Dynamic Variable gets an Array Value

[Tyler Harder]

Hello,
I'm having some trouble creating a dynamic variable that will load an array value:

$this_content_j son["content"][0]["popularity "]

When I use the above line 'hard coded', it works. But when I use the code below as a dynamic variable, it fails:

${ 'this_content_j son["content"][0]["popularity "]' }

Any help would be muchos appreciados.

Tyler

[dlite922]

what is so dynamic about the second example?

Are you trying to display it in a string?

Dan

[Tyler Harder]

Hi Dan,
Thanks for your reply. Once I get it working, I'm going to start changing the bits inside to access different array contents, which is my reason for using a dynamic array.

For example, I may do:
${ 'this_content_j son[$a][$b][$c]' }

My issue at the moment is that the code I first posted isn't even accessing the basic contents in the original variable, so I think I'm making some rookie mistake.

This works, and echo's the value:
echo $this_content_j son["content"][0]["popularity "];

But this doesn't:
echo ${ 'this_content_j son["content"][0]["popularity "]' };

Any idea how I can properly recreate the variable in dynamic notation?

Tyler

[code green]

I am bewildered as to what you are trying to do.

//This works, and echo's the value:
echo $this_content_json["content"][0]["popularity"];

This is legal syntax but I would like to see some justification for the need of a 3d array?

//But this doesn't:
echo ${ 'this_content_json["content"][0]["popularity"]' };

This is incorrect syntax, but I can't correct it because I don;t see what you are trying to achieve.
I am not sure what you mean by dynamic variable, are you trying to use variable variables?

[Tyler Harder]

Hi Dan, thanks for staying with me here. Let me try again...

1) I have an multidimensiona l array of data called "$this_content_ json".

2) I would like to access single pieces of data in that array using the standard way to do so - $this_content_j son[$a][$b][$c] - where $a, $b, and $c are the names of the various keys in the array.

3) I am being handed those keys in a an unconventional format - a string that looks like: "[content][0][popularity]". I need to use that string variable to access the respective item in the array.

In summary, I have two things to work with - a string that looks like "[content][0][popularity]" and a var called "$this_content_ json" that holds the content. The string changes depending on the instructions I am passed. I want to combine the two so I can access the relevant information in the array.

Kapiche?

[code green]

So this is a string and not an array

"[content][0][popularity]"

Where content is a key, popularity is a key and likewise 0 in the array $this_content_j son.
And you want the value at reference $this_content_j son['content'][0]['popularity'].
I see the problem. I suppose you could split the string using strtok or explode (or is it implode??)
so $a = content,$b = 0,$c = popularity.
Then reference the array with $this_content_j son[$a][$b][$c].
But using the string directly? try one or all of these

echo $this_content_json.'["content"][0]["popularity"]';

$element = 'this_content_json["content"][0]["popularity"]';
echo $$element;
 
$element = 'this_content_json';
$element .= '["content"][0]["popularity"]';
echo $$element;

Or variations thereof. I am sure there is a correct format but it may need trial and error.

[Tyler Harder]

Thanks Code Green,
We`re on the same page now. I tested all three of the above proposed solutions, and none printed the variable.

I`m surprised none of these notations works. I have tried many additional variations myself with no luck. I thought I would at least be able to stumble on by luck if not skill...

I understand I can parse the string as suggested (strtok, explode, etc..), and will probably have to do so - it just seems like the long way to do it. I`m sure somehow there`s got to be a way to access it via the dynamic var format.

Anyhow thanks kindly for your ideas.

Tyler

[code green]

Actually the second two of my examples are wrong.
Don't know what I was thinking, but I have simply created variables of that name.

[Tyler Harder]

Yeah unfortunately the first one didn`t work either. I guess I`ll hack the parts apart.

[code green]

I am persevering with this because I'm sure I have done similar
OK this is a string

$ref = '["content"][0]["popularity"]';

That needs resolving as an array element.
This is the array $this_content_j son;
This doesn't work

echo $this_content_json.'["content"][0]["popularity"]';

Because '["content"][0]["popularity "]' is still a string, it has not been resolved.
What about this

$element = $this_content_json.$ref; 
echo $element;

[Tyler Harder]

Hey, thanks.

Unfortunately no dice. It prints out this instead of the proper data:

Array["content"][0]["popularity "]

As you can see the word Array is actually spelled out as a string (as php tends to do if you echo an array), followed by the string contents of the second part. I`m not sure why it`s not resolving to the array data instead.

[Tyler Harder]

Hey Code Green,
Thanks again for your efforts. While the above did not work, I found an explanation as to why:

http://bytes.com/topic/php/answers/1089-array-access-via-strings

It seems that is pretty much MUST be exploded before a string can be used to access a variable in the way I had hoped. So... not really possible after all.

Tyler