Form processing over several pages

mrobinson

Hi I've created a HTML form that is quite large in size. i am looking at splitting it up into several smaller php forms.

The question is how do I carry the information over and when the user submitts the end form will it be still be able to be processed using a mail program such as formmail?

Any solutions/help would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks in advance.

MRobinson.

vornn

Carn't you use the switch statement to split the form up?

like this:


<?php
$form =& $HTTP_POST_VARS;
define('FEEDBACK_TO', [email]emailaddress@yahoo.co.uk[/email]');
define('FEEDBACK_SUBJ', 'Feedback: ');
switch ($form['step'])
{

case 1:
default:
?>
<html>
<head><title>Chapter 7 :: Example 8 :: Feedback Form</title></head>
<body>

<h2>Chapter 7 :: Example 8 :: Feedback Form</h2>

<form action="<?= $PHP_SELF ?>" method="post">

<input type="hidden" name="step" value="2">
<b>Name:</b><br>
	<input type="text" name="feedback_name"><br><br>
<b>Email:</b><br>
	<input type="text" name="feedback_email"><br><br>
<b>Subject:</b><br>
	<select name="feedback_subj">
	<option selected>Comment</option>
	<option>Complaint</option>
	<option>Suggestion</option>
	</select><br><br>
<b>Message:</b><br>
	<textarea name="feedback_msg" rows="5" cols="40"></textarea><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Continue">

</form>

</body>
</html>
<?php


break;

case 2:

?>
<html>
<head><title>Chapter 7 :: Example 8 :: Feedback Form - Review Your Submission</title></head>
<body>

<h2>Chapter 7 ::Example 8 :: Feedback Form</h2>
<h4>Review Your Submission</h4>

<b>Name:</b><br>
	<?= $form['feedback_name'] ?><br><br>
<b>Email</b><br>
	<?= $form['feedback_email'] ?><br><br>
<b>Subject:</b><br>
	<?= $form['feedback_subj'] ?><br><br>
<b>Message:</b><br>
	<?= $form['feedback_msg'] ?><br><br>

<form action="<?= $PHP_SELF ?>" method="post">

<input type="hidden" name="step" value="3">
<input type="hidden" name="feedback_name" value="<?= $form['feedback_name'] ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="feedback_email" value="<?= $form['feedback_email'] ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="feedback_subj" value="<?= $form['feedback_subj'] ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="feedback_msg" value="<?= $form['feedback_msg'] ?>">

<input type="button" value="Back" onClick="javascript:history.go(-1);">
<input type="submit" value="Send">

</form>

</body>
</html>
<?php

break;

case 3:

$feedback_subj = FEEDBACK_SUBJ . $form['feedback_subj'];
$feedback_body = <<<END
Name: {$form['feedback_name']}
Email: {$form['feedback_email']}
Subject: {$form['feedback_subj']}
Message: {$form['feedback_msg']}
END;
	mail(FEEDBACK_TO, $feedback_subj, $feedback_body);

?>
<html>
<head><title>Chapter 7 :: Example 8 :: Feedback Form - Thank You</title></head>
<body>
<h2>Chaptert 7 :: Example 8 :: Feedback Form</h2>
<h4>Thank You</h4>

Your feedback has been sent!

</body>
</html>
<?php
	break;
}

?>

Hope this helps...

🙂

Alex_B

You can always pass needed values as hidden fields to the next page. As long as you will have all required variables for formmail at the last page it should work just fine.
-alex

mrobinson

How would I go about passing the values as hidden fields?

Alex_B

Just like you pass any other fields in your html form
<input type='hidden' name='var_1' value='".$POST['var_1']."'>
<input type='hidden' name='var_2' value='".$POST['var_2']."'>
....
<input type='hidden' name='var_N' value='".$_POST['var_N']."'>

mrobinson

Thanks for your help so far... Just one other question!
Will I have to include these hidden fields on each page of the form?

I want to collect things such as "name, address, email, telephone number" on one form then goto another page with a form discussing collecting more details.
When the form is ready for processing will I be able to recall these hidden fields directly from the 1st and 2nd form? Or will they have to be "carried over" in all forms?

Thanx

Mrobinson

Alex_B

If you need to recall those fields from very first page you may consider to use session . Yet, to use hidden fields you will need to carry them from one page to another. Of course, sensitive information such as ss, password and such I would not pass through the hidden fields.
Hope that helps
alex

mrobinson

So with a session I will be able to recall details, but if I decided not to use a sesison I could just carry them over using hidden fields. Thanks again Alex.

Alex_B

any time...
Hope that helps

sfarog

I was just working on a similar problem and found this thread useful.

I have a related question: (this might not need PHP at all, I just dont know how to do it.

How can I have my form use 2 submit buttons that point to different pages as opposed to just one? I want people to be able to either "Accept Submission" or "Make further changes" which would take the variables to either "accept.php" or "modify.php" pages.

Thanks!

LoneTraveler

This thread was just what I needed to get my form and mail() to work on this page: !http://www.atimealone.com/php/HappyValentinesDay.htm

Thanks a lot to all that contributed

Alex_B

I had the same issue with two buttons. One was submit and another edit. What I did was I had two separate form for each. For instance

<FORM auction='".<submit_page_name.php>."' method='POST'>
<input type='hidden' name='name_1' value='".$POST['name_1'].">
<input type='hidden' name='name_2' value='".$POST['name_2'].">
....
<input type='hidden' name='name_n' value='".$POST['name_n'].">
<INPUT TYPE='SUBMIT' name='submit' value='".$submit."'>
</FORM>
<FORM auction='".<edit_page_name.php>."' method='POST'>
<input type='hidden' name='name_1' value='".$POST['name_1'].">
<input type='hidden' name='name_2' value='".$POST['name_2'].">
....
<input type='hidden' name='name_n' value='".$POST['name_n'].">
<INPUT TYPE='SUBMIT' name='edit' value='".$edit."'>
</FORM>

That works just fine for me
-alex

dee7

vornn, i'm interested in the code u posted. did u get the code from a website or book. if so, could you post the link (or give details of the book) ?

thnx

vornn

I got the example from a book, called PHP by example. It is quite a nice book.

Here's a link on Amazon UK

Click Me

Hope this helps.

🙂

brailleschool

Hi:

I am looking to do the same thing but with a PHP form that submits the information to a MySQL database.

Please advise as to how I would need to do this.

I have 17 items on the form.
8 are text fields
5 are drop down menus
4 are text areas

I would like to split the page into multiple pages and when the last page has been completed, then to submit all information to the MySQL database as long as all required fields are completed. I also have form processing restrictions going on in the original field. Things like max/min length of info. types of characters allowed/not allowed etc. Will need to make sure that the pages are still validated.

Being able to edit the information if they needed to would be nice also. And to be able to view all information on the last page before submitting the form.

Thanks in advance.

Roger_Ramjet

It is not neccessary to have 2 Forms to acheive this, simply POST to a general purpose page that tests which button was clicked. Use different names for your Submit buttons and it is straightforward.

 // input page
<form name="example" action="general_purpose_page.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="input1"><br />
<input type="text" name="input2"><br />
<input type="submit" name="add" value="Add">
<input type="submit" name="edit" value="Edit">
</form>

// general_purpose_page.php
<?php

if (isset($_POST['add']) {

// code to add to db

}
else {
if (isset($_POST['edit']) {

// code to edit db

}
}

Roger_Ramjet

The alternative is a javascript function that redirects from the client according to which button was clicked. To do this, each button calls a function onSubmit, which does a document.write to the form action according to which page is required. Easier to just use a php page unless you are really hot on javascript. The page that you post to can just have an include for the other pages in each side of the if-else


<?php

if {
include ('add.php');
}
else {
include ('edit.php');
}

For those of you wondering about how to pass data from page to page, either send it back to the client in hidden fields or save it in session vars untill the last page.

brailleschool

Hi:

I have just completed my multi-page register screen. When I get to the page where it gives a view of the information, everything views correctly. But when I go to submit the information into MySQL, three of the fields are not populated and cannot figure out why.

The information is put into hidden fields through each step. When you get to the last page to submit is when the info that isnt submitted until the last minute is then put into the form. The information that is not submitting are:

1) userpic
2) userpicalt
3) reg_date

Please advise if you can.

<form action="<? $PHP_SELF ?>" method="post">

<input type="hidden" name="username" value="<? echo "$username"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="password" value="<? echo "$password"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="password2" value="<? echo "$password2"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="fname" value="<? echo "$fname"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="sname" value="<? echo "$sname"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="emaila" value="<? echo "$emaila"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="country" value="<? echo "$country"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="age" value="<? echo "$age"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="iam" value="<? echo "$iam"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="gender" value="<? echo "$gender"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="school" value="<? echo "$school"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="userpic" value="<? echo "http://www.brailleschool.com/images/userpic/nopic.jpg"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="userpicalt" value="<? echo "This user has not uploaded a picture yet."; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="status" value="<? echo "$status"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="interests" value="<? echo "$interests"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="aboutu" value="<? echo "$aboutu"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="whyjoin" value="<? echo "$whyjoin"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="hobbies" value="<? echo "$hobbies"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="newsletter" value="<? echo "$newsletter"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="account_active" value="<? echo "No"; ?>">
<input type="hidden" name="reg_date" value="<? $date=date('m-d-Y'); ?>">

<?
include("../../config.php");
$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "INSERT INTO logintest (`username`,`password`,`fname`,`sname`,`email`,`country`,`interests`,`age`,`iam`,`gender`,`school`,`status`,`aboutu`,`whyjoin`,`hobbies`, `userpic`, `userpicalt`, `newsletter`, `reg_date`) VALUES ('$username', '$password', '$fname','$sname', '$emaila', '$country',   '$interests','$age', '$iam', '$gender', '$school', '$status', '$aboutu', '$whyjoin', '$hobbies', '$userpic', '$userpicalt', '$newsletter', '$reg_date')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

//// add administration information to the users contact address book start
$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "INSERT INTO contactbooktest (`username`,`contactuser`) VALUES ('$username', 'admin')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "INSERT INTO contactbooktest (`username`,`contactuser`) VALUES ('$username', 'sweetsugar_56')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "INSERT INTO contactbooktest (`username`,`contactuser`) VALUES ('$username', 'webmaster')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "INSERT INTO contactbooktest (`username`,`contactuser`) VALUES ('$username', 'support')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

//// add administration information to the users contact address book end

echo "$lang[thanksregister]";

$ida= uniqid('message');
$ida2= uniqid('$ida');
$nr= uniqid($ida);
$date=date('m-d-Y H:i:s');

$connection = mysql_connect("$server", "$db_user", "$db_pass");
$db = mysql_select_db("$database", $connection);
$query = "SELECT * FROM usermessagestest";
$query = "INSERT INTO usermessagestest (`nomer`, `tombr`, `frommbr`, `date`, `title`, `message`, `new`) VALUES ('$nr', '$username', 'Admin', '$date', '$lang[adminwelcome]', 'Dear $fname $sname,<br><br>Thank you for joining Braille School!<br><br>We would like to inform you that your username <b><span class=errormsg>$username</span></b> $lang[adminwelcomemessage]', 'yes')";
$result = mysql_query($query, $connection);

mail("admin@brailleschool.com", "New Braille School User","Dear Paddy,\nThis is an automated message from the Braille School web site to inform you that $fname $sname registered for an account at Braille School.  Here is the information that they submitted in regard to their account creation.
\n(M) Username: $username
(M) Password: $password
(M) Email Address: $emaila
(M) First Name: $fname
(O) Last Name: $sname
(M) Country: $country
(O) Interests: $interests
(M) Age: $age
(M) You Are: $iam
(M) Gender: $gender
(O) School: $school
(M) Marital Status: $status
(O) About You: $aboutu
(M) Why Join: $whyjoin
(O) Hobbies: $hobbies
(M) Receive Newsletter?: $newsletter
\nCordially,
Blindness Related Learning.", "From: Braille School Accounts <accounts@brailleschool.com>");
?>

Roger_Ramjet

That is because userpic contains a url, userpic alt contains text with spaces and reg_date stores the date in a var instead of adding it to the html stream.

FIX:

userpic.

Assuming you want to just store the filename in the db


// cut off all the url except the file name and store that in the hidden field
$u = $_POST['userpic'];
$userpic = str_replace('http://www.brailleschool.com/images/userpic/','',$u);

userpicalt

Just make your phrase the default value for the table column, make it required and omit it from the query

reg_date

You need to echo the date into the html stream so that it is there when the post returns the values.

Roger_Ramjet

And it occurs to me that you have generated the userpic url in the first place, so no need to cut anything, just store the file name that you started with in the hidden field and use the generated url when you want to display it.