merge two lists + sort on date

Hi Deborah,

After merging, you'll want to sort the records by date. I think the simplest fix would be to use array_multisort(). It's a poorly-documented and poorly-understood function which sorts one array using the sort order from sorting another array. Imagine if you had a stack of sealed DVDs and a stack of cards with the release dates of the films and both stacks were in the same order (so the first card corresponds to the first DVD, etc.); if you wanted to sort the DVDs by release date, you could sort the cards, making the same swaps in the DVD stack as you make in the card stack. So the first thing to do is to build the stack of cards...

$startDates = array();
foreach ($eventsandworkshopsRecords as $record) {
  $startDates[] = strtotime($record['start_date']);
}

// sort $eventsandworkshopsRecords using $startDates as a reference
array_multisort(
  $startDates, SORT_ASC,
  $eventsandworkshopsRecords
);


You'll want to add this code after your array_merge() call. Please let me know if you have any questions. Hope this helps!

I still find array_multisort() confusing, which is why I usually just ask Chris to do it for me. But that is a good description! ;) 

Chris, your code is perfection! If you only knew how many times I wanted to achieve that in recent years, but never asked how!

So now that I have the two tables merged into one date-sorted list, is it possible for that list to display a limited number of records if I remove the limits I previously indicated (such as 'limit'  => '3',) from the individual tables?

Thanks so much for your help.

~ Deborah

Hi Deborah

Glad to hear Chris' code worked! 

With your next question, I just want to confirm you are asking how to limit the number of records that are displayed out of the new array Chris' code creates for you. If that's the case, try adding the following into your foreach loop:

 <?php if (@$counter++ == 7) { break; } ?>

You can change the "7" to what ever you like. 

Let me know how this works for you. Thanks!

Ross, Yes, that is exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks so much for your help once again.

~ Deborah