accessing an array of multiple selects

Anon

I'm trying to access an array of dynamically created select lists. Here's what I'm doing:

I have a few of these multi-select lists, named with the same name

<select name="reportType[]" multiple>
//list values
</select>

When I try to access the values individually, the data array that is returned is for all the selected values of each list combined.

How do I get access to each individual select list, then to its values?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Andrew

Anon

give each one a unique name:
<select name="reportType1[]" multiple>
<select name="reportType2[]" multiple>
etc...

Anon

Devin -

Thanks for your response. I'm running into a problem, though. Look below:

$i=0;
$var = "reportType".$i;
echo count($var);
echo count($reportType0);

The problem occurs when I create the variable name by joining the string with a counter. Creating it this way is not the same as the direct reference to the variable.

These select lists are dynamically generated, so I do not have a way hardcoding the varialbe names. What can I do in this situation?

Thanks,

Andrew

Anon

I suggest your store all of the items that comprise these lists in a 2D array (or a database) and use the key names to identify each list.

<?
$reportTypes = array (
'1' => array (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10),
'2' => array (11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20),
'3' => array (21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30)
);

foreach ($reportTypes as $key => $value)
{
echo '<select name="option' . $key . '[]">' . "\n";
foreach ($value as $key => $value_value)
{
echo '<option>' . $value_value . "\n";
}
echo '</select>';
}
?>

then on the form processing script you will have three arrays: $option1, $option2 and $option3

Anon

Thanks for you help Devin. I'm a bit unclear on the processing, though. Using your example I have three arrays of display data (option1, option2, option3). When the user submit the form I have three different arrays of selected data with the same name (option1, option2, option3).

Using a multiple select list, how do I access this data? I ran a few tests. The variable $option1 is not the same as setting the variable with the string of option1.

Look at my last email for a better explaination of this.

Thanks,

Andrew

Anon

whatever the user selects from the first dropdown (which could be several items since it is set to "multiple") will be available to you on the form processing script in an array called $option1. Using my example before, if I selected from the second select list "12", "16", and "19" then on the other side we would have:
$option2[12, 16, 19]. Try this put the following code on your form processing script:
<?
print_r ($option1);
echo '<br><br>';
print_r ($option2);
echo '<br><br>';
print_r ($option3);
?>
now select some test stuff in your form and hit submit.

Anon

Right, but when the page is created I do not know the number of option arrays needed. That means I can't simply type $option1, $option2...

I need something more dynamic. That's why I tried doing this:

$var = "option".$i;

with $i being a counter. However, doing it this way, $var is not the same as $option1.

Have you experienced this before?

--Andrew