Editing a Text Area

[Anon]

I am having a problem editing an existing record using a text area. I have a form for entering new records in a MySQL database, this same for is also used (on another page) to edit the existing records. Text fields work correctly, and display existing data, however when I use a text area it doesn't show existing text. The text area works correctly for entering or changing text, but doesn't show the existing text correctly. Any help would be VERY appreciated.

moonie 😉

[Anon]

<textarea name=fieldname rows=15 cols=60>
<?php echo $fieldvalue; ?>
</textarea>

You have to display field value like I've shown above. Did you do it this way? Perhaps you'd be willing to show us some of your code?

[Anon]

This may solve my problem, this is my code:

<TR>

<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=105><P><B>Purpose:</B> <P>Limit 25&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; characters&nbsp;&nbsp;
</TD>

<TD WIDTH=358><P><TEXTAREA WRAP=PHYSICAL ID="FormsMultiLine1" NAME="purpose" VALUE="<?php echo $purpose ?>" ROWS=9 COLS=30></TEXTAREA>&nbsp;</TD>

</TR>

<TR>

<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=105><P><B>Comments:</B>&nbsp; <P>Limit 25&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; characters&nbsp;&nbsp; </TD>

<TD WIDTH=358><P><TEXTAREA WRAP=PHYSICAL ID="FormsMultiLine2" NAME="comments" VALUE="<?php echo $comments ?>" ROWS=9 COLS=30></TEXTAREA>&nbsp;
</TD>

</TR>

Is the problem just the simple matter of putting rows=9 and cols=30 before the <?php echo $comments ?> ?

moonie 😉

[Anon]

Changing my code to this seems to have fixed my problem:

<TR>

<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=105><P><B>Purpose:</B> <P>Limit 25&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; characters&nbsp;&nbsp; </TD>

<TD WIDTH=358><P><TEXTAREA NAME=purpose ROWS=9 COLS=30><?php echo $purpose ?></TEXTAREA>&nbsp;</TD>

</TR>

<TR>

<TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=105><P><B>Comments:</B>&nbsp; <P>Limit 25&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; characters&nbsp;&nbsp; </TD>

<TD WIDTH=358><P><TEXTAREA NAME=comments ROWS=9 COLS=30><?php echo $comments ?></TEXTAREA>&nbsp;</TD>

</TR>

Thank you for your help.

moonie 😉

[Anon]

Now you've got it! Just remember, HTML tags that also have end tag forms (like </textarea>) implies there should be something between the tags. The <INPUT> tags don't have end tags, thus all of the information is supplied as arguements to the tags.

I always visit <http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/> when I need to know the format for a particular HTML tag.