insert multiple values [note: also need array help] from form into database

[cruz610]

OK. I have a form that has values to be inserted to a database [duh! 😉 jk] but here is my dilemma.

  <tr> 
    <td width="33%"><input name="debtor" type="text" id="debtor" value="<? echo $debtor; ?>"></td>
    <td width="33%"> <input name="value" type="text" id="childname" value="<? echo $value; ?>"></td>
    <td width="33%"><input name="ownership" type="text" id="childname" value="<? echo $ownership; ?>"></td>
  </tr>

Now, I have 4 or 5 of these, but they all will have the same input NAMES. I need to find a way to cycle through each of these rows and input the data based on whether or not the user has filled out the values. Is there any way to do this? Thanks all

[procoder]

you can assaign names such as

debtor_1
value_1
ownership_1

debtor_2
value_2
ownership_2

run a loop

for ($i=0; $i<=5, $i++) {

if(!empty($POST['debtor'.$i])) {

}
}

[cwissy]

add empty brackets to the end of your form field names. Thsi will signal php to create an array of values when the form is posted.

i.e. name="var_name[]"

then when retrieving the values you should find that php has inserted them into the array in the order they arrived at the server (which is normally top down, but only the values the user filled in)

[AstroTeg]

I've done both methods (as mentioned by procoder and cwissy) in the past and both work great. Procoder's approach is a bit more exact and is handy if you're script absolutely needs to know a particular form field was entered or not.

Typically, its bad practice to name text fields with the same name unless your using the array approach like cwissy mentioned.