pass variable from form action

[ergates]

Hi,
I'm trying to pass a variable on to a new page using a form. I have

echo
"<FORM method='GET' action='bug2.php?bugid=$bugid'>
<input type='text' name='test'>
<input name='submit' value='submit'>
</FORM>";

where I know the value of $bugid on this page.
bug2.php is simply

echo $bugid;
echo $_GET[test];

$bugid is empty, and the URL shows only
http://ducati/swbugproj/bug2.php?test=gf

My question is: can variables not be passed from a form the same way as if it were an <a href> where I know this works?
Sorry to be dense!
Jenny.

[ergates]

Well, I don't know what the answer is with why the above wasn't working, but I've just discovered the "hidden" input tag, and am passing the variable from the form using that and the $_GET method:

echo "<input name='bugid' type='hidden' value=' " .$bugid ." '>

This works fine and avoids creating a session variable for bugid.
Thanks,
Jen

[devinemke]

HTML forms can be sent by GET or by POST. GET appends the data to the URL and POST embeds the data in the HTTP header. Using the GET method is just as if you clicked a hypertext link, any variables in the query string will be passed to the target script. You can mix GET and POST in the same form. consider this script:

<form action="<?= $PHP_SELF ?>?first_name=Joe" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="last_name" value="Smith">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit">
</form>

<?
print_r ($_GET);
print_r ($_POST);
?>

when this form is submitted you have the following variables available:
$GET ([first_name] => Joe)
$POST ([last_name] => Smith [submit] => submit)

[ergates]

I see, excellent. Thanks. 🙂
I just learnt a good three handy tips in one reply there.
Jenny.