Errors in parsing variables

brianslade

Hi all, Im very new to all this but keen to learn. In my first faltering steps i almost immediatly reach a dead end.

Ive set up all the apache2, PHP(4.3.1) and mysql fine on an XPproffesional os.
Great you all cry! Now the hard bit. Ive followed my PHP book, have grasped the consepts and got basic PHP scripts to run (rotating banner ect) I move on to the HTML forms part of the book. I construct the form in html(fav.html) so:

<html><head><title>Your Favourites</title></head>

<body>

<b>Please enter your first name:</b>

<input type="text" size="45" name="username"><br/>

<b>Please select your favourite colour wine:</b> <br/>

<input type="radio" name="colour" value="white"> White

<input type="radio" name="colour" value="rosé"> Rosé
<input type="radio" name="colour" value="red"> Red <br/>

<b>Please enter your favourite dish:</b>

<input type="text" size="45" name="dish"><br/><br/>

point it to my script (fav.php) thus:

<html><head><title>Your submission</title></head>
<body>
<img src="foodbanner.jpg" width="368" height="54">
<?php
if($username != null)
{
echo("Thanks for your selection $username <hr/>");
}

if( ($colour != null) && ($dish != null) )
{
  $msg="You really enjoy $dish<br/>";
  $msg="- especially with a nice $colour wine";
  echo($msg);
}

?>
</body></html>

but i keep getting an error:

Notice: Undefined variable: username in C:\Apache2\htdocs\fav.php on line 5

I understand its not lifting the variables but im not sure why?Ive followed the syntax to the letter but no obvious errors (im sure to some tho..lol)

To add to my confusion my book list changes and ammendments to concepts ive only just grasped
Please go easy on me as im keen to put the graft in but need help!
Regards

leatherback

Most likely this is due to some setting in your .ini files. "global_vars" are off. This means that you will have to grab the variables from the posted data array before you can use them. Try:

$username = $_post['username'];

before you call the var (You only have to do this once, after that, the variable $username is defined).

One option to consider is to use extract() on the $_POST array, but this can lead to some security risks. (Read manual)

brianslade

hi and thanks for the swift reply. Much appreciation.
I can see what your getting at but im still not sure of where to place the expression you supplied. Sorry im being stupid.
Could you be a little more specific...Please..

I wrote this and it works:

<html>
<head><title>Name Page</title></head><body>
<form action="fun.php" method="POST">
Your name: <input type="text" name="name" / size="20"> <input type="submit">
</form>
</body></html>

<html>
<head><title>Name Page</title></head>
<body>
Hi <?php echo $_POST["name"]; ?> you clever boy.
</body>
</html>

this returns my entered name which makes me think im on the right track...again thanks for your help. At least i dont feel alone in PHP heaven/hell!..Barry

cosminb

... at the begining of your script

leatherback

Hi,

Basically you post this in the php page, anywhere BEFORE you want to use the variables which were submitted from the form.

So basically you could do:

<html><head><title>Your submission</title></head>
<body>
<img src="foodbanner.jpg" width="368" height="54">
<?php

extract($_POST);

if($username != null)
{
echo("Thanks for your selection $username <hr/>");
}

if( ($colour != null) && ($dish != null) )
{
$msg="You really enjoy $dish<br/>";
$msg="- especially with a nice $colour wine";
echo($msg);
}
?>
</body></html>

brianslade

Hoooray!...got a response from my Html form thanks to your help...thank you a million times...i thought i would go mad..(no doubt ill be back with more idiotic questions..lol)...Barry