Updating MySQL data with checkboxes on a form

[Pathfinder]

Hi, newbie to PHP here.

I've managed to create a form for people to enter their sports team information, feed that info into a MySQL database, then view selected fields. Now I am receiving payments and would like to be able to just display a list of unpaid teams with checkboxes beside each one, enter the cheque date into one text box on the page, and then click on each team for which I have received payment.

I've searched and searched and searched before posting, and the best I can figure out how to do is create a drop down box but even then I don't know how to get the selected option to post ...

Can someone please help? I will name my second born (due in 8 weeks ;-) after you ...

here is the code I "borrowed" for the list box:

<?php
$sql = 'SELECT FirstNameFROM test WHERE Paid=0 LIMIT 0, 30';
$res = mysql_query($sql);
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($res)) {
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row['FirstName']; ?>">
<?php echo $row['FirstName']; ?></option>
<?php
}
?>
</select>

Thank you,
Pathfinder

[Pig]

You don't really need to do check boxes or a select box. Just loop through all the unpaid rows, and echo a text box for each. Name each text box the ID of the current row, with a prefix (since vars aren't supposed to start with a number). Then on your process page, loop through the $_POST array and see if there is a value for each item. Something like this:

foreach($_POST AS $key => $value)
{
     //we want to make sure that the only elements we use are 
     //the rows, so if the submit button has a name (eg: "submit")
     //we need to leave those out.  In addition, all of our names
     //should start with our prefix.  Let's say we used "x".
     //We also need to make sure that we entered a value for this 
     //one
     if( $key != "submit" && substr($key, 0, 1) == "x" && strlen($value) > 0 )
     {
          //update the database with value for this item, using
          //the ID taken from the field name
          mysql_query("UPDATE test SET Paid='$value' WHERE table_id=" . substr($key, 1) );
     }
}

[Pathfinder]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and reply to my post. Unfortunately, I am so new to PHP that I was lost at the initial looping and echoing part, so I think I will have to go back to surfing for tutorials as I realize that this isn't the place to be asking for such extensive assistance.

Thanks again,
Pathfinder

[Pathfinder]

Hi there,

More searching for code this morning got me closer to an efficient updating of my database so I thought I'd post it in case others are encountering a similar situation. I don't actualy understand the code, but managed to change field names until I got what I needed!

This code displays the list of records which meet the "unpaid" criteria, then you can click on the person's name and insert the payment information into the Paid field, click on delete to delete the entire record, or even add a new record. It is likely pretty close to the previous suggestion.

Thanks again and later,
Pathfinder

PHP:

<?php

if ($submit) {
// here if no ID then adding else we're editing
if ($id) {
$sql = "UPDATE test SET FirstName='$First',LastName='$Last',Paid='$Paid'
WHERE id=$id AND Paid < '1'";
} else {
$sql = "INSERT INTO test (FirstName,LastName,Paid) VALUES ('$First','$Last','$Paid')";
}
// run SQL against the DB
$result = mysql_query($sql);
echo "Record updated/edited!<p>";
} elseif ($delete) {
// delete a record
$sql = "DELETE FROM test WHERE id=$id";
$result = mysql_query($sql);
echo "$sql Record deleted!<p>";
} else {
// this part happens if we don't press submit
if (!$id) {
// print the list if there is not editing
$result = mysql_query("SELECT FROM test WHERE Paid < '1'",$db);
while ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
printf("<a href=\"%s?id=%s\">%s %s %s</a> \n", $PHP_SELF, $myrow["id"], $myrow["FirstName"],
$myrow["LastName"],$myrow["Paid"]);
printf("<a href=\"%s?id=%s&delete=yes\">(DELETE)</a><br>", $PHP_SELF,
$myrow["id"]);
}
}
?>
<P>
<a href="<?php echo $PHP_SELF?>">ADD A RECORD</a>
<P>
<form method="post" action="<?php echo $PHP_SELF?>">
<?php
if ($id) {
// editing so select a record
$sql = "SELECT FROM test WHERE id=$id ";
$result = mysql_query($sql);
$myrow = mysql_fetch_array($result);
$id = $myrow["id"];
$First = $myrow["FirstName"];
$Last = $myrow["LastName"];
$Paid = $myrow["Paid"];

// print the id for editing
?>
<input type=hidden name="id" value="<?php echo $id ?>">
<?php
}
?>
First name:<input type="Text" name="First" value="<?php echo $First ?>"><br>
Last name:<input type="Text" name="Last" value="<?php echo $Last ?>"><br>
Paid:<input type="Text" name="Paid" value="<?php echo $Paid ?>"><br>
<input type="Submit" name="submit" value="Enter information">
</form>
<?php
}
?>