Forms - preload with member data

[Donald_King]

Hi -

I am able to preload member data from the db into 'text type' form input fields.
I also want to preload certain indicators from the members record so the member may update them. I have a similar problem in reloading indicator data when returning to the form after editting the data that were input.

Would appreciate any advice - thanks.
Don

[Donald_King]

Forgot to mention - the indicator fields on my form are presently the menu type of drop-down.

[edwardsbc]

Pre-selection can be accomplished on HTML form controls the following ways (attributes):

checkbox: checked="checked"
radio button: selected="selected"
select (drop list): selected="selected"

You simply need to add code to check for the condition and add this attribute if the previous value was selected:

Assume $choice=2:

echo '<select name="dropbox">;
echo '<option value="1" '; 
if($choice==1){echo' selected="selected";}
echo '>Choice1 Text</option>';
echo '<option value="2" ';
if($choice==2){echo' selected="selected";}
echo '>Choice2 Text</option>';
echo '<option value="3" ';
if($choice==3){echo' selected="selected";}
echo '>Choice3 Text</option>';
echo '</select>';

This code will have Choice2 Text preselected. I frequently add an asterisk (*) to the end of the selected choice text (using if statements) to indicated this was the current value on entry into the page.

If your option choices come from a database the code actually gets a bit cleaner...

[jmcneese]

here's how i do it.

<select name="blah" id="blah">
<?

// assign all items to an array
$items= array("",1,2,3,4,5);

// create an option for each item, preselecting current search criteria, if any
foreach($items as $item) {
    if ($item == $_POST['item']) {
        $selected = " selected";
    } else {
        $selected = "";
    }
    echo "<option value=\"$item\"$selected>$item</option>\n";
}

?>
</select>

[Donald_King]

THANKS for your quick reply - it is greatly appreciated. Your ideas were a great help.
Don