Using form validation to validate the $post array

You can set your rules by a simple loop like that (untested but i should work).

PHP Code:

for ($i=1; $i<=52; $i++)
{
    $this->form_validation->set_rules('item'.$i, 'Item : '.$i, 'required');
} 


You need a logic inside for your labeling .. dont see a exact logic there item1, item1a .. then item2, item2b .. etc. or all item {number|number.b}?