Weird Variable Problem

[Catalyst_ck]

This script is designed to read a mysql database full of phone number information. When the user hits submit on the form, the displayresults function in run. The $POST variables from the form are automatically input into the function, which inserts them into the query and spits out results. I have a table header that is SUPPOSED to allow for sort ascending if you click on the table header. The problem is that when this is done, the script re-runs the mysql query and I lose the original $POST data from the form. Any idea what I can do to keep the values of $POST['metode'] and $POST['search'] ?

<?

//Database Variables

$hostname = "localhost";
$username = "root";
$password = "";

//Connecting to Database

MYSQL_CONNECT($hostname, $username, $password) or die ("DB connection unavailable");
MYSQL_SELECT_DB ('phone_dir') or die ("Unable to select to database");

//DECLARING GLOBALS
GLOBAL $grab,$sort;


//declaring other variable
$i=0;
$metode=$_POST['metode'];
$search=$_POST['search'];


//declaring a function to query the database
function displayresults($ordered)

  {
    Global $i,$metode,$search;

//These variables are echoed for troubleshooting purposes
echo $metode;
echo '<Br>';
echo $search;
echo '<br>';
echo $ordered;
echo '<br>';

//Display the top of results table
ECHO '   <table>
           <tr>
            <td width="100" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?sort=1">Lastname</u></b></div></td>
            <td width="100" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?sort=2">Firstname</u></b></div></td>
            <td width="81" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?sort=3">Extension</u></b></div></td>
            <td width="141" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><strong><u><a href="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?sort=4">Site</u></strong></div></td>
            <td width="143" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><strong><u><a href="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?sort=5">Admin #</u></strong></div></td>
          </tr>
        </table>';

//SQL QUERY WHERE $metode = $_POST['metode'] and $search = $_POST['search'] and $ordered = the displayresults function argument.
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM all_swr WHERE $metode LIKE '%$search%' ORDER BY $ordered ASC") or die ('QUERY FAILED');

//While Loop to list all matching resuts
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
            {
              //ALTERNATE ROW COLOR
              IF ($i % 2 == 0)
                {
                 $bgcolor = "#CCFFCC";
                }
              ELSE
                {
                 $bgcolor = "#DDDDDD";
                }

              //table listing results
              echo '
               <table>
                <tr bgcolor='.$bgcolor.'>
                  <td width="100">'.$row["Lastname"].'</td>
                  <td width="100">'.$row["Firstname"].'</td>
                  <td width="81"><B>'.$row["Extension"].'</b></td>
                  <td width="141">'.$row["Site"].'</td>
                  <td width="143">'.$row["ADM_LDN"].'</td>
                </tr>
              </table>';
              $i++;
             }
  }

//Display the form
    ECHO '
             <table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
                <tr>
                  <td height="16" bgcolor="#0099CC"><font size="5"><b>Southwest Division Phone Directory Search</b></font></td>
                </tr>
              </table>

           <br>

          <center>

           <table width="300" height="67" border="4" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
             <tr>
               <td width="290" bordercolor="#000000"><p align="center">
                 <form method="post" action="http://10.184.210.117/test.php?grab=1">
                 <select name="metode" size="1">
                   <option value="FirstName">First Name</option>
                   <option value="LastName" selected>Last Name</option>
                   <option value="Extension">Extension</option>
                 </select>

                 <input type="text" name="search" size="25">
                 <br>
                 Search database: <input type="submit" value="Go!!" name="Go"></form>
               </td>
             </tr>
           </table>';

//Processing the main form and sorts
IF ($grab==1)
    {
    displayresults("Site");
    }
ELSEIF ($sort==1)
    {
    displayresults("Lastname");
    }
ELSEIF ($sort==2)
    {
    displayresults("Firstname");
    }
ELSEIF ($sort==3)
    {
    displayresults("Extension");
    }
ELSEIF ($sort==4)
    {
    displayresults("Site");
    }
ELSEIF ($sort==5)
    {
    displayresults("Admin");
    }
ELSE
    {
    //display some cosmetic stuff
    echo'<p align="right"><img src="phone-handset.jpg" width="199" height="225" align="right"></p>
       <P align="left"><A name=and><B><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif" color=#003399>Searches</FONT></B></A>
       <P align="left" class=indent><span class="style3"><FONT size=-1>The SWR search engine </FONT><FONT size=-1> ignores common words and characters such as "where" and "how" as they tend not to be real people-like names. If you do not provide sufficient search criteria, your search may yield too much information so please, keep it simple and spell it right. </FONT></span></P>
       <P align="left"><A name=and><B><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif" color=#003399>Other </FONT></B><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif" color=#003399>Advanced <B>Search Features</B></FONT></A> </P>
       <div align="left">

   <LI><FONT size=-1><B>First Name :</B> Specify the FIRST name of the person for which you are searching. </FONT>
   <LI><FONT size=-1><B>Last Name: </B> Specify the LAST name of the person for which you are searching. </FONT>
   <LI><FONT size=-1><B>Extension: </B>You can reverse search on extension to return the associate user of the extension.</FONT>';
}
?>

[tekky]

hidden form fields is generally the way... or temp table in the DB based off the ID, and just requery the temp table to get the data back...

[Dia_NL]

you're gonna have to put the variables in the url or use session variables.

[Dia_NL]

Originally posted by tekky
hidden form fields is generally the way... or temp table in the DB based off the ID, and just requery the temp table to get the data back...

it looks like his problem is just that it's not keeping the variables from when the user originally submitted the form when he clicks the type of sort.

Has nothing to do with temporary tables, really. 😛

[Catalyst_ck]

I have tried session variables, but I cant get them to work either. Now whats this you say about putting them in the URL. Would I retrieve them with a $_GET['variable'] ?

[Catalyst_ck]

This is how I solved my problem:

//Display the top of results table
    ECHO '   <table>
               <tr>
                <td width="100" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="'.htmlspecialchars("http://test_site11/test.php?sort=1&metode=".urlencode($metode)."&search=".urlencode($search)).'">Lastname</u></b></div></td>
                <td width="100" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="'.htmlspecialchars("http://test_site11//test.php?sort=2&metode=".urlencode($metode)."&search=".urlencode($search)).'">Firstname</u></b></div></td>
                <td width="81" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><b><u><a href="'.htmlspecialchars("http://test_site11/test.php?sort=3&metode=".urlencode($metode)."&search=".urlencode($search)).'">Extension</u></b></div></td>
                <td width="141" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><strong><u><a href="'.htmlspecialchars("http://test_site11/test.php?sort=4&metode=".urlencode($metode)."&search=".urlencode($search)).'">Site</u></strong></div></td>
                <td width="143" bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><strong><u><a href="'.htmlspecialchars("http://test_site11/test.php?sort=5&metode=".urlencode($metode)."&search=".urlencode($search)).'">Admin #</u></strong></div></td>
              </tr>
            </table>';

[tekky]

Originally posted by Dia:NL
it looks like his problem is just that it's not keeping the variables from when the user originally submitted the form when he clicks the type of sort.

Has nothing to do with temporary tables, really. 😛

note I didnt say it dealt with temp tables... I said they could be a possible solution

had I paid more attention and actually scrolled through his entire side scrolling post (instead of skimming it), I would have answered differently, but either way, the problem could still have been solved using

a) hidden form fields
or
b) a temp table

so before trying to sound smart, or even funny, regarding another person's answer, you should try to fully understand it

[Dia_NL]

Before trying to come across as a bastard, you should consider that different people come to different conclusions as to how to solve a problem.

That said, the problem is solved. I wouldn't have used temporary tables, maybe you would have, but there's no need for the attitude.

[Catalyst_ck]

While a db field would have solved the problem by allowing me to store and recall the variable value at will, I consider it a sloppy solution for wanting to temporarily store only one variable. It is a solution, but I know now that there is a better solution.

I have read at least 100 pages on hidden fields and still dont get how to pass post data without a form action and a button marked submit.

ultimately Dia:NL had the right idea by storeing the variable info in the URL. I had tried this before but did not manually encode the data for the browser.

[tekky]

Originally posted by Dia:NL
Before trying to come across as a bastard, you should consider that different people come to different conclusions as to how to solve a problem.


That said, the problem is solved. I wouldn't have used temporary tables, maybe you would have, but there's no need for the attitude.

Well, you contradict a viable answer by mis-representing what was originally said

I would likely have ended up at the same solution, using GET, however your initial post essentially claimed that the original solution I posted would not work, which is not the case -- misinformation spreads easily when the wrong people read it, so I clear it up when I can, call me a bastard if you want, It wont hurt my feelings

[Dia_NL]

edit: this isnt worth arguing over.