pset8 import imploding and exploding a line

Question

i'm trying to import the txt file. Using fgetcsv a hole line is stored in a variable, then i imploded it, \t as pattern, bu that leads me an array with empty spaces (probably aditional tabs), so i don't know how may i get rid of this or how to do the query, as there will be elements without the needed values. I still don't know if this will be a pattern for all lines (if it's so i can just jump them when using query). Can someone help me?

    $line = fgetcsv($fileopn, "\t");
    $c = count($line);
    print("$c\n");
    $line_str = implode("\t", $line);
    print_r($line_str);
    print("\n");        
    $fields = explode("\t",$line_str);
    $c2 = count($fields);
    print("$c2\n");
    print_r($fields);

Answer 1

From pset8 instructions:

Note that fgetcsv takes an optional third argument

Read the PHP doc

length
Must be greater than the longest line (in characters) to be found in the CSV file (allowing for trailing line-end characters). It became optional in PHP 5. Omitting this parameter (or setting it to 0 in PHP 5.1.0 and later) the maximum line length is not limited, which is slightly slower.

If you do not use the length argument, $line[0] looks like this:

[0] => string(46) "US 34050 FPO AA Erie 029 41.0375 -111.6789 "

If you use the length argument, $line[0] looks like this:

[0] => string(2) "US"

Since you don't know the length of the longest line, use 0. You won't notice the "slightly slower". If you use this syntax for fgetcsv, $line will be the array you want and you won't need any *sploding.