Array sorting issue

[abduraooft]

Hi all,
I've a 2D array,
$Items=array(
array('date'=>'2008-02-16 06:54:03','name'=>'item1'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-20 14:47:36','name'=>'item2'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-01 13:23:46','name'=>'item3'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-01 05:26:38','name'=>'item4'),
array('date'=>'2007-11-28 10:51:53','name'=>'item5'),

array('date'=>'2008-02-01 09:20:45','name'=>'item6'),
array('date'=>'2008-01-11 09:23:29','name'=>'item2'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-03 09:11:14','name'=>'item4'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-03 03:32:51','name'=>'item3'),
array('date'=>'2007-11-30 07:00:40','name'=>'item5')
);
How can I sort this in the order of date ASC. (It's actually the combined result of 2 queries, so unable to populate using mysql)

How can I eliminate the repeating items ? I just want only 5 latest among them. Should I use another array(to store selected) and loop and in_array() function for that?

regards,

[CFMaBiSmAd]

If you show the queries, it is likely that a UNION, then using normal sql statements, you can achieve what you want directly in a single query.

[abduraooft]

First of all sorry for the late reply, I've been thinking about redesigning the DB and php logic, but I'm afraid, this couldn't be completed in near future :-( . So let me try to fix with the current setup.

I've a table smsCREATE TABLE `sms` (
`mid` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`sub` varchar(70) ,
`date` datetime ,
`msg` text,
`groupid` int(11) ,
`parent` int(11) ,
`categoryid` int(11) ,
PRIMARY KEY (`mid`),
KEY `parent` (`parent`),
FULLTEXT KEY `sub` (`sub`),
FULLTEXT KEY `msg` (`msg`)
)
(omitted some irrelevant fields), where
groupid specifies the group/subgroup of a row, will be a primary key of another table group
categoryid
equal to 1 => Original Post

greater than 1 => Replies

parent will be mid of an OP, in the case of a Reply

Now I want to find out the current active threads in the descending order of their last activity (if no reply, then consider the date of OP, else date of last reply).

I know this can be effectively tracked by an extra table by storing the mid of each OP along with a date, but :-(

I just want only 5 active one, so I thought about first getting 5 OPs in the order of posted date, and then select a set of 5 distinct OPs based on the dates of replies, and merge, then sort and filter.... my god!
Any simple and effective way? Any help would be appreciated.

[daemonkin]

Hi,

I found and have adapted the following to use in a sports standings table:


function arfsort($a, $fl)
{
$GLOBALS['__ARFSORT_LIST__'] = $fl;
usort($a, 'arfsort_func');
return $a;
}
function arfsort_func($a, $b)
{
foreach($GLOBALS['__ARFSORT_LIST__'] as $f) {
switch ($f[1]) { // switch on ascending or descending value
case "d":
if (is_numeric($b[$f[0]]) && is_numeric($a[$f[0]])) {
if ($b[$f[0]] - $a[$f[0]] < 0) {
return -1;
} else if ($b[$f[0]] - $a[$f[0]] > 0) {
return 1;
}
} else {
$strc = strcmp(strtolower($b[$f[0]]), strtolower($a[$f[0]]));
if ($strc != 0) {
return $strc;
}
}
break;
default:
if (is_numeric($a[$f[0]]) && is_numeric($b[$f[0]])) {
if ($a[$f[0]] - $b[$f[0]] < 0) {
return -1;
} else if ($a[$f[0]] - $b[$f[0]] > 0) {
return 1;
}
} else {
$strc = strcmp(strtolower($a[$f[0]]), strtolower($b[$f[0]]));
if ($strc != 0) {
return $strc;
}
}
break;
}
}
return 0;
}


I then run:


$order_arr =
array( // d means decending - swap for 'a' to see effect
array('points','d'),
array('goal_difference','d'),
array('for','d'),
array('against','d'),
array('teamName','a')
);
$sorted = arfsort($aTeams, $order_arr);
$aTeams = $sorted;


If you change the order array elements for those in your array and use asc or desc you can then obtain your desired results.

Hope this helps or makes sense.

D.

[Inigoesdr]

Moved at OP's request.

[StupidRalph]

Hi all,
I've a 2D array,
$Items=array(
array('date'=>'2008-02-16 06:54:03','name'=>'item1'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-20 14:47:36','name'=>'item2'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-01 13:23:46','name'=>'item3'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-01 05:26:38','name'=>'item4'),
array('date'=>'2007-11-28 10:51:53','name'=>'item5'),

array('date'=>'2008-02-01 09:20:45','name'=>'item6'),
array('date'=>'2008-01-11 09:23:29','name'=>'item2'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-03 09:11:14','name'=>'item4'),
array('date'=>'2007-12-03 03:32:51','name'=>'item3'),
array('date'=>'2007-11-30 07:00:40','name'=>'item5')
);
How can I sort this in the order of date ASC. (It's actually the combined result of 2 queries, so unable to populate using mysql)

How can I eliminate the repeating items ? I just want only 5 latest among them. Should I use another array(to store selected) and loop and in_array() function for that?

regards,

Couldn't you just UNION the two queries and have that take care of combining the two queries and eliminating the repeating items?

[abduraooft]

Couldn't you just UNION the two queries and have that take care of combining the two queries and eliminating the repeating items? yes, UNION was the thing required for me! Thanks a lot.