Session Data, interesting problem

Manat

Hello everyone

I have two forms, and both forms have a session_start(); function at the top. Now, the two forms are pretty unrelated, they are both contest forms, but unrelated contest forms.

If you click on contest #1 picture, the contest form opens.
So, you fill in a form, click on submit, and the page says thank you.

If you click on contest #2 picture, the contest #2 form opens also as a pop up.

The problem is that when you close the pop up of contest #1 after you filled in all the info and clicked on submit, you cannot click on contest #1 picture again to fill in the form. Because it's one form per person, or even household. You would have to complete close your browser, come back to the domain and click on contest #1 picture again if you wanted to fill in the same form again. That's good, it works fine.

But, after filling in Contest form 1, if you click on Contest #2 picture, a pop up opens saying you cannot fill in this form because you already did, but I didn't, i filled in #1.

Because both forms have a session_start() function, it keeps it for both contests, It keeps it in browser session.

How do I rectify this?
Any ideas?

bastien

and and a counter to check the number of contest forms they filled out or alternatively add a variable for each contest (c1, c2) to the page and only fill them in when the specific form has been filled in...

also note need only one session for this, don't use two, no real need...just a couple of variable should do the trick

hth

Manat

Hi there

I cannot use the i.p. address for different reasons. First it won't fix the problem, secondly because most ppl today use DHCP, so I.P. addresses are rarely static

I also cannot add a counter because... well the only way would be to use a cookie, and I don't want to use that.

Any other way to rectify my problem?

bastien

see code... have not tested it but it should give you the idea...the other idea is that you simply have a form with checkboxes for each contest and not make the user fill out two forms...

//it's only for the session and generally there should be no problems with keeping the same IP for the session....
//and holding a counter also in the session will work
<?
session_start();
session_register('contestcounter');

$ip=$REMOTE_USER;
if ((!submit)&&(!contestcounter)){
echo "we have two great contests for you.
Click <a href=\"contest.php?contest=1\">here</a> for contest 1.
Click <a href=\"contest.php?contest=2\">here</a> for contest 2.
";
}
if (($POST['contest']=1)&&((!$contestcounter)||($contestcounter=2))){
contest1();
}elseif ($contestcounter=1){
echo "you have already registered for contest 1.
Wanna sign up for contest 2?
Click <a href=\"contest.php?contest=2\">here</a> for contest 2.";
}
if(($POST['contest1name')&&$POST['contest']=1))){
//insert into db
//you can figure this out
echo "registered for contest 1";
}else{
//something didn't go right with the passing of the variables
//so show the form for contest 1 again
contest1();
}
if (($POST['contest']=2)&&((!$contestcounter)||($contestcounter=1))){
contest2();
}elseif ($contestcounter=2){
echo "you have already registered for contest 2.
Wanna sign up for contest 1?
Click <a href=\"contest.php?contest=1\">here</a> for contest 1.";
}
if(($POST['contest2name')&&($POST['contest']=2)){
//insert into db
//you can figure this out
echo "registered for contest 2";
}else{
//something didn't go right with the passing of the variables
//so show the form for contest 2 again
contest2();
}

function contest1(){
//show form for contest1
echo "<html><form action=\"$PHP_SELF\" method=\'post\'>
<input type=\'text\' name='contest1name' value='".$_POST['contest1name']."'>
<input type=\'hidden\' name= \'contest\' value=\'1\'>
<input type=\'submit\' value=\"submit\">
</form></html>";
}

function contest1(){
//show form for contest2
echo "<html><form action=\"$PHP_SELF\" method=\'post\'>
<input type=\'text\' name='contest1name' value='".$_POST['contest1name']."'>
<input type=\'hidden\' value=\'2\'>
<input type=\'submit\' value=\"submit\">
</form></html>";
}