', 'products'),
array(
'name' => 'Brand',
'desc' => 'Enter the brand of the monitor.',
'id' => $prefix . 'monitor_brand',
'type' => 'text',
'std' => ''
)
);
Now you can loop over the meta_box array like:
foreach ($meta_box as $box)
{
add_meta_box($box->id, $box->title, .. and more)
// This function could be placed in the metabox object
/* Say you want to access the pages array : */
$pages = $box->pages;
foreach ($pages as $page)
{
..
}
}
Now you still have a loop in a loop, but maybe helps seeing your problem more clearly.