Tree Simulation. Stumped

[sheep92342]

Hello. I'm simulating a tree using the GD library. The tree will have 2 branches on each node. I've come to a problem. I'm using arrays within arrays within arrays of coordinates. I want to insert the new arrays into the very last set of arrays.

I can *get* to the last arrays using array_walk_recursive and do all the necessary calculations but i can't retrieve the path ($v[0][1][2]) to insert the new arrays.

This is what my array will look like roughly. An array with 2 arrays in with 2 arrays in each of those etc.

Array
(
    [0] => a
    [1] => b
    [2] => Array
        (
            [0] => c
            [1] => d
            [2] => Array
                (
                    [0] => g
                    [1] => h
                )

            [3] => Array
                (
                    [0] => i
                    [1] => j
                )

        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [0] => e
            [1] => f
            [2] => Array
                (
                    [0] => k
                    [1] => l
                )

            [3] => Array
                (
                    [0] => m
                    [1] => n
                )

        )

)

[crmalibu]

Do you really need to produce a path? Or do you just need a way to work with the endpoint?

You could walk the array recursively, and when you find the endpoint, your function could return that array by reference. Or you could have your recursive walking routine carry a value to insert as it traverses the structure, and when it reaches the endpoint, it inserts the value it carries.

Have you considered maybe using an object oriented structure kinda like the DOM? In my opinion, its well suited for this. If you're familiar with it(maybe from javascript) you might be very productive using it. php's existing DOM extension could be used, or you could make your own simpler classes.

[sheep92342]

You could walk the array recursively, and when you find the endpoint, your function could return that array by reference.

Returning the arrays are ok, it's just adding a new element to the end arrays.

Or you could have your recursive walking routine carry a value to insert as it traverses the structure, and when it reaches the endpoint, it inserts the value it carries.

The values are calculated based on the previous properties. My problem is that I can't insert these properties.

And no I've never used DOM or coded much in javascript.

[sk89q]

It would help if you did make this using objects, but it may be a severe performance drop (especially memory usage) because PHP isn't compiled. But you wouldn't need to use DOM. I'm not sure why you would want to use DOM.

Maybe you should re-organize your array:

{
    coord => [X, Y],
    branches => {
        {
            coord => [X2, Y2],
            branches => {
                ...
            }
        },
        {
            coord => [X3, Y3],
            branches => {
            }
        },
    }
}

[sheep92342]

I don't understand why that format would change anything.

[crmalibu]

Returning the arrays are ok, it's just adding a new element to the end arrays.

That's why I suggested you return it by reference.

function & get_node_by_coordinates(&$tree, $coord0, $coord1) {
    if ($tree[0] === $coord0 && $tree[1] === $coord1) {
        return $tree;
    }
    if (isset($tree[3])) {
        $node =& get_node_by_coordinates($tree[3], $coord0, $coord1);
        if ($node) {
            return $node;
        }
    }
    if (isset($tree[4])) {
        $node =& get_node_by_coordinates($tree[4], $coord0, $coord1);
        if ($node) {
            return $node;
        }
    }
    return false;
} 

$mn_node =& get_node_by_coordinates($tree, 'm', 'n');
print_r($mn_node);
$mn_node[3] = 'hi!'; // add a new array(node) here
print_r($tree);