Assigning values to a multi-dimensional array for checkers

My question is instead of using coordinates to move can i assign numbers and letters so i can move with those values

Edit: I am outputting the board to html 8x8 table

$square = array( //    A B C D E F G H     
               0 array(0,0,0,0,开发者_JAVA百科0,0,0,0),
               1 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               2 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               3 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               4 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               5 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               6 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
               7 array(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0),
);

so when the user inputs : From: F1 to: G2 the pieces move

wouldn't it be better is i do this

Array ( 'A' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'B' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'C' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'D' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'E' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'F' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'G' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 
        'H' => Array ( [0] => 0 [1] => 0 [2] => 0 [3] => 0 [4] => 0 [5] => 0 [6] => 0 [7] => 0 ) 

    ); 

parseSquareFrom

function parseSquareFrom() {
    if (strlen($square) != 2) {
    return FALSE;
    }

    $coords = array(ord('A') - ord($square[0]),
            $square[1] - 1);


    // Perform bounds-checking.
    if ($coords[0] < 0 || $coords[0] > 7 || $coords[1] < 0 || $coords[1] > 7) {
    return FALSE;
    }

    return $coords;
}
$coords = parseSquare($square);
if ($coords === FALSE) {
    // Invalid input, handle this case.
} else {
    $piece = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]]; // for example
}

and parseSquareTo

function parseSquareTo() {
    if (strlen($square1) != 2) {
    return FALSE;
    }

  $coords1 = array(ord('A') - ord($square1[0]),
            $square1[1] - 1);


    // Perform bounds-checking.
    if ($coords1[0] < 0 || $coords1[0] > 7 || $coords1[1] < 0 || $coords1[1] > 7) {
    return FALSE;
    }

    return $coords1;
}

$coords1 = parseSquare($square);
if ($coords1 === FALSE) {
    // Invalid input, handle this case.
} else {
    $piece = $board[$coords1[0]][$coords1[1]]; // for example
}

can i use that with this code

    $board[$coords1[0]-1][$coords1[1]+1] = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]];
    $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]] = 0;

    //eating action
    $board[$coords1[0]][$coords1[1]] = 0;
    $board[$coords1[0]-2][$coords1[1]+2] = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]];

    //if player is 'up' then the value of $way is 1 so
      $board[$x+(-1*$way)][$y+(1*$way)] = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]]; // position 2,2 becomes 1,3
   //if player is not 'up' then the value of $way is -1 so
      $board[$x+(-1*$way)][$y+(1*$way)] = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]]; // position 2,2 becomes 3,1

or is the $piece = $board[$coords1[0]][$coords1[1]]; cannot be used

Yes: Parse the input string into an X,Y pair. For example:

function parseSquare($square) {
    if (strlen($square) != 2) {
        return FALSE;
    }

    $coords = array(ord('A') - ord($square[0]),
                    $square[1] - 1);

    // Perform bounds-checking.
    if ($coords[0] < 0 || $coords[0] > 7 || $coords[1] < 0 || $coords[1] > 7) {
        return FALSE;
    }

    return $coords;
}

So given a square string like $square = "F5";

$coords = parseSquare($square);
if ($coords === FALSE) {
    // Invalid input, handle this case.
} else {
    $piece = $board[$coords[0]][$coords[1]]; // for example
}

Yes you can do that. You will just need to make sure that you are able to move to that area with some algorithm and make sure to change values when moving them around.

@ your recent comment: If you take a look at this article there is a section for multidimensional arrays that is pretty helpful for a reference. This should help you. Let me know if this solves your issue.

The Article Link