[Resolved] Inserting PHP Variables into an existing html form

Deadlast99

I recently bought a book titled, "Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache" in hopes of learning how to change my website from a static one to a database driven site. After 2 weeks of frustration, I still have not been able to figure out how to accomplish my goal.

Here is a sample of the html code that I wish to modify with variables pulled from a MySQL database:

 <tr>
    <td width="137" height="100" colspan="3"></td>
    <td width="130" height="100" colspan="4" valign="top">
    <img src=".../images/helmets/Colts.jpg" width="130" height="100"></td>
    <td width="18" height="100"></td>
    <td width="130" height="100" colspan="3" valign="top">
    <img src=".../images/helmets/Patriots.jpg" width="130" height="100"></td>
    <td width="155" height="100" colspan="5"></td>
    <td width="130" height="100" colspan="6" valign="top">
    <img src=".../images/helmets/Cardinals.jpg" width="130" height="100"></td>
    <td width="20" height="100"></td>
    <td width="130" height="100" colspan="9" valign="top">
    <img src=".../images/helmets/Rams.jpg"width="130" height="100"></td>
    <td width="148" height="100" colspan="4"></td>
  </tr>

I have a MySQL table named "wkly_forms" where I have a column named "week" and numerous columns named gm_01a, gm_01b, gm_02a, gm_02b, and so on. Each "gm_*" column contains the name of a team. What I would like to do is replace the hardcoded team values (Colts, Patriots, Cardinals, Rams) with a variable ($gm_01a, $gm_01b, $gm_02a, $gm_02b) that pulls it's value from the database.

The code I use to pull the data from the database is as follows:

<?php

$conn = mysql_connect("localhost", "joeuser", "somepass");

mysql_select_db("wkly_forms",$conn);

$sql = "SELECT gm_01a FROM wkly_forms WHERE(week = "01")";

$result = mysql_query($sql, $conn) or die(mysql_error());

How do I get this information into my html form? Is it even possible?

Would anyone be willing to share the syntax or procedure to accomplish this?

I am completely new to PHP, except for the 500 plus pages I've read with no successful outcome, so any help would be GREATLY appreciated! This is also my first post on a forum, so please be gentle!

Thanks,
Deadlast99

dalecosp

OK, maybe this will help. But it probably won't. My fault; not yours.

Say we have a database:

+------------------------------+---------------+
| service                      | rate-per-hour |
+------------------------------+---------------+
| Labor                        |            36 |
| Data entry                   |            15 |
| HTML coding                  |            16 |
| Scripting/Programming        |            50 |
| Remote Administration - UNIX |            40 |
| Remote Assistance - Windows  |            30 |
+------------------------------+---------------+

And I want to print out my HTML coding rate.

<?php
$conn=db_conn();  // call the database
if (!$conn) {
   die("couldn't connect to database!");
}

$qry="select rate-per-hour from services where service='HTML coding'";
$result=mysql_query($qry);
if (!$result) {
   die(mysql_error());
}
$rate=mysql_result($result, 0);

echo "For HTML coding, we charge $".number_format($rate,2)."/hour.\n</br>";

?>

Note first that we've omitted the database connection. Generally there is a call to connect to the database, a test for a successful connection, a call to select the database for use, and a test for successful database selection. We just invented a function that handles that (supposedly). It's a common practice.

Next is the database query. We've set it up in two lines, after which we test for success on the query. Please note that ($result) is a pointer to the successful query ... if you echo $result, you'll only see something like "Resource indicator #2" or somesuch ... the database has tested and seen that this is a valid query, but you still have to ask it what the data really is...this is perhaps the crux of your issue: in the code you posted you haven't yet accomplished this feat ....

In this example, I chose [man]mysql_result/man to do that trick. There are several other functions that you could use, including [man]mysql_fetch_array/man and [man]mysql_fetch_object/man. We chose this one because for one variable, an array or object might be overkill. Assign the result of the db query to the variable $rate, and we are then able to use that variable in an echo() statement.

You can use echo() to print out all the HTML to the browser, or you can escape from PHP by closing the tag, and then reopen it whenever you need dynamic content. The same script done in that fashion:

<?php
$conn=db_conn();  // call the database
if (!$conn) {
   die("couldn't connect to database!");
}

$qry="select rate-per-hour from services where service='HTML coding'";
$result=mysql_query($qry);
if (!$result) {
   die(mysql_error());
}
$rate=mysql_result($result, 0);
?>
For HTML coding, we charge $<?php echo number_format($rate,2) ?>/hour.
</br>

HTH,

Deadlast99

Dalescop - Thank you very much for the examples. I slightly tweaked the examples you provided and got exactly what I wanted.

THANK YOU!

Deadlast99

dalecosp

PHP is neat, isn't it?

You're welcome, of course, and welcome to <?PHPBuilder.

One more thing --- at the bottom of the page is a "mark thread resolved" link ... if you'll click it, the thread will be marked as "resolved" on the index page, and that way people won't waste a page load trying to help in a thread where there's no longer an issue. Some of the folks would appreciate it!

Deadlast99

dalecosp,

Thanks again for the help and the info about the "resolved" link. I have marked this post RESOLVED and am well on my way to discovering new challenges!

Deadlast99

Dolemite50

Deadlast,
I went through the same hell with that book. I am just learning and I now have 4 books, and each book tell me 4 different ways to do everything.

dalecosp, that was most generous of you.

Deadlast99

Dolemite50 - I just wish I would have discovered this site before I invested all that time in the book. Oh well, lesson learned... You'll never get help unless you ask someone!

Deadlast99