Laravel: convert multidimensional array to collection

Question

In my project I have a dynamic form of the following structure:

- Date 1
  - Shift 1
    - Area 1
      - Cell 1
      - Cell 2
    - Area 2
      - Cell 3
      - Cell 4
  - Shift 2
    - Area 1
      - Cell 1
  ...

I take data from inputs with the following multidimensional array: data[index][column], where a column may be: date, shift, area, cell, or cell content.

Then I need to store this form into database to be able to recreate it later. It's easy, because my array has a table form:

index | Date  | Shift | Area | Cell | Cell Content
1       05.06   1       1       1         100
2       05.06   1       1       2         99
3       05.06   1       2       3         55
4       05.06   1       2       4         66
5       05.06   2       1       1         35

But when to recreate the form (take it back from the database), it would be better to convert this array into a collection, to be able to do the following foreach:

foreach (dates as date)
  foreach (date->shifts as shift)
    foreach (shift->areas as area)
      foreach (area->cells as cell)
         echo cell->content
      endforeach
    endforeach
  endforeach
endforeach

Is it possible in Laravel? Or I need to use the old method: comparison current element with precedent and break the for when different?

Bharat Geleda · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-13 18:04:55Z

1

The problem I see here is that all the columns are stored in the same table i.e. you have a denormalized structure. A simple solution would be to normalize your data (might come with a cost) and then defining the relations would be very simple in Laravel.

So I suggest you split your single table into :

dates (id, date)
shifts (id, date_id, shift)
areas (id, shift_id, area)
cells (id, area_id, cell)

Now you can also choose to have redundant data and add shift_id and date_id to your cell table. If saving space is not your concern, maybe store data in both the ways.

Read more about normalization https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/database-normalization-normal-forms/

answered Feb 13, 2019 at 18:04

Bharat Geleda

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1 Comment

TheVic Over a year ago

Yes, u are right. I have redundant data in this table. Need to think more bout it.

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