Checkboxes and foreach

argonaut

Hello,
I'm trying to adjust an idea that I had for administration on my website.

It's basically simple. In different section I'm trying to set up Active and Inactive content.
I did this before just with text (Ex:When click over Active changes entry to inactive) But I was trying to do it this time with Checkboxes since it's really more intuitive.

Here is my problem:

I'm requesting content from Mysql:
If ($row['active']=='n') {
echo "<input type='checkbox' name='active[]' value='n' >";} else
{echo "<input type='checkbox' name='active[]' value='y' checked>";}

Everything is fine until I try to update any changes the user may do:

I got up to this:
foreach ($_POST['active'] as $Key => $Value){ }

But It only return values if I check any of the checkboxes. If I go from Active to Inactive I would be taking the check from the box.
I did use the IF statemente for this, but It only works when using a single checkbox.

if( isset( $_POST['dactivo']) ) { $dactivo = 'y'; }
else { $dactivo = 'n'; }

Question 2:
Is all right to do updates loops of mysql query if there're 3 changes on the item checkboxes ?
Or would it be better to just detect wich one was modified before submitting it to MYSQL ?

any suggestion would be appreciated!

Tnx!

lobobr

Hi there.

I'm not sure I can help you, but let's try and see...

You said:

But It only return values if I check any of the checkboxes.

This is the expected behaviour, since $_POST will only consider checkboxes that were checked (otherwise there is no point in taking a value that is NOT being passed along).

After a quick thinking I've came up with this solution:

For each checkox put a hidden field as well, with "yes" or "no" as a value, and when you start printing the checkboxes, check the hidden field associated with it to know if you must check it or not.

You can do a simple JS routine to change the hidden fields values to yes or no when the user checks a checkbox.

About your second question, I guess you already know the answer, but here it goes:

I'd never use a update loop, since too much db communication can slowdown your page and create several problems, so...

Detect wich one was modified before submitting it to MYSQL !!!

Lat minute thought: Why do you use checkboxes for this??? I'd use a radio button, so the value is either yes or no and it will be passed to $_POST... This would solve your problem right away...

Hope it helps.

Best regards,