echoing array from function in php

Question

I am trying to create an array from a function.

The function:

$results = [];
function getDirEnties($directory, &$results) {
    $entries = scandir($directory);
    foreach ($entries as $item) {
        if (!in_array($item, ['.', '..']) && substr($item, 0, 1) !== '.') {
            $path = $directory . '/' . $item;
            if (is_dir($path)) {
                getDirEnties($path, $results);
            } else {
                $pathInfo = pathinfo($path);
                $name = $pathInfo['filename'];
                $type = 'unknown';
                if (!empty($pathInfo['extension'])) {
                    $name .= "." . $pathInfo['extension'];
                    switch (strtolower($pathInfo['extension'])) {
                        case "gif":
                        case "jpg":
                        case "png":
                        case "jpeg":
                        case "bmp":
                        //etc..
                        $type = 'image';
                        break;
                        case "mp4":
                        $type = 'media';
                        break;
                    }
                }
            $data = [
                'name' => $name,
                'path' => $pathInfo['dirname'],
                'type' => $type,
                'time' => filemtime($path)
                ];
            $results[] = $data;
            }
        }
    }
    return $results;
}

to populate the function I have the following:

$stmt=$db->prepare('SELECT friend2 as username FROM list_friends 
                    WHERE (friend1 = :username AND friend2 <> :username) 
                    UNION
                    SELECT friend1 as username FROM list_friends
                    WHERE (friend2 = :username AND friend1 <> :username)');
$stmt->bindParam(':username', $username);
$stmt->execute();
$friend_rows = $stmt->fetchAll();
foreach ($friend_rows as $rows) {
    $friend = strtolower($rows['username']);
    $directoryToScan = '/path/to/'.$friend;
    $tree = getDirEnties($directoryToScan, $results);
}

I am then trying to echo it out as follows:

function cmp($a, $b)  {
    $ad = new DateTime($a['time']);
    $bd = new DateTime($b['time']);   
    if ($ad == $bd) {
        return 0;
    }
return $ad < $bd ? -1 : 1;
}
if ($data !== NULL) {
    usort($data, "cmp");
    for($i=(count($data)-1)-($feed-1);$i>=(count($data)-10)-($feed-1);$i--){
        if($data[$i]['type']=='image'){ echo $data[$i]['name']; }
    }
}

I am JUST learning functions and have VERY limited experience with arrays, mostly with mysql arrays so I have no idea how to write this in such a way it returns the $data[] array properly as needed.

Where is $data originally defined? The first time I see it (outside the function at the top) is in the last code block. Based on what you have written, $data IS null in the last if statement — The One and Only ChemistryBlob
– The One and Only ChemistryBlob, Commented Sep 22, 2016 at 21:44
As I said I am still very new to functions and arrays. I thought I could output $results[] as an array to create the $data[] array. Perhaps I am doing the entire function wrong and that is why I can't echo results properly. — Bruce
– Bruce, Commented Sep 22, 2016 at 22:01

Proger_Cbsk · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-22 23:23:08Z

1

You inverted the use of $results and $data

Here you use your $results array as input/output :

$tree = getDirEnties($directoryToScan, $results);

Then later you try to print $data

if ($data !== NULL) {
  usort($data, "cmp");
  for($i=(count($data)-1)-($feed-1);$i>=(count($data)-10)-($feed-1);$i--){
    if($data[$i]['type']=='image'){ echo $data[$i]['name']; }
  }
}

But the way you written the code, all your needs are in $results. Use $results !

if ($results !== NULL) {
  usort($results, "cmp");
  for($i=(count($results)-1)-($feed-1);$i>=(count($results)-10)-($feed-1);$i--){
    if($results[$i]['type']=='image'){ echo $results[$i]['name']; }
  }
}

edited Sep 22, 2016 at 23:23

user188654

answered Sep 22, 2016 at 22:12

Proger_Cbsk

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1 Comment

Bruce Over a year ago

considering I using a sort function to sort out dozens of data[] arrays by time, doing this using a data[] array is somewhat important. Is it really as easy as just switching out $data and $results? going to try now.

score 0 · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-22 21:42:39Z

0

If you want to print the entire array, use this. print_r(array_values($ARR));

edited Sep 22, 2016 at 21:42

answered Sep 22, 2016 at 21:38

user5201343

6 Comments

user6763587 Over a year ago

want to try that again?

user6763587 Over a year ago

test it, then tell me that again

Cagy79 Over a year ago

printr is not a php function

user5201343 Over a year ago

Sorry, its print_r

Cagy79 Over a year ago

Why would you exclude the key? That is like 'the address' of the value...

|

Bruce · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-22 23:20:51Z

0

The answer I marked correct, basically laid out my answer for me although it wasn't "exactly" what I wanted in terms of code. Ultimately all I had to do was change my variables and output a touch.

$tree = getDirEnties($directoryToScan, $results);

to

$tree = getDirEnties($directoryToScan, $data);

then

echo $tree; // I can't believe I missed this

then

return $results;

to

return $data;

Finally because I am sorting times with usort I had to change

'time' => filemtime($path)

to

'time' => date('F d Y h:i A', (filemtime($path)))

answered Sep 22, 2016 at 23:20

Bruce

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