[Resolved] form field selection/expansion

imnu

I am writing a php script to collect user information. I would like to make it that the fields on the form vary with type of user. I would have a dropdown menu to allow a user to select a user type. When a type is selected, the fields corresponding to that user type will be automatically presented to this user. This may be a js job. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

feldon23

Start the FORM code for your dropdown menu with this:

Then you find out what usertype they selected (if any) with $_GET['usertype'] and can use that to present them with a unique form.

imnu

Thanks a lot. Would this work if the fields are on the same form as the type selection menu and on the same page?

feldon23

The select code I posted causes the entire page to reload when you select something from that specific dropdown menu.

The contents of any form fields may be wiped out when the user selects the dropdown. So I would hide the form (except the menu) until they pick a user type.

imnu

Thanks a lot for you prompt response. I know little about JS. Could you write a very simple working example, say two user type choices, and 1 or 2 fields for each type. I know I am asking a lot of your time, but I desperately need your help.

feldon23

The rest is normal HTML. That's the only scrap of Javascript you need.

<form action="{$php_self}" method="get">
<select name="usertype" onchange="window.location=('{$php_self}?usertype=' + this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)">
<option value="0" selected>Select One</option>
<option value="1">User Type 1</option>
<option value="2">User Type 2</option>
<option value="3">User Type 3</option>
</select>
</form>

imnu

Thanks a lot. I tried the code. I had to change {$php_self} to <?$php_self?> to get the correct file name followed by ?usertype=1 (2, 3). So I could use this value in my php conditions to determine which fields to show, am I right?

feldon23

Well I am assuming that you will be inserting a lot of PHP into that chunk of HTML, that's why I just posted it as-is.

I usually use heredoc notation so I can do:

$html=<<<QQQ
<form action="{$php_self}"...
.
<option name="{$option[1]['id']}">{$option[1]['name']}</option>
</form>
QQQ;

and then just

echo $html;

imnu

Thanks you very much. I found this code on the net that does the same thing. What do you think?

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">

<html>
<head>
    <title>Untitled</title>
</head>
<script language="javascript">
    <!--
         function fncShowControls(oCombo) {
              if (oCombo.value==1) {
                   document.forms(0)['textbox1'].style.display = 'block';
                   document.forms(0)['textbox2'].style.display = 'block';                    

              } else {
                   document.forms(0)['textbox1'].style.display = 'none';
                   document.forms(0)['textbox2'].style.display = 'none';
              }

           if (oCombo.value==2) {
               document.all.divRadiogroup.style.display = 'block';
          } else {
               document.all.divRadiogroup.style.display = 'none';               
           }
     }
//-->
</script>

<body>

<form action="">
    <select name="select1" onChange="fncShowControls(this);" size="2">
         <option value="1">Selection 1</option>
         <option value="2">Selection 2</option>          

    </select><p>
    <textarea name="textbox1" style="display:none;" cols="20" rows="5">textbox1</textarea><br>
    <textarea name="textbox2" style="display:none;" cols="20" rows="5">textbox2</textarea><br>
    <div name="divRadiogroup" style="display:none;" id="divRadiogroup">
         <input type="radio" name="radio1" value="1">Radio1<br>
         <input type="radio" name="radio1" value="2">Radio2<br>
         <input type="radio" name="radio1" value="3">Radio3<br>
    </div>
</form>

</body>
</html>