php if clause inside foreach not retrieving data correctly

Question

Here's my issue: In my controller, I want to grab user input from a form. I then parse the input, and compare it to database values to ensure I'm grabbing the correct input. I simply want to match the user's answers to the question, grab the user ID, the question ID, and then determine if the answer applies to a multiple choice or checkbox question, or something else. I take those values and insert them into the answer table. Ignore the waiver stuff. I'll test that once I get the answers input correctly.

    // add answers and waiver consent records
    try {

        $answerArray = array();
        $waiverArray = array();

    // retrieve answers, waiver consents, and the question ID's from form object
    foreach ($formData as $key => $value) {

        $parts = explode("_", $key);

        if ($parts[0] == 'question') {                                                      
            array_push($answerArray, $value);           
        }

        if ($parts[0] == 'waiverTitle') {                                                       
            array_push($waiverArray, $value);                           
        }
    }

    $questions = new Model_DbTable_Questions();
    $questionResults = $questions->getQuestionResults($session->idEvent);                                   

    foreach ( $questionResults as $qr ) {
        if ($qr ['questionType'] == 'multipleChoice' || $qr ['questionType'] == 'checkBox') {
            foreach ( $answerArray as $aa ) {
                $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $qr ['idQuestion'], null, $aa );
echo count ( $answerData ) . ', ' . $qr ['questionType'] . ', ' . $aa . '<br />';
            }
        } else {
            foreach ( $answerArray as $aa ) {
                $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $qr ['idQuestion'], $aa, null );
echo count ( $answerData ) . ', ' . $qr ['questionType'] . ', ' . $aa . '<br />';
            }
        }
    }

    } 

    catch (Zend_Db_Statement_Exception $e) 
    { 

        $e->getMessage();
        throw $e;
    }

From my test data, I expect to get 2 records that match the multiple choice and checkbox criteria, and 1 record for text in the ELSE clause like this:

3, checkbox, 1
3, multipleChoice, 1
3, text, question_2

What I get is a 3x3 Cartesian product, 3 question elements each with the 3 possible answers like this output from the echo statements:

4, checkBox, 1
4, checkBox, 1
4, checkBox, question_2
4, multipleChoice, 1
4, multipleChoice, 1
4, multipleChoice, question_2
4, text, 1
4, text, 1
4, text, question_2

I've tried placing the IF clause inside the inner foreach, but I get the same results. I've been staring at this problem for way too long and cannot see what I'm doing wrong. Your kind assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if my request requires more clarification.

Answer 1

I don't really understand:

1. Why you thought you would get 3 lines outputted, since you've got a nested loop there which iterates through each answer for each question....
2. Why you thought the try-catch statement would help us answer your question.

But I simplified your code, so somebody can maybe answer the question:

<?php
$answerArray = array();
$waiverArray = array();

// retrieve answers, waiver consents, and the question ID's from form object
foreach ($formData as $key => $value) {

    $parts = explode("_", $key);

    if ($parts[0] == 'question') {                                                      
        array_push($answerArray, $value);           
    }

    if ($parts[0] == 'waiverTitle') {                                                       
        array_push($waiverArray, $value);                           
    }
}

$questions = new Model_DbTable_Questions();
$questionResults = $questions->getQuestionResults($session->idEvent);                                   

foreach ( $questionResults as $qr ) {
    foreach ( $answerArray as $aa ) {
        if (in_array($qr['questionType'], array('multipleChoice','checkBox') )) {
            $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $qr ['idQuestion'], null, $aa );
        } else {
            $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $qr ['idQuestion'], $aa, null );
        }
        echo count ( $answerData ) . ', ' . $qr ['questionType'] . ', ' . $aa . '<br />';
    }
}

?>

Answer 2

After much brain-crunching analysis, I finally got it (with much assistance from my coworker and arnorhs, of course). Many thanks for your help. Virtual beers for everyone!

$answerData = array();

$questions = new Model_DbTable_Questions();
$questionResults = $questions->getQuestionResults($session->idEvent);                                   

// retrieve answers, waiver consents, and the question ID's from form object
    foreach ($formData as $key => $value) 
    {
        $parts = explode("_", $key);
        if($parts[0] == 'question')
        {                           
            foreach ($questionResults as $question) 
            {

                if ($parts[1] == $question['idQuestion']) 
                {                   
                    if (in_array($question['questionType'], array('multipleChoice','checkBox') )) 
                    {   
                        $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $question['idQuestion'], null, $value );
                    }
                    else 
                    {
                        $answerData = $answers->addAnswer ( $lastUserID, $question['idQuestion'], $value, null );
                    }
                }

            }
        }
    }