PHP - Create multidimensional recursive array from string (Files/folders structure)

Question

Someone asked same question 10 years ago but there is no answer to that

Reference: Trying to create Array from String (file/folder structure)

Update Jan 8, 2022: This is how array and tree should look like:

https://3v4l.org/6ULBZ#v8.1.1

The SQL output should be formed into this array structure from a string.

[
'id' => $key //Increment from foreach loop,
'file' => $row['name'] //Name of folders and files
'parent_id' => 0 // 0 - if no subfolder, $id if there is subfolder
]

I want to return a tree-level multidimensional array from file list stored in database as a string.

For example I store my work related path in database like this:

SELECT name FROM files;

... SQL Output

2021/Dec/File1.doc
2021/Dec/File2.doc
2021/Dec/File3.doc
2021/Nov/File1.doc
2021/Nov/File2.doc
2021/Nov/File3.doc
2021/Nov/File4.doc
2020/Jan/File1.doc
2020/Jan/File2.doc
2020/Jan/File3.doc

... PHP recursive array output should be categorized by folders, subfolders, more subfolders if exists and files on end.

-2021
--Dec
---File1.doc
---File2.doc
---File3.doc
--Nov
---File1.doc
---File2.doc
---File3.doc
---File4.doc
-2020
--Jan
---File1.doc
---File2.doc
---File3.doc

What would be the best way to achieve this performance wise?

What I got so far...

$files = [];
foreach ($sql as $row)
{
    // Separate directories
    $separator = explode('/', $row['name']); 
    /* Output:
    Array
    (
    [0] => 2021
    [1] => Dec
    [2] => file1.doc
    )
    */

    // Find the file via regex
    if (preg_match('/[^\/]*\.(doc|txt)/', $row['name'], $o))
    {
        $row['name'] = $o[0]; //Output: file1.doc
    }
    $files[] = $row;
}

... For now I only have a file names, now I need directories as well and then make a multidimensional array from it.

@CarySwoveland Hi. Yes, but instead of having subfolders names as array keys, I'd like to have it as parent_id => 'subfolder' and then there all the files listed. Like this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29384548/php-how-to-build-tree-structure-list — WorkFlow, Jan 08 '22 at 15:56
Added on top array and function how the string from database should be formed into array. — WorkFlow, Jan 08 '22 at 16:31
I assumed--which I should not have done--that PHP arrays are pretty much the same as arrays in other languages. I apologize for my unwarranted diversion. — Cary Swoveland, Jan 08 '22 at 16:49

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 08 '22 at 03:12

1

$files = [];
foreach ($sql as $row)
{
    // Separate directories
    $separator = explode('/', $row['name']); 
    /* Output:
    Array
    (
    [0] => 2021
    [1] => Dec
    [2] => file1.doc
    )
    */

    if (preg_match('/[^\/]*\.(doc|txt)/', $row['name']))
    {
        $node = &$files;
        while (count($separator) > 1) {
            $folder = array_shift($separator);
            if (!array_key_exists($folder, $node)) {
                $node[$folder] = [];
            }
            $node = &$node[$folder];
        }
        $node[] = $separator[0];
    }
}

answered Jan 08 '22 at 03:12

g4li

490
4
9

Hi, this is almost what I need. Can instead of having array key as folder name, to have `parent_id => 'Subfolder'` ? Reference: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29384548/php-how-to-build-tree-structure-list – WorkFlow Jan 08 '22 at 15:54
I've created a structure how it should look from the string which we separated into array of folders https://3v4l.org/6ULBZ#v8.1.1 – WorkFlow Jan 08 '22 at 16:32

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 08 '22 at 02:04

I have one solution for you, I hope this will help.

$files="2021/Dec/File1.doc, 
2021/Dec/File2.doc,
2021/Dec/File3.doc,
2021/Nov/File1.doc,
2021/Nov/File2.doc,
2021/Nov/File3.doc,
2021/Nov/File4.doc,
2020/Jan/File1.doc,
2020/Jan/File2.doc,
2020/Jan/File3.doc";

$files=explode(',',$files);

foreach($files as $file)
{
    $i=1;
    $paths=explode('/',$file);
    foreach($paths as $path)
    {
        for($j=0;$j<$i;++$j){
            echo '-';
        }
        echo $path;
        echo "<br/>";
        ++$i;
    }
    $i=0;
}

You can use your database files. by removing my files constant value and use your.

Thank you, but subfolders are not merged, they are all separated which defeats the purpose of the thing I need — WorkFlow, Jan 08 '22 at 15:58

PHP - Create multidimensional recursive array from string (Files/folders structure)

2 Answers2