validating information?

[tcooper]

I have a form that I am submitting to itself about halfway through in order to check key fields for information. I know this is simple, and I am sure I have seen it on this discussion but I can't seem to get it figured out.

I have a variable $ckSubmit that I am using to see if my form has been submitted. If the form has been submitted $ckSubmit is incremented by 1.

My code looks something like this...

if ($ckSubmit==2) {
if ($jobdesc=='') echo '<script type = "text/javascript"> alert("Please enter a Project Name");</script>';
if ($client=='A') echo '<script type = "text/javascript"> alert("Please enter a Client Name");</script>';

I know there is an easier way to do this but just need some help.

[devinemke]

it looks like your are using PHP to dynamically spit javascript form validation to the browser. why not simply write a full fledged form validator in PHP or in JS (or both). group all of your key fields for each step into a JS function and call that function on each form submission.

[tcooper]

Sounds good to me but I am not very experienced with this so I have no clue what you are talking about...care to elaborate, PLEASE.

[devinemke]

well, in javascript, something like this:

<script language="javascript">
function form_check()
{
	if (!document.form.jobdesc.value) {alert("Please enter a Project Name"); return false;}
	if (!document.form.client.value) {alert("Please enter a Client Name"); return false;}
	// etc...
}
</script>

in PHP, something like this:

<?
if (isset($_POST['submit']))
{
	if (!$_POST['jobdesc']) {echo 'Please enter a Project Name';}
	if (!$_POST['client']) {echo 'Please enter a Client Name';}
	// etc...
}
?>