arrays in php and html: how to pass them as parameters

lsobrino

hi guys...

i'm writing an access application in which in a page i use a couple of listboxes:

in first one (to the left), i have a list of all the possible functions a user can perform within the system
in the second one (in the right) i have a list of the current functions already assigned to this user
i have a couple of buttons ">" and "<" to move functions from/to the 2 lists

once the administrator is done moving functions from one side to the other, he has an "update" (submit) button, and now i need to read the list in the left and store its contents in a mysql table.

the problems i'm facing right now are as follows:

1) i'm using a javascript function to dinamycally move the elements between the 2 lists; i can't use the brackets to name the lists since the javascript code doesn't allow it

2) in the page i will use to do the mysql update, the array i'm sending as parameter has no element selected, therefore, no element is recognized and the array is treated as empty (i made some testing and, if after all the selection is finished, i highlight the elements, it works fine)

in order to solve both of these problems, is there a way i can use the array in the receiving page, despite of the fact that none of its elements is currently "selected"?

thanks in advance for the help...

ps. if you need more detail, i can post some images to help you understand how the functionality appears right now...

laserlight

I remember suggesting a possible solution for the JS problem before, I think it was something like creating hidden fields corresponding to the fields in question.

I'm not sure how you can implement this, or even if it will work, but it is an idea that you might want to consider.

lanjoky

Build a javascript function that when submit is clicked all of the objects in the right list box are selected ... in doing so you can now manipulate them as an array in ur action script becuase the info is posted an accessed as an array through $_GET or however you want to access your submitted form elements. I just had to do the same thing but for an ASP script to me a bit to figure out what to do ... but works like a charm now.

lsobrino

thanks for the suggestions. they were very helpful!

i'm trying with the solution of using a javascript function at the time of submitting the form. i have some additional questions regarding this one:

1) should the name of the right list include the "[]"? if so, i'm getting an error since i believe the javascript function does not like the name of the field this way

2) in the event of not needing the "[]", how should i name the list and how does the following page receive it?

thanks again!

lanjoky

Originally posted by lsobrino
thanks for the suggestions. they were very helpful!

i'm trying with the solution of using a javascript function at the time of submitting the form. i have some additional questions regarding this one:

1) should the name of the right list include the "[]"? if so, i'm getting an error since i believe the javascript function does not like the name of the field this way

2) in the event of not needing the "[]", how should i name the list and how does the following page receive it?

thanks again!

Answer is no ... and to clarify my post before on submit have all in the right side selected a string with be produces and in between the values will be an ',' you will have to explode() the string to get into an array

name it what ever you want then on the following page do something like

<?
$string = $_GET['name']; // or $_POST depending
$array = explode(",", $string);
?>

Hope that helps

barand

In your js functions you can't use

document.formname.list[]

as it doesn't like the [] which signifies an array.

However, you can use something like

document.formname.elements("list[]")

hth