extract_path.php

function extract_array_path($path, $value = null, $base = null) {
    if ($base === null) {
        static $base = array();
    }

    $exp = explode('.', $path);
    $tmp =& $base;
    foreach($exp as $i) {
        $tmp =& $tmp[$i];
    }

    // Set value
    if ($value !== null) {
        $tmp = $value;
    }
    unset($tmp);

    return $base;
}

function extract_object_path($path, $value = null, $base = null) {
    if ($base === null) {
        static $base = array();
        $base = (object) $base;
    }

    $exp = explode('.', $path);
    $tmp =& $base;
    foreach($exp as $i) {
        $tmp =& $tmp->{$i};
    }

    // Set value
    if ($value !== null) {
        $tmp = $value;
    }
    unset($tmp);

    return $base;
}

function get_array_value($base, $path, $defval = null) {
    $eval = '$base[\''. str_replace('.', '\'][\'', $path) .'\']';
    eval('$return = '. $eval .';');
    return ($return !== null) ? $return : $defval;
}
function get_object_value($base, $path, $defval = null) {
    $eval = '$base->'. str_replace('.', '->', $path);
    eval('$return = '. $eval .';');
    return ($return !== null) ? $return : $defval;
}
function get_value($base, $path, $defval = null) {
    if (is_array($base)) return get_array_value($base, $path, $defval);
    if (is_object($base)) return get_object_value($base, $path, $defval);
}

// Set
$base = extract_array_path('lorem.ipsum.dolor0');
$base = extract_array_path('lorem.ipsum.dolor1', 1, $base);
pre($base);
// Get
$dolor0 = get_value($base, 'lorem.ipsum.dolor0');
$dolor1 = get_value($base, 'lorem.ipsum.dolor1');
prd($dolor0);
prd($dolor1);

// Set
$base = extract_object_path('lorem.ipsum.dolor0');
$base = extract_object_path('lorem.ipsum.dolor1', 1, $base);
pre($base);
// Get
$dolor0 = get_value($base, 'lorem.ipsum.dolor0');
$dolor1 = get_value($base, 'lorem.ipsum.dolor1');
prd($dolor0);
prd($dolor1);