Multi-Page Forms w/Validation

gwchamb

All...

For the past several days, I've been struggling with a multi-page form application for which I must validate most of the data. Will someone please briefly explain the logic of solving this problem?

To date, I've tried coding it with both self-validation (i.e. using $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"]) and by calling the next "page" for validation. Most of my problem lies (I think) in the redirection effort.

I can provide the code I currently have, but I'll wait to see how much feedback I receive before posting it to this thread since it's pretty lengthy.

I'm using PHP 4.2.2 with register globals disabled. Some pseudo-code would probably be sufficient, if anyone has the time to provide some insight. Thanks very much in advance!!

devinemke

I always try to use one single script form a multi-page form and use hidden form fields to distinguish between the steps. You can simply validate each step. If someone is submitting data to go from step 3 to step 4 and the data is invalid, go back to step 3. I usually don't use redirection (header function). I simply code each step as a single script and write functions to do common tasks (like echoing the form itself).

gwchamb

I always try to use one single script form a multi-page form and use hidden form fields to distinguish between the steps. You can simply validate each step. If someone is submitting data to go from step 3 to step 4 and the data is invalid, go back to step 3. I usually don't use redirection (header function). I simply code each step as a single script and write functions to do common tasks (like echoing the form itself).

Thanks for the reply, Devin!

I don't understand what you mean about one single script, but then you say you "code each step as a single script." Does this mean that each of your forms (or pages) is a separate script? I feel like I'm being so dense, but I'm at the point where I should probably take a rather lengthy break.

Will you step me through the logic of one of your multi-page scripts? Thanks!!

devinemke

Let's do a simple 2 step example:
1. you fill out the form.
2. your data is validated. if data is missing you are alerted and asked to fill in missing data. If your data is valid you are shown what you entered and aksed "Is this correct".

<?
function form ()
{
			extract ($GLOBALS);

		echo '
		<form action="' . $PHP_SELF . '" method="post">
		name: <input type="text" name="name" '; if (isset ($name)) {echo 'value="' . $name . '" ';} echo 'size=30><br>
		email: <input type="text" name="email" '; if (isset ($email)) {echo 'value="' . $email . '" ';} echo 'size=30><br>
		<input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit">
		</form>
		';
}

if (!isset ($submit))
{
			echo 'Please fill out this form (both fields are required):<br><br>';
			form ();
}

if (isset ($submit) && $submit == 'submit')
{
			if (!$name || !$email)
			{
				echo '<font color="#FF0000">You forgot to fill in both your name and email! Please fill in missing fields</font>';
				form ();			
			}

		else
		{
			echo '
			You entered:<br>
			<b>' . $name  . '<br>' . $email . '</b><br>
			<form action="' . $PHP_SELF . '" method="post">';
			foreach ($_POST as $key => $value) {echo '<input type="hidden" name="' . $key . '" value="' . $value . '">';}
			echo 'If this is correct click <input type="submit" name="submit" value="continue">
			</form>
			';
		}
}

if (isset ($submit) && $submit == 'continue')
{
			echo '(This is where database insertion code would go)';
}
?>

This is a simple example but you can see how this could be expanded to a muli-step form with validation at each step

PyroX

This also allows you to have the checks above the forms so your users do not have to re-fill all the info if they mess up.


if($formpage==3){

if(!$SN) $errors.=" blah blah blah <BR>";
if(!$ASSN) $errors.=" blah blah blah <BR>";
if(!$SFSN) $errors.=" blah blah blah <BR>";
if(!$RTN) $errors.=" blah blah blah <BR>";
if(!$FDGS) $errors.=" blah blah blah <BR>";

if(strlen($errors)>0){
$formpage=2;
echo $errors;
}

seanpaulcail

So with the one page method, we don't have to start a session, correct?