PHP 2-dimensional array -> how to convert to HTML table syntax? - php

Question

I need to read a bi-dimensional array and convert the values into an HTML table. For example:
$grid = array( array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0));
$grid[0][0]=4;$grid[0][1]=4;$grid[0][2]=4;$grid[0][3]=4;
$grid[1][0]=3;$grid[1][1]=3;$grid[1][2]=5;$grid[1][3]=5;
$grid[2][0]=3;$grid[2][1]=3;$grid[2][2]=5;$grid[2][3]=5;
$grid[3][0]=0;$grid[3][1]=0;$grid[3][2]=5;$grid[3][3]=5;
Reading this array, I want to dynamically write the <TABLE> syntax where the cells with the same number in the grid are merged horizontally or vertically:
That is, I should be able to create the following syntax from the $grid above:
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td colspan="4">4</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="2">3</td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="2">5</td>
</tr><tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr></table>
I have been able to process the colspan correctly, but am having trouble with the rowspan issue. Any ideas? basically I want to be able to create custom homepages with custom content from the array "format" established by the $grid.
Any help greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Code:
<?php
$grid = array(
array(0,0,0,0),
array(0,0,0,0),
array(0,0,0,0),
array(0,0,0,0),
);
$grid[0][0]=4;$grid[0][1]=4;$grid[0][2]=4;$grid[0][3]=4;
$grid[1][0]=3;$grid[1][1]=3;$grid[1][2]=5;$grid[1][3]=5;
$grid[2][0]=3;$grid[2][1]=3;$grid[2][2]=5;$grid[2][3]=5;
$grid[3][0]=0;$grid[3][1]=0;$grid[3][2]=5;$grid[3][3]=5;
$w = count($grid[0]);
$h = count($grid);
for ($y = 0; $y < $h; ++$y) {
echo "<tr>\n";
for ($x = 0; $x < $w; ++$x) {
$value = $grid[$y][$x];
if ($value === null) {
continue;
}
$colspan = 1;
while ($x + $colspan < $w && $grid[$y][$x + $colspan] === $value) {
$grid[$y][$x + $colspan++] = null;
}
$rowspan = 1;
$rowMatches = true;
while ($rowMatches && $y + $rowspan < $h) {
for ($i = 0; $i < $colspan; ++$i) {
if ($grid[$y + $rowspan][$x + $i] !== $value) {
$rowMatches = false;
break;
}
}
if ($rowMatches) {
for ($i = 0; $i < $colspan; ++$i) {
$grid[$y + $rowspan][$x + $i] = null;
}
++$rowspan;
}
}
$rowspan = $rowspan > 1 ? " rowspan=\"$rowspan\"" : "";
$colspan = $colspan > 1 ? " colspan=\"$colspan\"" : "";
echo " <td$rowspan$colspan>$value</td>\n";
}
echo "</tr>\n";
}
?>
Output:
<tr>
<td colspan="4">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" colspan="2">3</td>
<td rowspan="3" colspan="2">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">0</td>
</tr>

Answer 2

<?php
$grid = array( array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0),array(0,0,0,0));
foreach($grid AS $rowkey => $row)
{
echo "<tr>\n";
foreach($grid[$rowkey] AS $columnKey => $field)
{
echo "<td>{$field}</td>\n";
}
echo "</tr>\n";
}
?>