Sort an Array of Objects within Array by value

Question

Basically I'm trying to sort a complex array of Objects within an array:

Array
(
    [190515] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nid] => 15740686
            [venue_nid] => 190515
            [occurrences] => 1
            [this_weeks_occurrences] => 0
            [end_date] => 1350853200
            [end_date_end_time] => 1350853200
            [is_ongoing] => 0
            [title] => Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center
            [times] => Array
                (
                    [0] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [nid] => 15740686
                            [venue_nid] => 190515
                            [venue_title] => Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center
                            [datepart] => 20121021
                            [occurrences] => 1
                            [times] => Sun 4:00pm
                            [end_times] => Sun 4:00pm
                            [next_year] => 0
                            [next_month] => 0
                            [next_week] => 3
                            [occurrence_date] => 1350853200
                        )

                )

            [times_list] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Oct 21 sun 4:00pm
                )

        )

    [31403] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nid] => 15740686
            [venue_nid] => 31403
            [occurrences] => 1
            [this_weeks_occurrences] => 0
            [end_date] => 1350176400
            [end_date_end_time] => 1350176400
            [is_ongoing] => 0
            [title] => KAM Isaiah Israel
            [times] => Array
                (
                    [0] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [nid] => 15740686
                            [venue_nid] => 31403
                            [venue_title] => KAM Isaiah Israel
                            [datepart] => 20121014
                            [occurrences] => 1
                            [times] => Sat 8:00pm
                            [end_times] => Sat 8:00pm
                            [next_year] => 0
                            [next_month] => 0
                            [next_week] => 2
                            [occurrence_date] => 1350176400
                        )

                )

            [times_list] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Oct 13 sat 8:00pm
                )

        )

    [33861] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nid] => 15740686
            [venue_nid] => 33861
            [occurrences] => 1
            [this_weeks_occurrences] => 0
            [end_date] => 1350781200
            [end_date_end_time] => 1350781200
            [is_ongoing] => 0
            [title] => Music Institute of Chicago, Nichols Concert Hall
            [times] => Array
                (
                    [0] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [nid] => 15740686
                            [venue_nid] => 33861
                            [venue_title] => Music Institute of Chicago, Nichols Concert Hall
                            [datepart] => 20121021
                            [occurrences] => 1
                            [times] => Sat 8:00pm
                            [end_times] => Sat 8:00pm
                            [next_year] => 0
                            [next_month] => 0
                            [next_week] => 3
                            [occurrence_date] => 1350781200
                        )

                )

            [times_list] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Oct 20 sat 8:00pm
                )

        )

)

I need to sort by occurrence_date and ensure that the data in the top Object (e.g.190515) doesn't become corrupted with other objects and to include the possibility that there could be a 2nd occurrence_date for the "times" [array] of Objects.

I've seen similar sort arrays of objects by field here, but not with the depth of the array/object. I tried using usort but I don't think my syntax to the value is correct.

Basically what I tried.

function cmp($x, $y) {
    if ($x->occurrence_date > $y->occurrence_date) {
      return 1; }
    else {
      return -1; }
 }
usort($node->timeout_events_schedule->venues, 'cmp');

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

How about:

function compare($x,$y)
{
    if($x->times[0]->occurrence_date == $y->times[0]->occurrence_date)
        return 0;
    elseif($x->times[0]->occurrence_date < $y->times[0]->occurrence_date)
        return -1;
    else
        return 1;

}

uasort($your_array,'compare');

uasort() preserve your keys, unlike usort() http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.uasort.php

Answer 2

Few tips to help you solve your problem:

• you will need uasort function, to preserve associative keys
• You can not access occurrence_date key directly from $x o r $y, you will need $x->times[0]->occurence_date
• Before doing comparison, iterate through $x->times just to check if there are more entries, pick one that suits your needs.
• since occurence_date is a number you don't have to use string comparison function

Good luck :)