reorder php object based on one of its property values

Question

let's say I have an object, $obj, that after this foreach() loop:

foreach($obj as $row){
    echo 'file_id:'.$row->file_id.'-name:'.$row->name.'<br>';
}

would look like this:

file_id:321-name:321-is-good
file_id:322-name:322-is-better
file_id:323-name:323-is-best

How can I sort $obj such that I can choose what is the first echo'd $row? For example, if I plugged in 322 somewhere, the result would look like this:

file_id:322-name:322-is-better
file_id:323-name:323-is-best
file_id:321-name:321-is-good

and if I plugged in 323:

file_id:323-name:323-is-best
file_id:321-name:321-is-good
file_id:322-name:322-is-better

I know it probably involves usort() but I can't wrap my head around what needs to be done.

thoughts?

thanks, tim

bronzehedwick · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-04 13:38:03Z

2

Assuming you want to sort on file_id at a specific start, appending what comes before, which is also sorted on file_id:

$sort = '323';
usort($arr,function($a,$b) use ($sort) {
   //normal sorting for low-ids after high-ids
   if($a->file_id < $sort && $a->file_id < $sort){
      return strcmp($a->file_id,$b->file_id);
   } 
   //if only $a is smaller $a should be later
   if($a->file_id < $sort) return 1;
   //if only $b is smaller $a should be earlier
   if($b->file_id < $sort) return -1;
   //both above $sort, sort normally
   return strcmp($a->file_id,$b->file_id);
 });

Working example with an Object instead of a Array:

<?php
//build a test with arrays is easier;
$arr = new ArrayObject(array(
    array('file_id' => '321','name' => '321 is good'),
    array('file_id' => '322','name' => '322 is better'),
    array('file_id' => '323','name' => '323 is best')));
//cast all to object for purposes of testing objects
foreach($arr as &$val) $val = (object)$val;
//when you used a reference _always_ unset... trust me on this one
unset($val);

$sort = '323';
// we define the callback separately because for this test we use it more then once
// don't pay much attention to the reference as &$sort, this is just to alter it in 
// multiple tests, and should not be needed in the actual implementation.

$callback = function($a,$b) use (&$sort) {
   //normal sorting for low-ids after high-ids
   if($a->file_id < $sort && $b->file_id < $sort){ //$a & $b indeed, not $a twice ;)
      return strcmp($a->file_id,$b->file_id);
   }
   //if only $a is smaller $a should be later
   if($a->file_id < $sort) return 1;
   //if only $b is smaller $a should be earlier
   if($b->file_id < $sort) return -1;
   //both above $sort, sort normally
   return strcmp($a->file_id,$b->file_id);
};

//322 first:
$sort='322';
$arr->uasort($callback);
var_dump($arr);

//323 first:
$sort='323';
$arr->uasort($callback);
var_dump($arr);

//321 again first:
$sort='321';
$arr->uasort($callback);
var_dump($arr);

//non-existing:
$sort='400';
$arr->uasort($callback);
var_dump($arr);



object(ArrayObject)#1 (1) {
  ["storage":"ArrayObject":private]=>
  array(3) {
    [1]=>
    object(stdClass)#5 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "322"
      ["name"]=>
      string(13) "322 is better"
    }
    [2]=>
    object(stdClass)#6 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "323"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "323 is best"
    }
    [0]=>
    object(stdClass)#4 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "321"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "321 is good"
    }
  }
}
object(ArrayObject)#1 (1) {
  ["storage":"ArrayObject":private]=>
  array(3) {
    [2]=>
    object(stdClass)#6 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "323"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "323 is best"
    }
    [0]=>
    object(stdClass)#4 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "321"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "321 is good"
    }
    [1]=>
    object(stdClass)#5 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "322"
      ["name"]=>
      string(13) "322 is better"
    }
  }
}
object(ArrayObject)#1 (1) {
  ["storage":"ArrayObject":private]=>
  array(3) {
    [0]=>
    object(stdClass)#4 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "321"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "321 is good"
    }
    [1]=>
    object(stdClass)#5 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "322"
      ["name"]=>
      string(13) "322 is better"
    }
    [2]=>
    object(stdClass)#6 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "323"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "323 is best"
    }
  }
}
object(ArrayObject)#1 (1) {
  ["storage":"ArrayObject":private]=>
  array(3) {
    [0]=>
    object(stdClass)#4 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "321"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "321 is good"
    }
    [1]=>
    object(stdClass)#5 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "322"
      ["name"]=>
      string(13) "322 is better"
    }
    [2]=>
    object(stdClass)#6 (2) {
      ["file_id"]=>
      string(3) "323"
      ["name"]=>
      string(11) "323 is best"
    }
  }
}

edited Jun 4, 2013 at 13:38

bronzehedwick

3,0833 gold badges24 silver badges31 bronze badges

answered Jun 16, 2012 at 2:20

Wrikken

70.8k8 gold badges99 silver badges136 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

6 Comments

tim peterson Over a year ago

-@Wrikken, yes $sort will be defined on the fly, thank you let me try your code...

Wrikken Over a year ago

I have not tested it, so I am not responsible for any parse or other errors, but it should help get the idea across ;)

tim peterson Over a year ago

-@Wrikken, so do I need to typecast $obj as an $array first? Also, i'm having trouble returning the re-ordered $obj. Do I just do this: $obj=usort($obj, function($a...?

tim peterson Over a year ago

-@wrikken, i'm confused, this is is not keeping the names together with the file_ids. Also, 321 is always coming first, would you mind clarifying your answer to address these 2 problems? thanks,

Wrikken Over a year ago

Aha, I only now see your 'list' of rows was an object itself, missed that the first time around. Yes, for sorting to work you either need an array (or, define a custom next() & others for the Iterator interface), or extend something like an ArrayObject (which was what I did for this example).

|

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

reorder php object based on one of its property values

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related