Two dimensional PHP array not outputting correctly

Question

I have the following array of dates and places - basically each date will need to allow for multiple places. I am trying to display the array below into something like the following format:

20140411
Basingstoke
Salisbury

20140405
Basingstoke

20140419
Salisbury

... and so on

The array:

Array
(
    [20140411] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Basingstoke
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Salisbury
                )

        )

    [20140405] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Basingstoke
                )

        )

    [20140419] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Salisbury
                )

        )

    [20140427] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Basingstoke
                )

        )

)

I believe I'm close, but I have always had some sort of mental block when it comes to working with arrays/keys etc. I am trying to do a nested foreach loop, which displays the dates fine, but am just getting "Array" outputted for the locations:

foreach ($dates as $date => $dateKey) {

    // Format the date
    $theDate = DateTime::createFromFormat('Ymd', $date);
    $theFormattedDate = $theDate->format('d-m-Y');

    echo '<h4>'.$theFormattedDate.'</h4>';

    foreach ($dateKey as $key => $venue) {
        echo $venue;
    }

}

Can someone spot where I'm going wrong here?

EDIT:

Here is where the arrays are being created, if that helps?

$dates = array();

while ( have_rows('course_date') ) : the_row(); 
    $theVenue = get_sub_field('venue');

    // Use the date as key to ensure values are unique
    $dates[get_sub_field('date')][] = array(
        $theVenue->post_title
    );
endwhile;

If possible, you should fix the way you get the data, you seem to be making too many loops. — jeroen
– jeroen, Commented Apr 16, 2014 at 22:10
@jeroen - The data is coming from a repeatable custom field within Wordpress (using Advanced Custom Fields plugin) - I'm unsure how exactly I can 'fix' this data — wickywills
– wickywills, Commented Apr 16, 2014 at 22:13
Why the first item has 2 places in separate array? You should put these in a single array and create another foreach loop. — Linek
– Linek, Commented Apr 16, 2014 at 22:13
I'm not familiar with your plugin, but personally I would try to solve the problem at the root. When using plugins and third-party CMS's, a quick fix like the answers below might be easier though. — jeroen
– jeroen, Commented Apr 16, 2014 at 22:15

Oleg Dubas · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-16 22:14:02Z

5

In your case venue is an array.
It's always an array with the only element you can address as [0].
Thus...

foreach ($dates as $date => $dateKey) {

    // Format the date
    $theDate = DateTime::createFromFormat('Ymd', $date);
    $theFormattedDate = $theDate->format('d-m-Y');

    echo '<h4>'.$theFormattedDate.'</h4>';

    foreach ($dateKey as $key => $venue) {
        echo $venue[0];
    }

}

Or, in case you can have multiple venues in that last-level array, you can re-write the inner foreach adding another one:

foreach ($dates as $date => $dateKey) {

    // Format the date
    $theDate = DateTime::createFromFormat('Ymd', $date);
    $theFormattedDate = $theDate->format('d-m-Y');

    echo '<h4>'.$theFormattedDate.'</h4>';

    foreach ($dateKey as $key => $venues) {
        foreach($venues as $v) {
           echo $v;
        }
    }
}

edited Apr 16, 2014 at 22:14

answered Apr 16, 2014 at 22:08

Oleg Dubas

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6 Comments

Linek Over a year ago

I think he can have many places in there, that is why this is an array, if there are at least 2 places it wont work properly. EDIT: He has 2 places and each in separate array... so wrong.

Steve Over a year ago

@Linek i dont think so - see the 1st item in his array.

Linek Over a year ago

@user574632 Yea, I edited my comment, this is not correct though, there is no consistency in this.

Oleg Dubas Over a year ago

Changed the answer. Let the OP decide which way is correct, depending on his data.

Steve Over a year ago

@wickywills see my comment on your question to jeroen, you are not doing anything wrong

|

Linek · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-16 22:29:54Z

3

Places are nested 1 level deeper, you need one more foreach.

Never mind, that other guy said this plugin is supposed to work like that :)

edited Apr 16, 2014 at 22:29

answered Apr 16, 2014 at 22:08

Linek

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1 Comment

wickywills Over a year ago

Actually Linek, I modified the code to what you had before you removed your code, and ended up with a cleaner array!! So thanks for that! I've had to accept Oleg's answer, but you get a +1 from me :). Now I just need to find a good resource to learn about dealing with arrays - currently my weakness!

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