PHP
PHP

How can I update this array?

Here's my array when I do a var_dump:

array (size=3)
'eventdate' => string '2016-08-27' (length=10)
'eventtype' => string 'transaction' (length=11)
'runningbal' => string '32.50' (length=5)

The name of the array is "$event."

I need to update "eventtype." My plan was to do a "foreach" in order to isolate each of the variables and then change "transaction" to "payment."

When I do this:

foreach($event as $sport)
{
echo $sport['eventtype'];
}

I get this: Warning: Illegal string offset 'eventtype' in C:\wamp\www\patient_focus\arrays.php on line 74

What am I doing wrong?

brucegustPHP DeveloperAsked: 2016-09-04

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LVL 31

Marco GasiFreelancerCommented: 2016-09-04

You don't need to use foreach: just use

echo $event['eventtype'];

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LVL 31

Marco GasiFreelancerCommented: 2016-09-04

But if you need to iterate throught the array you can do it this way:

foreach ($event as $key => $value) {
	if ($key == 'eventtype') {
		echo $value;
	}
}

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LVL 111

Ray PaseurCommented: 2016-09-04

Please use var_export() to print out your test data in the $event array, and post that output here in the code snippet. Then we can see (and code) with exactly the same information you're using.

LVL 31

Marco GasiFreelancerCommented: 2016-09-04

@Ray sorry, but I don't understand your point: Bruce is just using a wrong code within the foreach loop... He has just to use $event['eventtype'] to get that element.

@brucegust: Here the working code to update array - nothing esoteric :)

<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 'On');
$event = array(
		'eventdate' => '2016-08-27',
		'eventtype' => 'transaction',
		'runningbal' => '32.50',
);
echo "Original array:<br>";
echo "<pre>";
var_dump($event);
echo "</pre>";
echo "Going to change event type to payment (\$event['eventtype'] = 'payment';)<br>The array after the change:<br>";
$event['eventtype'] = 'payment';
echo "<pre>";
var_dump($event);
echo "</pre>";

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You can check it here: http://test.webintenerife.com/array-change.php

LVL 111

Ray PaseurCommented: 2016-09-04

Hi, Marco. There have been various iterations of this question. Some of them have used multidimensional arrays. I'm just wondering if this $event is really an excerpt from a larger data set, or if it has been copied from a larger data set, or otherwise exists in a different form than we see here. I have a feeling that there may be more to it than is present inside the four corners of this question.

And in any case, when we can get the author of a question to understand the value of showing us the test data (instead of showing us non-working code, or a partial description of the test data, or any of a number of other non-helpful things) then we have made progress for everyone. And if the author uses var_export() PHP will give us a piece of working code that we can copy/paste and test with immediately. It's a "help us help you" request.

LVL 31

Marco GasiFreelancerCommented: 2016-09-04

Ah, I see. I had got the second part of your explanation, but I didn't consider the possibility that the array $event were part of a larger data set... As usual, good point, Ray :)

brucegustPHP DeveloperAuthor Commented: 2016-09-05

Ray, I thought I had nailed it by doing a var_dump()! Well, nuts! As it turns out, Marco was able to give me what I needed, so I'm good, however...

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28967806/Why-can-I-not-retrieve-this-info-from-my-array.html

...and I make a point of doing var_export.

Thank you!