Returning a 2 dimensional array

[Parrot]

I am trying to program a function to return a 2 dimensional array, but
it's not working. I reduced the return value to 1 dimension and
tested that to make sure that the problem wasn't elsewhere. It had no
problem when the array was 1 dimensional.

Is there something different I need to do in order to return a 2
dimensional array from a function?

[JDS]

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 12:10:55 -0500, Parrot wrote:

Is there something different I need to do in order to return a 2
dimensional array from a function?

Yes. Create a 2-D array inside the function. Return it.

As simple as this:

function get_2d_array(){
return array(array());
}

Maybe your function is not *creating* a 2D array?
--
JDS | je*****@example .invalid
| http://www.newtnotes.com
DJMBS | http://newtnotes.com/doctor-jeff-master-brainsurgeon/

[Parrot]

I definitely created a 2D array, I tested it within the function.

Your example doesn't give an example of creating a 2D array and I
don't see any variable names in your return statement. Could you
please expand on that?

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 14:48:19 -0500, JDS <je*****@exampl e.invalid>
wrote:

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 12:10:55 -0500, Parrot wrote:

Is there something different I need to do in order to return a 2
dimensional array from a function?

Yes. Create a 2-D array inside the function. Return it.

As simple as this:

function get_2d_array(){
return array(array());
}

Maybe your function is not *creating* a 2D array?

[Malcolm Dew-Jones]

Parrot ([e-mail] ) TOP POSTED:
: I definitely created a 2D array, I tested it within the function.

Let's see the code.

: Your example doesn't give an example of creating a 2D array and I

It looks like an array of arrays to me. Perhaps you mean something else
when you say "2D array".

: don't see any variable names in your return statement. Could you
: please expand on that?

What does the name of the variable have to do with this? He returns a php
"thing" which is an array of arrays. You could have assigned that "thing"
to a variable first if you wished, and then returned the value of the
thing by using the variable. I will admit I can not test that at the
moment, but find it hard to imagine it doesn't work as I expect...

$two_D_array = array(array());
return $two_D_array;

We need to see your code to debug the error or misunderstandin g.
: On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 14:48:19 -0500, JDS <je*****@exampl e.invalid>
: wrote:

: >On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 12:10:55 -0500, Parrot wrote:
: >
: >> Is there something different I need to do in order to return a 2
: >> dimensional array from a function?
: >
: >Yes. Create a 2-D array inside the function. Return it.
: >
: >As simple as this:
: >
: >function get_2d_array(){
: > return array(array());
: >}
: >
: >Maybe your function is not *creating* a 2D array?
--

This programmer available for rent.

[Parrot]

On 3 Nov 2005 12:57:34 -0700, yf***@vtn1.vict oria.tc.ca (Malcolm
Dew-Jones) wrote:

We need to see your code to debug the error or misunderstandin g.

Okay:
function maincats()
{
global $datHost;
global $datUser;
global $datPass;
global $datName;

$db1 = mysql_connect($ datHost,$datUse r,$datPass) or die
("Unable to connect: ". mysql_error());
mysql_select_db ($datName);

$qstr="select * from categories where parent_id='0'";
$qry=mysql_quer y($qstr) or die ("Unable to set query:
$qstr<BR>". mysql_error());
$count = 0;
while($arr=mysq l_fetch_array($ qry))
{
$cat[$count][0] = $arr['cat_id'];
$cat[$count][1] = $arr['name'];
$count += 1;
}
return $cat;
}

[Chung Leong]

Don't see anything wrong with the code. I suspect the problem lies in
the way you access the array. Do a print_r() on the return value and
see if you're getting what you're supposed to.

[Parrot]

On 3 Nov 2005 14:28:49 -0800, "Chung Leong"
<ch***********@ hotmail.com> wrote:

Don't see anything wrong with the code. I suspect the problem lies in
the way you access the array. Do a print_r() on the return value and
see if you're getting what you're supposed to.

I set up a simple test script to try and figure out how to work the
arrays:

<?
function test()
{
$array[0][0] = "Hello";
$array[0][1] = "World";
$array[1][0] = "How Are";
$array[1][1] = "You?";

return array($array);
}

$array = test();
echo $array[0][0];
?>

When I run it it just prints out the word "Array".

When I replace the "echo $array[0][0];" line with "print_r ($array);"
it gives me:

Array ( [0] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [0] => Hello [1] => World ) [1]
=> Array ( [0] => How Are [1] => You? ) ) )

Is it returning a 3 dimensional array or something??

[Richard Brooks]

Parrot wrote:

On 3 Nov 2005 14:28:49 -0800, "Chung Leong"
<ch***********@ hotmail.com> wrote:

Don't see anything wrong with the code. I suspect the problem lies in
the way you access the array. Do a print_r() on the return value and
see if you're getting what you're supposed to.

I set up a simple test script to try and figure out how to work the
arrays:

<?
function test()
{
$array[0][0] = "Hello";
$array[0][1] = "World";
$array[1][0] = "How Are";
$array[1][1] = "You?";

return array($array);
}

$array = test();
echo $array[0][0];
?>

When I run it it just prints out the word "Array".

When I replace the "echo $array[0][0];" line with "print_r ($array);"
it gives me:

Array ( [0] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [0] => Hello [1] => World ) [1]
=> Array ( [0] => How Are [1] => You? ) ) )

Is it returning a 3 dimensional array or something??

I tend to go this site a lot!

<http://uk.php.net/types.array>

Richard.

[Chung Leong]

Ah, you got confused by JDS's cryptic message. To return an array, you
just return it. A call to array() would create a new array with
whatever passed as its elements. For example, the following would give
you an array with 2 elements, "Hello" and "World".

$array = array("Hello", "World");

The following is what you need to create a array of arrays:

function test()
{
$array[0][0] = "Hello";
$array[0][1] = "World";
$array[1][0] = "How Are";
$array[1][1] = "You?";
return $array;
}

I said "array of arrays" instead of "2-D array" because that's what
they are. Strictly speaking, the function doesn't create one 2-D array;
it creates three arrays--two inside the third. We could've created the
same structure with the following:

function test()
{
$array = array(
array("Hello", "World"),
array("How are", "You?")
);
return $array;
}

or

function test()
{
$array = array();
$array[] = array("Hello", "World");
$array[] = array("How are", "You?");
return $array;
}

Personally I prefer the last syntax, as it's more obvious what's
happening: (1) an empty array is created (2) a new array with two
strings is added (3) another array with two strings is added.

Now going back to your code, you could have coded the while loop like
this

while($arr=mysq l_fetch_array($ qry))
{
$cat[] = array($arr['cat_id'], $arr['name']);
}

[Richard Brooks]

Parrot wrote:

On 3 Nov 2005 14:28:49 -0800, "Chung Leong">
<ch***********@ hotmail.com> wrote:

Don't see anything wrong with the code. I suspect the problem lies in
the way you access the array. Do a print_r() on the return value and
see if you're getting what you're supposed to.

I set up a simple test script to try and figure out how to work the
arrays:

<?
function test()
{
$array[0][0] = "Hello";
$array[0][1] = "World";
$array[1][0] = "How Are";
$array[1][1] = "You?";

return array($array);
}

$array = test();
echo $array[0][0];
?>

When I run it it just prints out the word "Array".

Doing a Google search I came across this URL but the interesting thing
was the last line.

"Multi-dimensional arrays

PHP does not explicitly support multi-dimensional arrays. However PHP
allows arrays of any type of object, including arrays so two dimensional
arrays can be implemented as arrays of arrays. "

<http://www.scit.wlv.ac .uk/~jphb/sst/php/lang/phparrays.html>
Richard.