Create variable length array from string

Question

The string

$string = 'a.b.c.d';

should create an array like

array('a' => array('b' => array( ....

I managed to come up with this:

function create_array(&$arr, $string, $data){


  $parts = explode('.', $string);
  $key = array_shift($parts); // first key

  $new_arr = array();
  $have_empty_slot = false;

  if(!isset($arr[$key])){
    $arr[$key] = array();
    $have_empty_slot = true;
  }

  $new_arr = &$arr[$key];

  foreach($parts as $part){
    if(!isset($new_arr[$part])){
      $new_arr[$part] = array();
      $have_empty_slot = true;
    }

    $new_arr = &$new_arr[$part];
  }

  // last one
  if($have_empty_slot)
    $new_arr = $data;

}    


$arr = array('a' => array('aa' => array('aaa' => 555)), 'b' => 55);

create_array($arr, 'c.cc.dd', 4545); // <-- works

create_array($arr, 'a.aa.aa2', 33); // <-- works

create_array($arr, 'a.aa.aaa.aaaaaaa', 4545); // <-- connection closed by remote server lol



print_r($arr);

So if I try to add a new element after the last element of an existing set of elements I get that connection closed by remote server error. What's wrong with it?

the 3rd parameter is not important, that's the value of the last child element — Alex
– Alex, Commented Feb 5, 2012 at 0:34

stewe · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-05 01:36:10Z

1

This should work:

function create_array(&$arr,$string,$data){
    $a=explode('.',$string);
    $last=count($a)-1;
    $p=&$arr;

    foreach($a as $k=>$key){
        if ($k==$last) {
            $p[$key]=$data; 
        } else if (is_array($p)){
            $p[$key]=array();
        }
        $p=&$p[$key];
    }
}

edited Feb 5, 2012 at 1:36

answered Feb 5, 2012 at 1:05

stewe

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PeeHaa · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-05 01:14:26Z

1

It's still pretty unclear, but if you only want what you have asked for:

function convertToArray($string)
{
    $pos = strpos($string, '.');
    $key = substr($string, 0, $pos);

    $result = array($key => array());

    if ($pos === false) {
        return array($string=>array());
    } else {
        $result[$key] = convertToArray(substr($string, ($pos+1)));

        return $result;
    }
}

var_dump(convertToArray('a.b.c.d'));

Will ouput:

array(1) {
  ["a"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["b"]=>
    array(1) {
      ["c"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["d"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

answered Feb 5, 2012 at 1:14

PeeHaa

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