Inserting into DB

newphp51

Hi there,

I'm need to php.

I'm trying to insert data that the user enters in into my db. All that is working fine, but my problem is after they submit I display the results on the page, if the user hits f5 key, or refresh, I get the same data inserted into the db again. Its resending the posted stuff all over again.

How can I stop that?

kevinsequeira

diferrent approaches
1. set-up the db so that no duplicates can exist.
2. after u insert the data into db, redirect to another page where the results are displayed

eg
.
.
mysql_query($query);//inserted into db
$id = mysql_insert_id();//will work only if the table has an auto-increment column
header("location:display.php?id=".$id);

then on display.php use the id value to display the result

reg
kevin

newphp51

but if they hit f5, its the same thing...the db insert stuff is in the page. I might be doing that wrong I guess. See, it will execute the db insert when you hit the f5 key, and because i've use date/time as part of my key for another reason, it will always be unquie.

Any ideas?

kevinsequeira

what about the second approach, it will prevent duplicate enteries when F5 is pressed

reg
kevin

newphp51

I don't know I follow you. You mean open a new window? simply redirect them? I'm a newbie with php, I don't think I understand. Would itn't be the same thing?

kevinsequeira

yes, after you insert the values into the database, redirect then to another page where u display the result.
this way when they press F5, they are reloading the page where the results are displayed not the page where u inserted the date into the db

reg
kevin

newphp51

sorry, I know this will sound really stupid, but how do I do that?
the redirect to new page?

kevinsequeira

post the code that you have till now - the page where u insert into the database

reg
kevin

newphp51

I think I figured out the redirect, got it working but I don't think its what i want. See, I want to go to pretty much the same spot they were before. They're are adding some items, the top 2 questions are selection list, and the last 3 question are just text boxes and they have to type in a date, name, and description. After they hit add, I want to insert what they've entered into the db, and then go back to the same screen with the 2 selection list the same way as they were before.

Thanks for all your help.

kevinsequeira

well what you want to do is possible but it would involve quite a few changes to your code.
i could give u an example

//test.php
<? 
	if(isSet($_REQUEST['name'])){
		$name = $_REQUEST['name'];
	}else{
		$name = "";
	}
 ?>
<form name="test" method="post" action="test_action.php">
<input type="text" name="fname" value="<?php echo $name; ?>">
<input type=submit>
</form>

//test_action.php
<?php
$name = $_POST['name'];
//insert into db
header("location:test.php?name=$name");
exit;
?>

hope this makes sense
reg
kevin