Help using extract()

enickols

I have a total of 40 form fields. 31 of those 40 fields are drop down menus. I don't wanna have to do the following:

$instructor = $POST['Instructor'];
$department = $POST['department'];
$semester = $POST['semester'];
$year = $POST['year'];
$coursenumb = $POST['Coursenumb'];
$section = $POST['section'];
$db_field1 = $POST['db_field1'];
$submit = $POST['submit'];

....fourty times! Not to mention adding the code to insert the info into my DB. So, I've read the PHP information on extract but I find it a little confusing. After I say:

extract($_POST);

How do I get the data out? Sorry if I sound lame and retarted but I'm very new to PHP.

Can I do something like:

$var[] = extract($_POST);

Then use a for loop to get the data out of $var[]?

Thanks in advance!

LordShryku

just by saying extract($_POST), you should be able to say echo $instructor, and it will work

tekky

and for future reference....

http://www.php.net/

adding any function name after the last / will bring up its help pages which lists HOW TO USE, WHAT ARGS... and EXAMPLES 😉

oh yah... and quite often user submitted input/code

enickols

Thanks a bunch!

enickols

Originally posted by LordShryku
just by saying extract($_POST), you should be able to say echo $instructor, and it will work

I tried that to no avail. Should I have globals turned off or something?

When I say:

$department = $_POST['Department'];
echo $department;

..it displays fine. But when I say:

extract($_POST);
echo $department;

...I get nothing.

What gives?

LordShryku

It's case sensitive. If it's $_POST['Department'], you should echo $Department.

enickols

Originally posted by LordShryku
It's case sensitive. If it's $_POST['Department'], you should echo $Department.

Man let me tell ya....YOU ARE THE GREATEST!

I have another question.

Is there a, so called, shorthand way of inserting the data into the database? I'm currently saying:
$sql = "INSERT INTO formdata ( Department, Instructor ) VALUES ( '$Department', '$Instructor' )";

Am i correct in believe that I can use extract again? i know I can probably use it again here ---->( '$Department', '$Instructor' )"; But what about here --->( Department, Instructor ).

Will I have to type in each form field header to tell the data where to go?

THANKS A BUNCH!!

LordShryku

Yes, unless you are inserting into evert column. Say your table looked like this

CREATE TABLE blah (
    field1 varchar(30)
    field2 int(8)
    field3 char(3)
)

Structure isn't important, the fields are. So if you were inserting every field, you could use

INSERT INTO blah 
VALUES ('$var1','$var2','$var3');

Instead of

INSERT INTO blah (field1,field2, field3) 
VALUES ('$var1','$var2','$var3');

BUT, if you were only inserting partial, you do need to tell it where to go, eg.

INSERT INTO blah (field1,field3)
VALUES ('$var1','$var3');

enickols

LordSkryku,

This is the last time i will bother you today...i hope!

But I said:

$sql = "INSERT INTO formdata VALUES ( extract($_POST) )";

..and nothing goes to the DB. Does my syntax look correct? I've tried it with and without the single quotes around extract($_POST).

Below is the questionable section of code:

extract($POST);
$submit = $POST['submit'];
//Check to see if the submit button was pressed.
if($submit)
{
/ Update the database with information gathered from the user /
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "", ""); //Connect to the server
mysql_select_db("db_name",$db); //Connect to the SIRS Database
/ Insert info into DB /
$sql = "INSERT INTO formdata VALUES (extract($_POST))";
$result = mysql_query($sql);
}

Thanks again!

LordShryku

You need to specify it in your SQL

extract($_POST); 
if($submit) { 
   $db = mysql_connect("localhost", "", "");
   mysql_select_db("db_name",$db);
   $sql = "INSERT INTO formdata VALUES ('".$var1."','".$var2."','".var3."')"; 
   $result = mysql_query($sql); 
}

enickols

okay kool!

Thank you for your time!

LordShryku

no prob bob 😃