Combine 2 arrays, ensure no duplicates

[BitByteBit]

Say I read 2 .ini files with IniReadSection and want to merge the two 2D arrays into one array whilst making sure that no values are the same.

What would be the best way to go about it?

Perhaps a for loop comparing values for both, creating a third array with the new values?

I'm sure I'm missing something here.

Thanks,

Tris.

Edited November 6, 2010 by BitByteBit

[PsaltyDS]

Start out with the first array. Loop through the second array testing each item for duplication in the first. Copy the item to the first array if it's not a duplicate.

[BitByteBit]

Thanks for the reply,

Something a little like this? Is there a smarter way?

#include<array.au3>
Global $Array1[3][2] = [['1','Bob'],['2','Dave'],['3','Fred']]
Global $Array2[4][2] = [['1','Belinda'],['2','Dorethy'],['3','Fredrika'],['4','Bob']]
Global $TotalArraySize = UBound($Array1,1)
Global $Array3[1][2]
$Array3 = $Array1


For $X = 0 to UBound($Array2,1) - 1
    _ArraySearch($Array1,$Array2[$X][1])
    If @error Then
        $LastElement = UBound($Array3,1) + 1
        ReDim $Array3[$LastElement][2]
        $Array3[$LastElement - 1][1] = $Array2[$X][1]
    EndIf
Next
_ArraySort($Array3,0,0,0,1)
For $X = 0 To UBound($Array3) - 1
    $Array3[$X][0] = $X
Next
_ArrayDisplay($Array3)

Edited November 6, 2010 by BitByteBit

[PsaltyDS]

Looks good; does it work as desired?

[Spiff59]

Is there a smarter way?

This is no smarter in that it yeilds the same result, but with large arrays it ought to be a lot faster than all the calls to _ArraySearch()

#include<array.au3>
Global $Array1[3][2] = [['1','Bob'],['2','Dave'],['3','Fred']]
Global $Array2[4][2] = [['1','Belinda'],['2','Dorothy'],['3','Fredrika'],['4','Bob']]

$Idx1 = UBound($Array1)
$Idx2 = UBound($Array2)
$NewIdx = $Idx1 + $Idx2
ReDim $Array1[$NewIdx][2]

For $x = 0 to $Idx2 - 1 ; concatenate arrays
    $Array1[$Idx1 + $x][1] = $Array2[$x][1]
Next
_ArraySort($Array1, 0, 0, 0, 1) ; sort
For $x = $NewIdx - 1 to 1 Step -1 ; delete dupes
    If $Array1[$x][1] = $Array1[$x - 1][1] Then
        _ArrayDelete($Array1, $x)
        $NewIdx -= 1
    EndIf
Next
ReDim $Array1[$NewIdx][2]
For $x = 0 to $NewIdx - 1 ; renumber
    $Array1[$x][0] = $x + 1
Next
_ArrayDisplay($Array1)