Codeigniter Join Not Displaying Group By Correct - codeigniter

Question

I have this model function below which lets me join both tables. Printed results are at bottom of question.
<?php
class Forum_model extends CI_Model {
public function get_forums() {
$this->db->select('f.*, fc.*');
$this->db->from('forum_category fc', 'left');
$this->db->join('forum f', 'f.forum_id = fc.category_forum_id', 'left');
$query = $this->db->get();
if ($query->num_rows() > 0) {
return $query->result_array();
} else {
return false;
}
}
}
How ever when I go to look at in on my view it displays it like image below
The two General categories news, lounge should be displayed on the one panel. For some reason it displays the two general categories in own panel.
Question: How is it possiable to display the two categories together? I have tried $this->db->group_by('fc.category_forum_id')
Image
Controller
<?php
class Home extends MY_Controller {
public function __construct() {
parent::__construct();
$this->load->model('reports/thread_analytics_model');
$this->load->model('forum/forum_model');
}
public function index() {
$results = $this->forum_model->get_forums();
echo "<pre>";
print_r($results);
echo "</pre>";
$data['forums'] = array();
foreach ($results as $result) {
$data['forums'][] = array(
'forum_name' => $result['forum_name'],
'category_name' => $result['category_name']
);
}
$data['content'] = 'common/home_view';
$this->load->view('theme/default/template_view', $data);
}
}
View
<?php foreach ($forums as $forum) {?>
<div class="panel panel-home">
<div class="panel-heading"><h1 class="panel-title"><?php echo $forum['forum_name'];?></h1></div>
<div class="panel-body">
<table class="table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><?php echo $forum['category_name'];?></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div><!-- Panel -->
<?php }?>
Printed Results Image

Answer 1

A possible solution with your approach would be:
class Forum_model extends CI_Model {
public function get_forums() {
$arrGroupedData = array();
$this->db->select('f.*, fc.*');
$this->db->from('forum_category fc');
$this->db->join('forum f', 'f.forum_id = fc.category_forum_id', 'left');
$query = $this->db->get();
if ($query->num_rows() > 0)
{
foreach($query->result_array() AS $arrCategory)
{
$arrGroupedData[$arrCategory['forum_id']][] = $arrCategory;
}
return $arrGroupedData;
} else {
return false;
}
}
}
But in my opinion - you should probably split up your queries
1 query to get the forums and 1 query to get all categories from your forums
and stick it together in a tree structure

Answer 2

example for you
$forums = array();
$results = array(
array(
'forum_name' => 'general',
'category_name' => 'news1'
),
array(
'forum_name' => 'general',
'category_name' => 'news2'
),
array(
'forum_name' => 'latter',
'category_name' => 'news3'
),
);
foreach ($results as $result)
{
if(in_array($result['forum_name'],$forums))
{
$array = array($result['category_name']);
array_push($forums[$result['forum_name']],$array);
}
else
{
$forums[$result['forum_name']][] = array(
'forum_name' => $result['forum_name'],
'category_name' => $result['category_name']
);
}
}
echo '<pre>';
print_r($forums);