Combining Multidimensional Array Values in PHP

Question

I have a multidimensional array which looks like this:

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS Ground
                    [delivery-time] => 1-5 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 1299
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS 3 Day Select
                    [delivery-time] => 3 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 2459
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS 2nd Day Air
                    [delivery-time] => 2 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 3239
                )
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS Ground
                    [delivery-time] => 1-5 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 864
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS 3 Day Select
                    [delivery-time] => 3 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 1109
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS 2nd Day Air
                    [delivery-time] => 2 business days
                    [shipping-amount] => 1633
                )
             [3] => Array
                (
                    [description] => UPS Overnight
                    [delivery-time] => 1 business day
                    [shipping-amount] => 3528
                )

        )

)

I'm trying to achieve 3 things:

Add the values of the shipping-amount where the description is the same across dimensions
Drop the array if it contains a description which doesn't exist in every other dimension
Drop a dimension once the shipping-amounts are combined

There may be several first-level arrays (not just 2 as shown here), but this is as deep as the dimensions will go. I'm looking for the following result:

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [description] => UPS Ground
            [delivery-time] => 1-5 business days
            [shipping-amount] => 2163
        )
    [1] => Array
        (
            [description] => UPS 3 Day Select
            [delivery-time] => 3 business days
            [shipping-amount] => 3568
        )
    [2] => Array
        (
            [description] => UPS 2nd Day Air
            [delivery-time] => 2 business days
            [shipping-amount] => 4872
        )
)

Thanks in advance!

This really sounds too much like "please write code for me" instead of a description of a particular problem. What have you tried, where are you stuck? — deceze
– deceze ♦, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 23:51
What have I tried? I've tried reading the PHP manual through dozens of amazingly ridiculous array functions to figure out which are appropriate for this scenario. I figure it may be some combination of a foreach, array_merge, array_map, key() but I don't know which order or functions make the most sense. I've had some great help for problems that challenge me here before, so I figured I'd ask again instead of wasting time putzing around. — Dave Kiss
– Dave Kiss, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 23:56
Wasting time putzing around is often the one true way to learn to do it yourself though. :o) — deceze
– deceze ♦, Commented Mar 3, 2012 at 0:46

Tim Withers · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-03 00:17:21Z

2

I think this would work:

$final=array(); // the final array
$count=array(); // keeps track of instances of each description
$loops=count($array);
for($a=0;$a<$loops;$a++){
    foreach($array[$a] as $s){ //loop through child arrays
        if($count[$s['description']]>0){ //check if description exists in $count
            foreach($final as $k=>$v){ //add sums to the final if it does exist
                if($final[$k]['description']==$s['description']){$final[$k]['shipping-amount']+=$s['shipping-amount'];}
            }
        }else{ //if it doesn't exist in the count array, add it to the final array
            $final[]=$s;
        }
        $count[$s['description']]++;//update the count array
    }
}
//Unset singletons, using the count array
foreach($count as $k=>$v){
    if($v==1){
        foreach($final as $key=>$val){
            if($final[$key]['description']==$k){unset($final[$key]);}
        }
    }
}
print_r($final);

I have been stuck on an issue for the past 2 days and feel you, so I hope this helps.

edited Mar 3, 2012 at 0:17

answered Mar 3, 2012 at 0:07

Tim Withers

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2 Comments

Tim Withers Over a year ago

If it doesn't work, it's at least something you could tweak and get the result you are looking for.

Dave Kiss Over a year ago

Thanks Tim. Even if it doesn't work, I'm not looking for a copy/paste. Just something to get me started in the right direction. Cheers to you.

Jason McCreary · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-02 23:59:03Z

0

I'm not going to write code because I agree with deceze.

Nonetheless, my recommendation would be a custom function that:

loops over an input array
applies the logic you outlined
return the condensed array

Given your specific requirements isn't a single, magical PHP function that does this. Yet, there are dozens of PHP array functions you could utilize within your custom function.

If you need help on a particular piece, update your post or ask a new question.

answered Mar 2, 2012 at 23:59

Jason McCreary

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Comments

Matt Beckman · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-03 00:02:22Z

0

I would recommend using the array_walk function with a callback that handles your specific requirements for addition and uniqueness.

answered Mar 3, 2012 at 0:02

Matt Beckman

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