[thelist] Compare Content in Multidimensional Array [PHP/SQL]

[Stefan Schwarzer]

Hi there,

I have some global national statistical data sets.

The table design is like this for each variable:

     name             2001    2002   2003   2004   2005
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan    ....
Albania            ....


I would like to offer the possibility to compare two (or more)  
variables for a given country. The data values need to be set to 100  
at the first year which both variables have in common.

So, one variable could have an annual vallues between 1960 and 2005;  
another one only from 1975 to 2005.

So, the values for the country would be set to 100 based on the year  
1975.

In the moment I have a loop for the number of variables, selecting  
all data and stocking them into an array:


            $data[$number_of_dataset][$year] = $value_of_that_year;


Probably there could be better approach in finding the  
"smallest_common_year"?!

If not, I wonder how, by using PHP, I can get that information...

Can anyone give me a hint?

Thank you very much!

Stef


   ____________________________________________________________________

   Stefan Schwarzer

   Lean Back and Relax - Enjoy some Nature Photography: http:// 
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   Or: Appetite for Global Data? UNEP GEO Data Portal: http:// 
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   ____________________________________________________________________