[Resolved] Forms and PHP

reddon

OK so this may seem a little basic for some -- but what do I have to do to make a form do it's business - like add stuff to a database ? What sort of clockwork motor do I have to prepare? Make it simple please no big or nerd words!😕

Mordecai

Just set the action of the form to a PHP script, then write a script that does what you need. You'll probably want to POST data to it, so all your form fields can be retrieved through $_POST. If you want to add to a database, look up functions specific to your database and there will be many examples.

reddon

Thanks, now here's the rub - I know hardly owt about scripting or databases, and I am foolishly attempting to create a membership list to which data can be added and extracted. As it is a function that is carried out almost everysecond somewhere on the web, I thought that there must be some spare wheels around without me having to re-invent another. So where are the wheels, er sorry, scripts to be found? Ive looked for the past three or four weeks, but probably can't see the rabbit for jargon.

stenk

Have you tried hotscripts.com. I think you will find what you are after there.

Drawup what you are after and check the php.net site and look thru the manual, this is a great place to start.

All the best,

Sten

Davy

There are no form 'wheels' as such. What you want to do is essentially the metal of the wheels.

You are trying to do the oldest, widest of use action in PHP. What you are trying to do is (in my opinion) what PHP is best for. This is why PHP was invented!!

ok maybe a lil OTT but if you read up on it, PHP started with some guy wanting to have a guestbook on his site and it was called Personal Home Page - Internet Tools (PHP-IT)

ANYWAY

There must be thousands of articles all over the web on this. Just becareful as recently in PHP 4-5, something in PHP called global variables have been turned off by default so older article will be teaching a method that is highly unrecommended.

STFW 😃 (i've been waitin for a chance to say that!)

If you need help on what to look for, yoiu want to look for 3 things in this order:
1. PHP forms using post method
there are 2 methods. POST and GET.
2. Setting up the database. Depending on how your set up...you need to know how to firstly start a new table##.
3. Saving the data to database.

If you don't have SQL database access right now, I can supply some scripts that allow you to store membership names to a text file known as a flat-file database. It is a simple means of storing information sent by a form for small and simple things such as a membership.

I can supply scripts that save data to file, retrieve data, modify specific entries etc. I have this project underway mysefl so it isn't completely available. Can rush upon request but please exhaust above search options first. Find for yourself the way of the SQL before attempting the coward's route of the flat file :xbones:

reddon

We're getting closer to a solution! Thanks for all the advice. I shall follow it all up. From what you say, it shouldn't be toooo difficult. I'll let you all know how I fare in the near future.