Group ObjectArray data by a column and populate a subarray in each group from other columns

Question

I have a PHP object that I would like to convert to a multidimensional array but I can't seem to work it out.

This is my data structure...

Array (
    [0] => stdClass Object (
        [code] => 63205RMVF
        [vq_ref] => 60001689
        [start] => 2012-01-10
        [done_elm] =>
        [unitref] => D5027581
        [vqdesc] => Diploma in Dental Nursing
        [descrip] => Scientific principles in the management of oral health diseases and dental procedures
        [credit_val] => 5
        [achieve] =>
    )
    [1] => stdClass Object (
        [code] => 63205RMVF
        [vq_ref] => 60001689
        [start] => 2012-01-10
        [vq_exp] => 2014-01-09
        [enddate] =>
        [vq_act] =>
        [done_elm] =>
        [unitref] => D5027600
        [vqdesc] => Diploma in Dental Nursing (
            QCF
        )
        [bodynum] => Unit 306
        [descrip] => Provide chairside support during the assessment of patients\' oral health
        [credit_val] => 1
        [start_1] => 2013-03-19
        [expect] =>
        [achieve] => 2013-11-29
        [status] => A
        [done_elm_1] => 100
    )
    [2] => stdClass Object (
        [code] => 63205RMVF
        [vq_ref] => 60001689
        [start] => 2012-01-10
        [vq_exp] => 2014-01-09
        [enddate] =>
        [vq_act] =>
        [done_elm] =>
        [unitref] => DN317
        [vqdesc] => Diploma in Dental Nursing (
            QCF
        )
        [bodynum] => DN317
        [descrip] => Level 3 Principles and theory of Dental Nursing
        [credit_val] =>
        [start_1] =>
        [expect] =>
        [achieve] => 2013-09-19
        [status] => A
        [done_elm_1] =>
    )

And I want to convert it to an array pattern like this...

[aim] = [
    [code]
    [vq_ref]
    [units] => [
        [start]
        [vq_exp]
        [enddate]
        [vq_act]
        [done_elm]
        [unitref]
        [vqdesc]
        [bodynum]
        [descrip]
        [credit_val]
        [start_1]
        [expect]
        [achieve]
        [status]
        [done_elm_1]
    ]
]

At the moment I have scrambled together this, I just can't work it out!

foreach($results as $result)
{
    $unit['aim'][$result->vq_ref]['unit'] = array()
        'unit_ref'   => $result->unitref,
        'unit_title' => $result->descrip,
        'start'      => $result->start,
        'achieved'   => $result->achieve,
        'value'      => $result->credit_val
    );
}

foreach($results as $result)
{
    $data['aim'][$result->vq_ref] = array(
        'aim_ref'   => $result->vq_ref,
        'aim_title' => $result->vqdesc,
        'units'     => array($unit['aim'][$result->vq_ref]['unit'])
    );
}

can't you cast object to array explicitly; The following code $obj = new x(); var_dump($obj); var_dump((array)$obj); without any problems makes the object into associative array. You would just need to cast each object that is contained into your primary array. — Ivan Yonkov
– Ivan Yonkov, Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:54
@RocketHazmat this is just a few of the records from the data set, there could be several though — bencarter78
– bencarter78, Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:54
So, then what's the issue with the code you have? Does it work? What does it output? — gen_Eric
– gen_Eric, Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:55

artragis · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-03 15:04:56Z

2

The function you're searching for is called get_object_vars

 $unit['aim'] = array_map('get_object_vars',$yourArray);

EDIT : misunderstanding of the subject

One way of doing that can be mapping your array with this function and splitting the properties in two set as you want :

function split_collection($object){
   $array = get_object_vars($object);
   $newArray = [$array['code'],$array['vqref'],"units"=>[]];
   unset($array['code']);
   unset($array['vq_ref']);
   $newArray['units'] = $array;
   return $newArray;
 }
 $unit['aim'] = array_map('split_collection',$yourCollection);

edited Jan 3, 2014 at 15:04

answered Jan 3, 2014 at 14:55

artragis

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2 Comments

gen_Eric Over a year ago

I'd suggest using array_map here instead of array_walk. Like this: $data = array_map(function($x){ return get_object_vars($x); }, $results);. Because array_walk expects you to update the reference it passes to the callback, it doesn't care about the callback's return value.

artragis Over a year ago

True enough. I also updated the whole answer because it did not fit the format he wanted.

bencarter78 · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-03 15:58:42Z

0

I actually solved it by using this. I wasn't far off in the first instance but this seems to do the trick just fine for me...

foreach($results as $result)
{
    $units[$result->vq_ref][] = array(
        'unit_ref'   => $result->unitref,
        'unit_title' => $result->descrip,
        'start'      => $result->start,
        'achieved'   => $result->achieve,
        'value'      => $result->credit_val
    );
}

foreach($results as $result)
{
    $data['aim'][$result->vq_ref] = array(
        'aim_ref'   => $result->vq_ref,
        'aim_title' => $result->vqdesc,
        'units'     => $units[$result->vq_ref]
    );
}

answered Jan 3, 2014 at 15:58

bencarter78

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Comments

mickmackusa · Accepted Answer · 2025-01-27 22:22:42Z

Based on the asker's self-answering post, this grouping task can be simplified to just one loop. There is no need to convert each object to a temporary array for the sake of accessing data. The aim_ref and aim_title values are free to overwrite themselves on each iteration of the same group. Each set of "unit" data can be pushed as a new child of units. Demo

$data = [];
foreach ($results as $result) {
    $data['aim'][$result->vq_ref]['aim_ref'] = $result->vq_ref;
    $data['aim'][$result->vq_ref]['aim_title'] = $result->vqdesc;
    $data['aim'][$result->vq_ref]['units'][] = [
        'unit_ref'   => $result->unitref,
        'unit_title' => $result->descrip,
        'start'      => $result->start,
        'achieved'   => $result->achieve,
        'value'      => $result->credit_val,
    ];
}

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