[Resolved] Textarea - strange output

[baffled_in_UK]

Hi,

Hope someone can help with this output problem.

I have a textarea defined like this:
<textarea name="sub_cat_txt" cols="50" rows="5">

I insert into a MySQL table using this code

$sub_cat_txt = htmlspecialchars(stripslashes(trim($_POST['sub_cat_txt'])));

I entered test data with two line breaks (by using the Enter key) that looks like this:

Pro-Sock : Heavyweight 100% nylon sock as worn by professional players.

Super Pro-Sock : Heavyweight cotton and nylon sock with 30% extra stretch. High density cushioning protects toes, heel and ball of foot.

When I come to output the data I use this code

$sub_cat_txt = nl2br($myrowc['sub_cat_txt']);

and I get a > character at the point of the line break and the full stop has gone, it looks like this :

Pro-Sock : Heavyweight 100% nylon sock as worn by professional players>

Super Pro-Sock : Heavyweight cotton and nylon sock with 30% extra stretch. High density cushioning protects toes, heel and ball of foot.

am I missing doing something at insert or ouptut stage ?

Many thanks for any pointers.

[sid]

• is the textarea code copied exactly as you have it in your document?
• do you have a tool (phpmyadmin for example) to check what has actually been stored in the database? that way you can find out if the > is being added when storing or retrieving.

a general comment: basically i follow one rule: store data as raw as possible and modify it when retrieving it!
i.e. store the data as

$sub_cat_txt =  trim($_POST['sub_cat
_txt']);

and modify it when reading from the database:

$sub_cat_txt = nl2br(htmlspecialchars(stripslashes($myrowc['sub_cat_txt'])));

basically this is a personal preference, but it leaves you with maximum flexibility!

[tony_l]

I agree- put your data in as raw as possible. It sounds like you are having problems with a TAG, like a tag was ended, but it was never started to begin with. Hope that helps man.

-tony

[baffled_in_UK]

thanks for the advice.

[sid]

i am dying here to know what the problem was!