help preventing db entries from page refresh

synergypoint

I have looked through this forum for solutions to this problem and have tried a couple things I came across but nothing seems to work for my situation.

Here is my scenario:

I have a multi-use form that I use to make database updates and entries with. It has 3 actions that can be ferformed, ADD (a new record), UPDATE (an existing record), or DELETE (an existing record). Also there are 3 'SCREEN's which format how the screen is rendered, NEW (for adding a new record, all form fields are blank), EDIT (for updating an existing record, form fields are populated with data from D😎, and ERROR (for displaying the data again after a failed UPDATE or ADD action, form fields are populated with the data from the form POST).

It all works great except for the case where you refresh the page after a successful ADD to the database. My database uses a primary key which is auto generated by the database so I can't search for an existing entry that way to prevent the same data from getting entered twice.

There is no user input that I could force to be unique. I suppose I could create a dummy hidden variable to put in the db and check against that but it seems like there must be a simpler way that I am missing to accomplish this.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

kevinsequeira

after u finish all the database work redirect to another page

header("location:http://www.yourserver/thankyou.php");

this way user cant refresh
reg
kevin

synergypoint

Unfortunately that won't work because I want to bring the user back to this page to either update what they just entered or enter another data record.

Spudgun

If its posting the same data twice, can't you run a query b4 any additions to check that the posted variables don't already exist in the database? There must be a combination of variables that is unique mustn't there?

I would code this with variables to indicate if its an update, an add or a delete action. That way, you can check for these, and if its an add - run the query checking that a record does not already exist in the db before running the insert.

HTH

FraXTC

Otherwise use what kevin said, but go like this

index.php => do your thing => header to other page saying thank you or something ==> redirect back to the index.php

Also , u can header it back to itself, if I'm not mistaken it will ditch the vars:

Like first time you show thephp file you see the form: you fill in what you need and hit the submit button, you submit it to the same file, do your thing, and use header to reload the page before the page is done loading.. Will look something like:

If (isset = ['variable'])

{ 
//Do your thing here

//end with:
header("location: $PHP_SELF");
}

// Here you place the forms u need

U understand? First time u see the page, no vars are set, so it skips the if-statement , and loads the forms... When u hit submit a variable is set, if statement is true, thus do your thing, after that, reload the page with the header-command, vars are lost, so the if statement = false, gets skipped and the forms are shown again

I'm not 100% sure if $PHP_SELF will work though :o

KernelKrash

I think kevinsequeira is right on track with his suggestion.

To expand, what I've done in the past is:
1.) Form to add new data; submit
2.) New page that shows data from #1 as read-only.
3.) This New page, along with R/O data, has:
- "Please Review Statement"
- " Re-Edit" button and "Add New Record" button
Simple and flexible...

Good Luck