Overview

Greatly simplified one-dimensional array object.

Using this class, you can access data using both array notation ($foo['bar']) and object notation ($foo->bar). This helps with moving data among form objects, view helpers, SQL objects, etc.

Examples ...

<?php
$data = array('foo' => 'bar', 'baz' => 'dib', 'zim' => 'gir');
$struct = Solar::factory('Solar_Struct', array('data' => $data));

echo $struct['foo']; // 'bar'
echo $struct->foo;   // 'bar'

echo count($struct); // 3

foreach ($struct as $key => $val) {
    echo "$key=$val ";
} // foo=bar  baz=dib zim=gir

$struct->zim = 'irk';
echo $struct['zim']; // 'irk'

$struct->addNewKey = 'something new has been added';
echo $struct->noSuchKey; // 'something new has been added'

One problem is that casting the object to an array will not reveal the data; you'll get an empty array. Instead, you should use the toArray() method to get a copy of the object data.

<?php
$data = array('foo' => 'bar', 'baz' => 'dib', 'zim' => 'gir');
$object = Solar::factory('Solar_Struct', array('data' => $data));

$struct = (array) $object; // $struct = array();

$struct = $object->toArray(); // $struct = array('foo' => 'bar', ...)

Another problem is that you can't use object notation inside double- quotes directly; you need to wrap in braces.

<?php
echo "$struct->foo";   // won't work
echo "{$struct->foo}"; // will work

A third problem is that you can't address keys inside a foreach() loop directly using array notation; you have to use object notation. Originally reported by Antti Holvikari.

<?php
// will not work
foreach ($struct['subarray'] as $key => $val) { ... }

// will work
foreach ($struct->subarray as $key => $val) { ... }