convert sub-arrays with only one value to a string

Question

I have a multidimensional array, the sub-arrays consist of further values, I would like for all sub-arrays that only have one value to be converted into a string. How can I successfully scan through a multidimensional array to get the result?

Below is a small section of the array as it is now.

[1] => Array
(
    [name] => Array
        (
            [0] => Person's name
        )

    [organisation] => Array
        (
            [0] => This is their organisation
            [1] => aka something else
        )

    [address] => Array
        (
            [0] => The street name
            [1] => The town name
        )

    [e-mail] => Array
        (
            [0] => [email protected]
        )

)

and here is how I would like it to end up

[1] => Array
(
    [name] =>  Person's name

    [organisation] => Array
        (
            [0] => This is their organisation
            [1] => aka something else
        )

    [address] => Array
        (
            [0] => The street name
            [1] => The town name
        )

    [e-mail] => [email protected]

)

gen_Eric · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-25 22:17:33Z

2

This should do the trick.

function array2string(&$v){
    if(is_array($v) && count($v)==1){
        $v = $v[0];
    }
}
array_walk($array, 'array2string');

Or as a one-liner, since I'm nuts.

array_walk($array, create_function('&$v', 'if(is_array($v) && count($v)==1){$v = $v[0];}'));

EDIT: It looks like that array is an element in a bigger array. You need to put this function inside of a foreach loop.

function array2string(&$v){
    if(is_array($v) && count($v)==1){
        $v = $v[0];
    }
}
foreach($array as &$val){
    array_walk($val, 'array2string');
}

Or using my crazy create_function one-liner.

foreach($array as &$val){
    array_walk($val, create_function('&$v', 'if(is_array($v) && count($v)==1){$v = $v[0];}'));
}

edited Aug 25, 2010 at 22:17

answered Aug 25, 2010 at 20:02

gen_Eric

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7 Comments

Paul Over a year ago

That doesn't work, the resulting array looks as if it hasn't changed, even the single items still are set as arrays.

gen_Eric Over a year ago

Try looping through the array, and using the array_walk on each element.

gen_Eric Over a year ago

Ok, I fixed it. The foreach($array as $val) needs to be foreach($array as &$val).

Paul Over a year ago

That seems to work with the first few levels, the array I'm currently working with is five levels deep and doesn't work after the third level

gen_Eric Over a year ago

Seems I can't use array_walk for this, gotta do it manually.

|

gen_Eric · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-25 22:17:07Z

1

This should work no matter how deep the array is.

Put this function in your code:

function array2string(&$v){
    if(is_array($v)){
        if(count($v, COUNT_RECURSIVE) == 1){
            $v = $v[0];
            return;
        }
        array_walk($v, 'array2string');
    }
}

Then do this:

array_walk($array, 'array2string');

answered Aug 25, 2010 at 22:17

gen_Eric

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Comments

janmoesen · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-12 13:47:43Z

0

This PHP 5.3 code uses a closure. You can use a named function, too, if you want. It specifically checks for strings, and calls itself for nested arrays.

<?php
array_walk($array, $walker = function (&$value, $key) use (&$walker) {
    if (is_array($value)) {
        if (count($value) === 1 && is_string($value[0])) {
            $value = $value[0];
        } else {
            array_walk($value, $walker);
        }       
    }   
});

edited Oct 12, 2010 at 13:47

answered Aug 26, 2010 at 19:41

janmoesen

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