function for string to array (map)?

Is there a standard function that converts a string to an array with proper keys, not auto generated integers? I've found myself calling explode() twice. split(), etc. do not seem to offer any improvement. $str = "a:x,b:y,c:z"; $arr = explode(",", $str); foreach ($arr as $item) { list($key, $value) = explode(":", $item); $map[$key] = $value; } Is there a foo() that would do something like this? $map = foo(",", ":", $str); -- Pete Forman -./\.- Disclaimer: This post is originated WesternGeco -./\.- by myself and does not represent pete.forman@westerngeco.com -./\.- opinion of Schlumberger, Baker http://petef.port5.com -./\.- Hughes or their divisions.