Hello,
I have a csv list which appears like this:
00001;Product_1
00001;Product_2
00002;Product_3

I'm trying to assemble a script that will generate a Multi-dimensional Array from this csv file. I found something in PS-Script forum which, in part, suits my needs ("Compare filenames in a csv to files in a directory") and tried to modify it.

//---< Create Multi-Dimensional Array from CSV list >---
function main() {
//Ask the user to select the comma-delimited file
var csvFile = File.openDialog("Open Comma-delimited File","comma-delimited(*.csv):*.csv;");
//Make sure the comma-delimited file exists and then open it
datafile = new File(csvFile);
if (datafile.exists){
datafile.open('r');
};
var myRelazioni = new Array();
while(!datafile.eof){//read each line to end of file
myRelazioni.push(new Array(datafile.readln()));
}
datafile.close();
}
main();

This way I can get an Array which looks like this:
myRelazioni = [["00001;Product_1"],["00001;Product_2"],["00002;Product_3"]]
The question is that I want to obtain an Array which instead looks like this:
myRelazioni = [["00001;Product_1","00001;Product_2"],["00002;Product_3"]]
that is, I want to find a rule to group together those lines which start with the same set of characters into the same sub-array ("00001" in this case, but could be any set of characters).

Any suggestion would be much appreciated

Thanks

multidimensional arrays in JavaScript look like this:

var xo=[];
xo.push(new Array("hello world"));
alert(xo[0][0]);

will alert "hello world";
Then, you could add this:

xo[0].push("goodbye world");
alert(xo[0][1]);

will alert "goodbye world". I think you may see where this is going.

javascript CANNOT open files on a users computer.

As a graphic designer, I use Extend Script which is an extended version of Javascript (http://www.adobe.com/products/indesi...g/index.html); a scripting language which incorporates the benefits of Javascript together with the methods provided by the softwares that support such language (like Indesign). I'm aware that may be for a purist of Javascript, this may seem a little confusing, but in the end it's all about logic. So forgive me, but I was just trying to figure out how to solve a logical problem.

So not javascript actually, but a scripting language with a javascript or C/C++ syntax. The same way as Action script (Flash) is.

Exactly,
you can find more here http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe...ngGuide_JS.pdf, or here http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.eea5b36/
As I told you before, I come from a graphic design background, not programmer - I'm moving my first steps into this world and it's hard to find good places to learn the language

Do you think you could help me with my problem?..

pushed for time today but I'll give you a couple of pointers to where I would be looking to go with code. Hopefully this will get you there. It will be fairly general as I don't know the details of Extend Script.

fill the array as you have done with each line of the file, then use arrayname.sort() to put it into ascending order. This should put the array into order with all the "000001" appearing first. It will of course rely on the format of the text file lines being the same.

then loop through the sorted array and concatenate the elements into a comma seperated string, when the first part of the element changes (000001: becomes 000002: etc) push the string into another array and clear the string.

this should leave you with
newArray[0] == "000001:Product1,000001:Product2,000001:Produc t3"
newArray[1] == "000002:Product1,000001:Product2"
newArray[2] == "000005:Product1,000001:Product2"
newArray[3] == "000009:Product1"

If I get time later I'll work out some code.

Thank you chrishirst, this sounds promising.. I really appreciate your efforts.

Hello chrishirst, have you got any news about this? I tried myself all day but it seems that my skills are not enough for this.. Hope to receive your answer
Thanks

THis is javascript but provided the syntax is the same it should work

        <script type="text/javascript" >
	
	var arr2 = new Array;
	var arr1 = new Array;
	var newstring = "";
	var adding = ""
// load the lines from the external source here 

// defined array for testing
	arr1[0] = "000002:Product1";
	arr1[1] = "000001:Product1";
	arr1[2] = "000009:Product1";
	arr1[3] = "000001:Product3";
	arr1[4] = "000002:Product2";
	arr1[5] = "000005:Product1";
	arr1[6] = "000001:Product2";
	arr1[7] = "000005:Product2";
//	end of testing array

	
	arr1.sort();

	var s_start = arr1[0].substring(0,arr1[0].indexOf(":"))

	for (var i=0;i <= arr1.length-1; i++) {
	adding = arr1[i];
		if (i == 0) {
			newstring = adding;
		} else {			
			if (arr1[i].substring(0,arr1[i].indexOf(":")) == s_start) {
				newstring += "," + adding;
			} 
			if (arr1[i].substring(0,arr1[i].indexOf(":")) != s_start) {
				s_start = arr1[i].substring(0,arr1[i].indexOf(":"));
				arr2.push(newstring);
				newstring = arr1[i];
			}
		}
	} //end for 
			arr2.push(arr1[(arr1.length -1)]);
			// push last element onto array 2
					
		</script>

Hello chrishirst,
I tried your script this morning and it worked perfect!
It is very well written so I was able to understand it as well. I thank you very much for your time and efforts also for proving me that Extend Script can support Javascript very well.
Thanks again
Filippo Nanni