how to capture variables?

Anon

I'm a rank beginner.

I've created a simple form that allows a user to enter in a few numbers and have a total calculated. Easy enough. I now want to modify this form for another purpose. What I want to do is to "capture" the numbers that are entered by a user into a field so that they become the default value for that filed until the user changes it again?

Here's the original form:

<http://140.186.45.174/markets/facility/mopreq.htm>

Further clarification: I want to create a very small and simple form that a user can use to keep track of expenses. They will initially see a form containing a single column of input fields, each with a default value of 0. They will then be able to enter their own figures into each field, click a "calculate" button and see a total amount at the bottom. The user closes the window and "leaves." Then, and this is the important part, the user returns to the form a few days later and the form shows the same values that the user last entered. S/he can then choose to modify any of the values (or not), click "calculate," see a new total, and the new numbers entered remain the default until they are changed again.

Make sense?

Any suggestions?

Anon

Hi,

A few options:

1) Use a simple login / password for users and store their information in a database. That is the most efficient way of doing it. Of course the users may have to sign up (choose a username and password) - but that's about all there would be to it.

2) Use cookies to recognize users and store their information on their local machines. You can look it up on a per user basis when they visit your site again.

Option 1 makes sense if you want to make sure the form gets it right.

Option 2 is as flimsy as the user deleting cookies off his machine.

Hope this helps!

-m.

Anon

The login/password part is OK but I don't have access to a database -- I presume you mean SQL or somethign like it.

Isn't there a way to simply read and write the variables from and to a data file?

Keep in mind that I have no idea what I'm doing. I created my first script by modifying an existing script. Unfortunately, I ahevnt' been able to find anything similar to what I'm trying to do.

Thanks!

Anon

You could of course use text files to do this. Have a look at php.net and some of the file functions, that should give you a decent start at this.

If you get stuck for any reason, do post back.

Also - just curious, but why no DB support?