Accessing sub-array data from theme_field__custom_content_type($variables)

Question

This is a mix of a PHP and a Drupal question.

I created a custom function...

theme_field__custom_content_type($variables)

I have the DEVEL module installed and have been using it profusely. I'm trying to modify the layout/look of a custom content through a childtheme I'm developing. I'm running into an issues that is leaving me scratching my head.

I have a custom content type [netrunner_card] and it has several fields that are taxonomy references. One field in particular is [field_card_subtype]. A card can have multiple subtypes... "Location," "Seedy," "Cloud," etc. What I want to do is to take those subtypes and place them next to another field like so:

field_card_type : field_card_subtype[0] - field_card_subtype[1] - etc

So that you would see output like:

Operation : Location - Seedy

ICE : AP - Trap

etc.

What I am doing is the following... Yes, I am creating custom variables for this as it helps to collect everything in an easy to use package.

$blinksFieldName = $variables['element']['#field_name'];
switch( $blinksFieldName )
{
    case 'field_unique_card':
        $variables['card_is_unique'] = $variables['element']['#items'][0]['value'];
        break;
    case 'field_card_subtype':
        $variables['card_subtype_list'] = implode( " - ", $variables['element']['#items']);
        break;
    ...
}

When I kpr( $variables['card_subtype_list'] ) I get a string of the word 'Array'. I think that's because the breakdown of the variable in question is more like:

$variables['element']['#items'][0]['#title']

I'm very confused how you reach that level of the array when one of the placeholders is the array index... I had thought to do a for-next but I can't figure out how I would word it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I think I get what you're doing...you won't be able to straight implode the items array if it's a sequential set that you're using to build up a list of key/value pairs...

There are probably a few different ways to do that loop, I'd try something like this:

$keys = $values = array();
$count = 1;
foreach ($variables['element']['#items'] as $item) {
  if ($count++ % 2 == 1) {
    $keys[] = $item['#title'];
  }
  else {
    $values[] = $item['#title'];
  }
}

$output = '';
for ($i = 0; $i < count($keys); $i++) {
  $output .= $keys[$i] . ' - ' . $values[$i] . '<br />';
}
$variables['card_subtype_list'] = $output;

Hopefully someone will propose a better solution, that's not exactly elegant. Apologies if I've misunderstood.

Answer 2

What I did to make this work is as follows. Inside template.php, in the following function:

function blinks_responsive_field__netrunner_card($variables)

I checked the $delta in the foreach for which subtype I was on.

$subTypeSpacer = '';
if( $blinksFieldName == 'field_card_subtype' ){ if( $delta > 0 ){ $subTypeSpacer = ' - '; } }

So if we were on subtype #0 (the first one) then don't add the hyphen. Otherwise add it. Then to insert the subTypeSpacer into our output I did the following:

$output .= '<div class="' . $classes . '"' . $variables['item_attributes'][$delta] . '>' . $subTypeSpacer . drupal_render($item) . '</div>';

This put everything together in our $variables. Now we have to call them. So we move ahead to node--netrunner-card--Operation--full.tpl.php

In here, we are custom styling the output for an Operation card. Jump down to where render( $content ) used to go, and we see this:

<div class="field-card-type"><?php print render( $content['field_card_type']); ?> : <?php print render( $content['field_card_subtype'] ); ?></div>

So, now we have all of the elements together, but they sure don't look pretty. These divs are treated like block elements, so they each get their own line. Not acceptable. So let's jump to style.css and do this...

div.field-card-type div
{
    display: inline;
}

Done.

If you'd like to see a sample here is what it looks like: A single operation card with the card subtypes styled like desired.