Thanks Diego, but my main problem is still how do deal with the two inputs for the one variable, its fine renaming the dropdown to say name="category2" and keeping the textfields name as name="category" but how do I pass a variable selected from the dropdown as "category" since the names of the fields are directly related to the variable names. The option here is to select an existing category to enter your new item under (the dropdown) OR create a new category (the textfield). Here lies the problem when u name them the same name="category" ,regardless of whether u have selected an existing category from the drop down u are still prompted to enter a value.....so wouldnt it be more like...
if(($dropdown == "")&&($category == "")){
echo "Please fill in the category field or select an existing one";
else if($dropdown != ""){ $dropdown = $textfield };};
exit;
Where "category" is the name of the textfield and "dropdown" the name of the dropdown menu. So that if something is entered into the textfield the first statement is not true, but if the dropdown has a value, then assign $category the value of the dropdown. ???
Sorry if I havent been making much sense i have only just picked this stuff up, your help is much appreciated
