checking for a variable

FireyIce01

Okay, I have a page I'm putting together, where I want to see if a variable is defined... and if it is, then I want to skip past certian parts... here's what I'm trying to use

<? 
if (!$_POST['numOfApps']) {
?>

and the error I'm getting:

Notice: Undefined index: numOfApps in c:\inetpub\wwwroot\apply.php on line 10

So, is there a better way to go about lookign for a variable?

Also, it seems when I POST, the first variable I post is lost somewhere in limbo... I found if I put a hidden input box in the first spot on my form, this solves the issue... but I'd like to know what's really causing it... any ideas?

nashirak

Try the

isset(); function

<? 

if (!isset($_POST['numOfApps'])) {

?>

Hope this Helps!

FireyIce01

That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks! (I did this once before, but it was a long time ago, and I couldn't find the page I did it on...)

FireyIce01

okay, now, that works great, but, there's still the problem of the variable. Why is it that I can't pass the first variable in my form through the POST method... is my server install broke, or is there something special I have to do?

nashirak

When you submit the form are u making sure that it looks something like

<form action="myphpscript.php" method=POST>
blah blah blah?

FireyIce01

This is my form. The document it's in is apply.php
When the form loads, none of the variables will be set, so it will ask a bunch of questions, and then the form will set the variables that are needed, and the page will reload, with variables known, and draw the page accordingly. At least, that's the idea. Right now I'm just working on the first variable... with the hidden placeholder, the numOfApps variable shows up, but without the placeholder the page tells me I'm using an undefined index.... well, actually, now that I got the isset in there instead of the !$_post['numOfApps'] that I had previously, it now just shows that it's not a set variable. Here's my current code.

<body>

<? 
if (!isset($_POST['numOfApps'])) {
?>

<form action="apply.php" method="post" name="BuildApplication" id="BuildApplication">
<input type="hidden" name="placeholder" value="blank">
Number of Applicants<br>
<select name="numOfApps" size="1">
		<option value="1" SELECTED>1</option>
		<option value="2">2</option>
		<option value="3">3</option>
		<option value="4">4</option>
		<option value="5">5</option>
		<option value="6">6</option>
		<option value="7">7</option>
</select>
<input type="submit">
</form>

<?
} else {
?>



<? 
}
?>
</body>

nashirak

Try this:


<body>



<? 

if (!isset($_POST['numOfApps'])) {





echo "<form action=$PHP_SELF method=POST name=\"BuildApplication\" id=\"BuildApplication\">

<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"placeholder\" value=\"blank\">

Number of Applicants<br>

<select name=\"numOfApps\" size=\"1\">

    <option value=\"1\" SELECTED>1</option>

    <option value=\"2\">2</option>

    <option value=\"3\">3</option>

    <option value=\"4\">4</option>

    <option value=\"5\">5</option>

    <option value=\"6\">6</option>

    <option value=\"7\">7</option>

</select>

<input type=\"submit\">

</form>";

} else {


  echo $_POST['numOfApps'];



}

?>

Enjoy!

FireyIce01

That gives me the same results... the placeholder is still there... and it works fine, but it still doesn't see the first variable, the placeholder seems to have to be there in order to get to the rest of the variables...

zalath

Try (just for kicks) to swap $POST with $HTTP_POST_VARS ... maybe you have a version of PHP that doesn't have the $ -superglobals yet. Also, consider leaving the form action blank if the page is supposed to pass the values to itself.

FireyIce01

It should, I have version 4.2.3 installed on a Microsoft .Net enterprise server install with IIS 5

EDIT:

Nope, just tried it, and no difference, with the placeholder it works, without it it doesn't.