proper-multisort.php

<?php

error_reporting(E_ALL);

$a = new stdClass();
$a->name = 'Zzzz';

$b = new stdClass();
$b->name = 'Bbbb';

$meets = array();
$meets[] = $a;
$meets[] = $b;

$names = array();
$names[] = $a->name;
$names[] = $b->name;

// We'll get PHP Notices about attempting to convert each meet object to a number
array_multisort($meets, SORT_NUMERIC, SORT_DESC, $names, SORT_STRING, SORT_ASC);

var_dump($meets);

echo "NEXT\n\n";

// Sort the other direction ... No notices when used correctly
array_multisort($names, SORT_STRING, SORT_DESC, $meets);

var_dump($meets);

Output:

PHP Notice:  Object of class stdClass could not be converted to double in /Users/alanszlosek/Testing/20150901.multisort.php on line 20

Notice: Object of class stdClass could not be converted to double in /Users/alanszlosek/Testing/20150901.multisort.php on line 20
PHP Notice:  Object of class stdClass could not be converted to double in /Users/alanszlosek/Testing/20150901.multisort.php on line 20

Notice: Object of class stdClass could not be converted to double in /Users/alanszlosek/Testing/20150901.multisort.php on line 20
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  object(stdClass)#2 (1) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(4) "Bbbb"
  }
  [1]=>
  object(stdClass)#1 (1) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(4) "Zzzz"
  }
}
NEXT

array(2) {
  [0]=>
  object(stdClass)#1 (1) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(4) "Zzzz"
  }
  [1]=>
  object(stdClass)#2 (1) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(4) "Bbbb"
  }
}