Mystery Undefined offset 0 warning after if loop array_shift()

[markbhewittlimited]

Hi All. After smashing my head on the edge of the desk for a day or two I’ve finally admitted defeat and decided to ask for help.

I have the following array (part of a larger array) which is identified as: $spaces[“Row[$key]”] - $key being “3” in this example.

[Row[3]] => Array ( [0] => 26 [1] => 31 [2] => 32 [3] => 34 [4] => 36 [5] => 40 [6] => 44 [7] => 50 [8] => 52 [9] => 54 [10] => 58 [11] => 60 [12] => 62 [13] => 63 )

out of which I’m using a loop part of which is to extract the following data:

$last = end($spaces[“Row[$key]”]);
$squares = $last;
list($first) = $spaces[“Row[$key]”];
$Position = $first;

all that works fine and dandy however when I use the following:

$Dump = array_shift($spaces[“Row[$key]”]);

in an if subloop to drop the 26 from the beginning giving me

[Row[3]] => Array ( [0] => 31 [1] => 32 [2] => 34 [3] => 36 [4] => 40 [5] => 44 [6] => 50 [7] => 52 [8] => 54 [9] => 58 [10] => 60 [11] => 62 [12] => 63 )

and then the:

$last = end($spaces[“Row[$key]”]); * In this case 63 which is working and correct
$squares = $last;
list($first) = $spaces[“Row[$key]”];
$Position = $first;

again, which works in the loops before, the list() instruction throws a “PHP Notice: Undefined offset: 0” warning despite there clearly being something in the array row $key = 3

Frankly, I’m baffled. I understand, roughly what the warning means however I’m pretty sure there’s a value where the code is being instructed to look. I’ve tried a reset() just in case the keys were out of whack, but it made no difference.

Any help, advice, suggestions would be v much appreciated…

[m_hutley]

@markbhewittlimited

Hi All. After smashing my head on the edge of the desk for a day or two I’ve finally admitted defeat and decided to ask for help.

Well, welcome to the forums. I’d advise you use your fingers rather than your forehead to do the typing, though.

@markbhewittlimited

which is identified as: $spaces[“Row[$key]”]

mmmhkay. That’s an interesting choice for an array key, but you do you.

@markbhewittlimited

$last = end($spaces[“Row[$key]”]);
$squares = $last;
list($first) = $spaces[“Row[$key]”];
$Position = $first;

First of all, let me throw out an administrative bit: to put code blocks into your post, surround them with three backticks.

```
code here
```

I don’t… really understand what the idea of this code block is.
$last gets set to the last value of the array.
$squares also gets set to the last value of the array.
$first gets set to either the last value of the array (PHP5) or the first (PHP7).
$Position gets set to the same value as $first.
you then set $Dump to the first value of the array (getting rid of it in the process)
Seems like the whole thing could be done easier with

$squares = end($spaces["Row[$key]"]);
$Position = reset($spaces["Row[$key]"]);

or even set $Position with the array_shift. OR use the loop index to access the array instead of shortening it.