Arrays are really usefull when you have to manipulate the same elements several times.
They have been introduced with the version 1.92 :
#ARRAY{key1,value1,key2,value2...} allows the creation of a variable
length table (useful for constructing a table for a #SET and/or for
use with a dynamic “IN” criterion )"
This tag allows you to do a lot of operations with the arrays.
Example
Here is an example taken from the plugin spipbb
#SET{modos,#ARRAY}
<BOUCLE_modo_art(AUTEURS){id_article}>
#SET{modos,#GET{modos}|array_merge{#ARRAY{#COMPTEUR_BOUCLE,#ID_AUTEUR}}}
</BOUCLE_modo_art>
<BOUCLE_art_rub(ARTICLES){id_article}>
<BOUCLE_rub_admin(AUTEURS_RUBRIQUES){id_auteur !IN
#GET{modos}}{id_rubrique=#ID_RUBRIQUE}>
<BOUCLE_aut_admin(AUTEURS){id_auteur}>
#SET{modos,#GET{modos}|array_merge{#ARRAY{#COMPTEUR_BOUCLE,#_aut_admin:ID_AUTEUR}}}
</BOUCLE_aut_admin>
</BOUCLE_rub_admin>
</BOUCLE_art_rub>- An empty table is created
-
#ARRAY{#COMPTEUR_BOUCLE,#ID_AUTEUR}creates an array containing the author’s id at an index that isn’t used yet. The standard PHP function array_merge() finally does it’s job : this value is now stored on the last index of the array ’modos’. - Another loop completes this array with the other authors of articles that are in the same section.
Note that the PHP function is used as a filter : it’s possible because it’s first argument is the array to manipulate.
Of course all this can be done with PHP code inside the template. The advantage of using the tag #ARRAY is that your template is better managed by the cache.
Hope it helps,
Comment on this article