PHP array to ordered & nested HTML list

Question

I'm using the jQuery nestedSortable plugin in a project. When a list item is moved, I serialize the array and save it to my db. I'm having trouble recreating the HTML list from the PHP array. Probably because it's late. :)

I have the following PHP array:

Array
(
    [list_4] => root
    [list_3] => 4
    [list_1303966373] => 3
    [list_1] => 1303966373
    [list_5] => 1
    [list_2] => 1
    [list_6] => root
)

It should make a list something like...

<ol>
<li id='list_4'>value 4
  <ol>
    <li id='list_3'>value 3
      <ol>
        <li id='list_1303966373'>value 1303966373
          <ol>
            <li id='list_1'>value 1
              <ol>
                <li id='list_5'>value 5</li>
                <li id='list_2'>value 2</li>
              </ol>
            </li>
          </ol>
        </li>
      </ol>
    </li>
  </ol>
</li>
<li id='list_6'>value 6</li>          
</ol>

(Ignore the values, they're just there for show.)

The HTML list could have any depth of nested lists.

My brain is dead and I cannot get it to work. Anyone have a suggestion? I'll owe you cookies for eternity. Also, a castle.

Thanks. :)

This isn't the concern of the question, but you may want to investigate other ways to save such a list to your database. — zneak
– zneak, Commented Apr 28, 2011 at 5:43
Please don't start id's with numbers, it makes babies cry w3.org/TR/html4/types.html (see it's even in the docs) — austinbv
– austinbv, Commented Apr 28, 2011 at 5:45
hey guys, that's really just for show. the actual list has ids prepended with "list_" I'll edit the ex to make the babies feel better. :) — Dylan
– Dylan, Commented Apr 28, 2011 at 5:48
@zneak That's true. After this problem is solved, I intend to save the parent id with each row of the "values" table I use to keep info on each individual <li> item. I'll still run into the issue though, so I figured I'd cross this bridge first. — Dylan
– Dylan, Commented Apr 28, 2011 at 5:51

Edgar Villegas Alvarado · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-28 07:21:10Z

5

Here you have it (tested OK with your sample):

<?php
  $tree = array(
    "list_4" => "root",
    "list_3" => "list_4",
    "list_1303966373" => "list_3",
    "list_1" => "list_1303966373",
    "list_5" => "list_1",
    "list_2" => "list_1",
    "list_6" => "root",
 );
 function getChildrenLists($tree){
    $tree2 = array();
    foreach($tree as $child => $parent){
       if(!array_key_exists($parent, $tree2)) $tree2[$parent] = array();
       $tree2[$parent][] = $child;
    }
    return $tree2;
 }

 function renderTree($tree2, $parent = "root"){
    if($parent != "root") echo "<li id='$parent'> value $parent\n";
    $children = $tree2[$parent];
    if(count($children) > 0){ //If node has children
       echo "<ol>\n";
       foreach($children as $child)
          renderTree($tree2, $child);
       echo "</ol>\n";
    }
    if($parent != "root") echo "</li>\n";
 }
 $tree2 = getChildrenLists($tree); 
 renderTree($tree2);

?>

I want my cookie! Hehe. Hope it helps.

answered Apr 28, 2011 at 7:21

Edgar Villegas Alvarado

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1 Comment

Dylan Over a year ago

I think you might just be the bomb.com. Thank you thank you thank you!

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