PHP Array How to specify what order items should be

Question

How can I specify what order items should appear in an array?

I am given a 3 level array, somewhat like the following:

Array
(
[AK] => Array
    (
        [ACO] => Array
            (
                [FFS] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )
            )
        [ZCO] => Array
            (
                [FFS] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )
            )
        [Other] => Array
            (
                [FFS] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )
            )
    )
[AR] => Array
    (
        [Other] => Array
            (
                [Other] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )
            )
        [ACO] => Array
            (
                [FFS] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )

            )
        [ZCO] => Array
            (
                [FFS] => Array
                    (
                        [Medicaid] => -
                        [CHIP] => -
                    )
            )
    )
)

How can I make them sort list the first element [AK], by the second level named element(I need them both to be [ACO], [ZCO], [Other])?

You may need to write your own sort function : fr2.php.net/manual/fr/function.usort.php — ôkio
– ôkio, Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 15:21
Is it that Other is always last, but other items are arbitrary or do you always have the same three elements ACO, ZCO, Other? — Paul Gregory
– Paul Gregory, Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 15:23
I actually have alot more items than this, but I wanted to keep it simple for the question. Order needs to be exactly like the [AK] element, via [ACO], [ZCO], [Other] — Kevin
– Kevin, Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 15:25
You can either sort AR by the position of elements in AK, or you can devise a rule that would sort both as you want - ie sorting by length ascending and then normal ascending. Which would be best for your real problem? Also, do you know by what rule AK is sorted? — Paul Gregory
– Paul Gregory, Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 15:32
No rules. The incoming array is a state list from a database table, pre-sorted on state. ie... AK, AL, AR etc... like I said, I kept a bunch out of this to keep the question shorter :) — Kevin
– Kevin, Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 15:37

vp_arth · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-07 15:56:27Z

1

Dictionary is datastructure without order.

But php by default iterate items in order which elements been pasted.
So, you can simple recreate array in necessary order
Or write custom sort function using php usort method.

small example:

function compare($a, $b) 
{
  $order = array('ACO', 'ZCO', 'Other');
  $ai = array_search($a, $order);
  $bi = array_search($b, $order);
  return $ai<$bi ? -1 : $ai>$bi;
}
$a = array('ZCO'=>1, 'Other'=>1, 'ACO'=>1);
uksort($a, "compare");
print_r($a);

edited Apr 7, 2014 at 15:56

answered Apr 7, 2014 at 15:23

vp_arth

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5 Comments

Kevin Over a year ago

not sure how I would do this... sorry, little bit of a rookie when coming to custom array sorting methods ;)

Kevin Over a year ago

thanks for this. I can't really tell if it has worked or not though. Instead of displaying the ACO, ZCO, Other it is displaying the number of what I assume that particular items index is...

vp_arth Over a year ago

uksort You provide compare callback as second argument, which should return -1|0|1 - lower, equal, greater for any pair of keys..

Kevin Over a year ago

I think we're close. Now, it's in alpha order though by that 2nd key :)

vp_arth Over a year ago

will task solved, if you go through all first key by foreach and apply this method?

Ray Paseur · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-07 16:37:10Z

// CREATE THE TEST DATA
$arr = Array
( 'AK' => Array
  ( 'ACO'   => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  , 'ZCO'   => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  , 'Other' => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  )
, 'AR' => Array
  ( 'Other' => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  , 'ACO'   => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  , 'ZCO'   => Array( 'FFS' => Array( 'Medicaid' => '-', 'CHIP' => '-' ) )
  )
)
;

// ACTIVATE THIS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION: DOES IT LOOK RIGHT?
// print_r($arr);

// GET THE ORDER FOR THE [AK] ARRAY
$pat = array_keys($arr['AK']);

// ITERATE OVER THE ARRAY TO PRODUCE THE ORDERED OUTPUT
$out = array();
foreach($arr as $key => $inner)
{
    // SKIP THE SIGNAL ARRAY
    if ($key == 'AK')
    {
        $out[$key] = $inner;
        continue;
    }
    // REORDER THE OTHER ARRAYS
    else
    {
        $temp = array();
        foreach ($pat as $inner_key)
        {
            $temp[$inner_key] = $inner[$inner_key];
        }
        $out[$key] = $temp;
    }
}
// SHOW THE WORK PRODUCT
print_r($out);

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