Inserting multiple records

[chinni_77]

hello,

could somebody pls give me an example how to do the following.

i want to first get the count, that is how many students i want to add(Max.100) and i when i say 2, it displays me the blank fields to enter like student name, date of birth, department and so on.

i achieved so far in getting the count and displaying the blank fields and when i try to insert them into my table, i see only one record is being entered all the time.

Many thanks

[MrAlaska]

First, the names of the inputs on your form need to be in the form of arrays[], or you can dynamically name them (i.e. name_1, name_2). Then you need to pass the count back to the page that processes the insert form, then build a loop and build a seperate query for each insert. That's how I would approach it, anyway. If somebody has a better method I am all ears.

[chinni_77]

yep, exactly i am doing the same way using array.but, everytime i'm able to insert only one record,huh!

[MrAlaska]

Here is an example, and not the best one upon
thinking. It might be better to use a
foreach loop instead of a for loop, and it might be
easier to use array[] names instead of variable
variables, but I am too tired to rewrite it. I
used variable variables because I am used to them.
Names with brackets[] just look funny to me in forms,
and I can't bring myself to trust them lol

Consider entering only the name of just one student:
(use your imagination for the 'echos')

$count=1;
<form method=post>
<input type=hidden name=count value=$count>
for($i=0;$i<$count;$i++){
	<input name="name_$count">
}

The input in this case is is now named: name_0
It will get passed in the POST as $name_0

Then on the submission page
you would also have a loop
based on the same count:

Now you build the sql statements and insert the data

for($i=0;$i<$count;$i++){
	$sql = "insert into table (row) 
		values ('${name_.$i}) where ....";

This uses a variable variable,
${name_.$i} will be the value of name_0 input

Obviously there are things to do different, but hopefully
this will be understandable enough to see what you might
have missed. The concepts are all the same. Or maybe
somebody will come along with a better, simpler example.

[chinni_77]

so far, I'm upto here

I knew my array is not correct.i am confused in using with the input fields and in the sql statement.could somebody pls help me.

<?php
	data base connection details:

if ($frm_save == 1)
{
   	$insert_sql = "Insert into TBL_STUDENTS(STD_NAME, STD_DEPT, STD_DOB) values ('$s_name','$s_dept','$s_dob)";
	$insert_results = ibase_query($connection, $insert_sql);
	ibase_commit();

}
?>
Form heading is here
<?
//Get the number of students to be added:
if ($stdcount == "" || $stdcount < 1 || $stdcount > 100)
    {
        echo ("<table>
                 <tr>
                 </tr><tr>
                    <td><input type=\"text\" name=\"stdcount\"></td>
                 </tr><tr>
                    <td>
      <Input type=\"image\" src=\"../images/sign_details.gif\" name=\"save_button\" value=\"Save\"></br>");
        echo ("</td>
                 </tr>
               </table>");
    }
    else
    {
?>
Field headings are here
<?

for ($i = 0; $i < $stdcount; $i ++)
    {
         $num = $i;
		 if (strlen($num) == "1") $num = "0" . $num;
?>

<tr style="margin:0; padding:0;" align="left" valign="top" class="hsnormal">
				<td width="156" height="23">
					<input type="text" name="s_name">
				</td>
				<td width="154" height="23">
					<input type="text" name="s_dept">
				</td>
				<td width="154" height="23">
					<input type="text" name="s_dob">
				</td>
				</tr>
<?
	}
?>

<Input type="image" src="../images/sign_save.gif" name="save_button" value="Save"></br>
<input type="hidden" name="frm_save" value="1">
<?
	}
?>	

[MrAlaska]

First of all, your insert is not in a loop, so it is only making one insert.

None of your names are array names either. You can give the
names in your form square brackets, and I believe PHP will index
them for you. (i.e. s_name[])

There are a couple things I don't understand, but they are
periphial and we'll stick to the basics if possible. I don't even
understand my own code after staring at it for long enough.

Here is the example, but with a couple disclaimers.

I do not use the array type of passing form values, but I think it
works this way. I am not sure if you need to add the indices into
the names or not, and don't have the energy to look it up right
now. If all the inserts end up with the same name, add $stdcount
inside the square brackets.

Also, foreach might be a better way to loop through these, but I
don't have the energy to look it up and this way will work. I am
also not sure the best way to deal with multiple variables in a
foreach, maybe somebody can drop a comment regarding that.

I have never used ibase, either, it should be ok but you I don't
know if there are any peculiarities about the connection you need
to import into the loop. There is a possibility it might choke on the
SQL though. If it does, put all the sql in one line or concatinate it.
I would have, but I didn't think about it until right after I hit the Submit button. Oops, there it goes...
EDIT: (Ok, I think I came back and concatinated the sql statement)
EDIT AGAIN: You might also want to think about putting the commit
inside of an if condition based on what $insert_results returns, or
even move it outside the loop into an error routine to collect and
save the values in case of failure. I dunno...

SO prepare for the worst and hope for the best:
1)
Add sqare brackets to your INPUT names on the FORM
"s_name[]" "s_dept[]" "s_dob[]"
Add a hidden input in your FORM
<input type='hidden' name='stdcount' value='<?php echo $stdcount ?>'>

2)Put your SQL INSERT inside of a loop, and use array values

for ($i=0;$i<$stdcount;$i++){
	$insert_sql = "Insert into TBL_STUDENTS ".
	  " (STD_NAME, STD_DEPT, STD_DOB) ".
	  " values ".
	  " ('$s_name[$i]','$s_dept[$i]','$s_dob[$i]')";
	$insert_results = ibase_query($connection, $insert_sql);
	ibase_commit();
}

[chinni_77]

Thx Mr.A.

I just sticked on to the basics you explained me and i fixed it.Itz working fine🙂

Thanks a lot!

[MrAlaska]

It worked already? Wow, COOL!

I wish I could get my stuff cooperating so well lol