So basically i'm trying to create a complex timetable and i have these two methods that each perform a different check function for me:
Checks if i have a unique array
function tutorAllot($array,$check,$period){
//check for clashes and return non colliding allotment
shuffle($array);
$rKey = array_rand($array);
if(array_key_exists($array[$rKey]['teacher_id'], $check[$period])) {
return $this->tutorAllot($array,$check,$period);
}
return $tutor = array($array[$rKey]['teacher_id'] => $array[$rKey]['subject_code']);
}
checks that each subject does not appear more than twice in a day
function checkDayLimit($data,$check){
//check double day limit
$max = 2;
$value = array_values($check);
$tempCount = array_count_values($data);
return (array_key_exists($value[0], $tempCount) && $tempCount[$value[0]] <= $max) ? true : false;
}
I'm calling the functions from a loop and populating timetable array only if all conditions area satisfied:
$outerClass = array();
foreach ($value as $ky => $val) {
$innerClass = array(); $dayCount = array();
foreach ($periods[0] as $period => $periodData) {
$innerClass[$period] = array();
if(!($periodData == 'break')){
$return = $this->Schedule->tutorAllot($val,$clashCheck,$period);
if($return){
//check that the returned allocation hasnt reached day limit
if($this->Schedule->checkDayLimit($dayCount,$return)){
$innerClass[$period] += $return;
$clashCheck[$period] += $return;
}else{
}
}
}else{
$innerClass[$period] = '';
}
}
//debug($innerClass);
$outerClass[$ky] = $innerClass;
}
My requirements
If the checkDayLimit returns false , i want to go back and call tutorAllot function again to pick a new value. I need to do this without breaking the loop.
I was thinking maybe i could use goto statement but only when am out of options.
Is there a way i can achieve this without using goto statement. PHP v5.5.3 Ubuntu
Your architecture seems overly complex. Instead of
pick at random >> check limit >> if at limit, go to re-pick...
Why not incorporate both checks into a single function? It would
addendum 1
I don't think there is any need for recursion. I would use array_filter
to pass the data through a function that returns true
for eligible members and false
for the rest. I would then take the result of array_map
and make a random selection from it