Set array value with dot notation

// @ref http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7851590/array-set-value-using-dot-notation
function set_value(&$arr, $path, $val)
{
    $loc = &$arr;
    foreach(explode('.', $path) as $step)
    {
        if(!isset($loc[$step]))
        {
            $loc = &$loc[$step];
        }
    }
    return $loc = $val;
}