Beginner's PHP question -- ":" in a multidimensional array

Question

I'm trying to access information in a previously created multidimensional array. Using print_r(), I've got this info about the array(which I've spaced out myself, and may've done so oddly...):

    Array ( 
    [Video] => Array ( 
        [0] => a:3:{
            s:19:"upload_video_submit";
            s:0:"";
            s:12:"upload_video";
            s:26:"this-is-the-video-link.mp4";
            s:12:"video_length";
            s:8:"10-10-10";
            } 
    ) 
    [_edit_last] => Array ( [0] => 1 ) 
    [_edit_lock] => Array ( [0] => 1288823181 )
    [key] => Array ( 
        [0] => a:4:{
            s:4:"game";
            a:2:{
                i:0;
                s:4:"9man";
                i:1;
                s:5:"18man";
                }
            s:4:"type";
            a:1:{
                i:0;
                s:7:"Lecture";
                }
            s:5:"coach";
            a:1:{
                i:0;
                s:8:"msusyr24";
                }
            s:12:"upload-video";
            s:70:"http://localhost:8888/pocarr/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BigCupcake.flv";
            } 
            ) 
    )

I'd like to access the arrays inside the key array, such something like echo $key_array[key][0]["type"] to get "Lecture", or echo $key_array[Video][0]["upload_video"] to get "this-is-the-videolink.mp4" ... but I'm totally baffled by the ":"s

The most I can figure is that "s" = a string, and the number is the number of characters (similarly "a"= an array).

Any ideas how to get that info out of the array?

UPDATE: I ended up using:

$new = unserialize($keys_array[Video][0]);
echo $new[upload_video];

Thanks for you help!

please, try var_dump($you_array) instead print_r($yoy_array) and post output. — seriyPS
– seriyPS, Commented Nov 3, 2010 at 22:50

Jason McCreary · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 22:42:38Z

4

Looks like some of your array values have been serialized. Check out PHP's unserialize function. Doing so will allow you to access the array elements as you describe.

For example:

print_r(unserialize($key_array[Video][0]));

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 22:42

Jason McCreary

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trix · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 22:46:59Z

3

And one more thing:

if you want to format your echo code try next time with

echo "<pre>";
print_r($data);
echo "</pre>";

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 22:46

trix

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Mark Baker · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 22:47:40Z

3

The array elements are serialized. Unserialize them, and they'll be a lot easier to access.

$videoArray = unserialize($myArray['Video'][0]);

edited Nov 3, 2010 at 22:47

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 22:42

Mark Baker

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ajacian81 · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-03 22:43:07Z

1

Use unserialize($object);

answered Nov 3, 2010 at 22:43

ajacian81

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