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Explode function to extract values from DMS notation

I have a table with locations stored in the format: 

30°28'25"  
68°28'43"

In the process of converting from DMS to DEC, I'd need a function to convert the string 68°28'43" (no spaces among values-symbols) into 

$deg = 68  
$min = 28  
$sec = 43

Or something similar. Thanks

Solution

  • Simply use preg_match_all :)

    the following regex simply captures every digits (\d) which are contains exactly 2 numbers ({2}) and group them (the braces around the expression)

    <?php
$value = "68°28'43\"";
preg_match_all('/(\d{2})/', $value, $matches);

print_r($matches);

    $matches would be an array with the captured results (the digits)

    Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [0] => 68
            [1] => 28
            [2] => 43
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [0] => 68
            [1] => 28
            [2] => 43
        )

)

    And then you can simply assign it to your variables with the list() function as follow:

    list($deg, $min, $sec) = $matches[0];

echo $deg; // 68
echo $min; // 28
echo $sec; // 43