dropdown

[lynettes]

I can't get the program to match the author selected in the dropdown list to the database so I can get the correct info returned. Any suggestions?

<DIV ID="content" ALIGN="center">
<H3>Search By Author:</H3>
<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//CONNECTS DATABASE
//*****************************************************************************************

$CONNECTION = mysql_connect($DB_SERVER, $DB_USER, $DB_PASS) or die ('I cannot connect to the database because: ' . mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($DB_NAME) or die("Couldnt select database");
//*****************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************

//*****************************************************************************************
//GETS DATA
//**************************************************************************************
$SQL = "SELECT DISTINCT author_last_name, author_first_name FROM $DB_TABLE ORDER BY author_last_name, author_first_name";
$RESULT = mysql_query($SQL, $CONNECTION) OR die("Query failed.");
$NUM = mysql_num_rows($RESULT);
//**************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************
?>

<FORM METHOD='post' ACTION='authorsearch.php'>
<SELECT NAME='wanted'>
<OPTION VALUE="0" SELECTED>--- Browse Authors ---</OPTION>
<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//POPULATES COMBO BOX
//**************************************************************************************
while ($ROW = mysql_fetch_array($RESULT))
{
$LNAME = $ROW["author_last_name"];
$FNAME = $ROW["author_first_name"];
echo "<OPTION VALUE='$ROW' ID='wanted'>$LNAME, $FNAME</OPTION>";
}
//**************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************
?>
</SELECT>
<BR><BR>
<INPUT TYPE='hidden' name='selectauthor' value='set'>
<INPUT TYPE='SUBMIT' VALUE='View the Details!'>
<INPUT TYPE='RESET' VALUE='Clear Selection!'>
</FORM>

<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//RETURNS INFO REQUESTED
//****************************************************************************************
if(isset($POST['selectauthor']))
{
$WANTED = $POST['wanted'];
echo "$WANTED";
$SQL1 = "SELECT FROM $DB_TABLE WHERE author_last_name = '$LNAME' AND author_first_name = '$FNAME'";
$RESULT1 = mysql_query($SQL1, $CONNECTION) OR die("Query failed." );
$NUM1 = mysql_num_rows($RESULT1);

if ($NUM1 == 0)
{
echo "No books found";
}
elseif ($NUM1 > 0)
{
echo "$FNAME $LNAME has $NUM1 books in the collection.";
echo "<BR><BR>";
echo "<TABLE ALIGN='center' CELLSPACING='2' CELLPADDING='2' BORDER='1' FRAME='box'>";
}
while($ROW = mysql_fetch_array($RESULT1))
{
$TITLE = $ROW["title"];
$CALL1 = $ROW["call_number_1"];
$CALL2 = $ROW["call_number_2"];
$PAGES = $ROW["number_of_pages"];
$SUBJECT = $ROW["subject"];
$ISBN = $ROW["isbn"];
$SUBHEADINGS = $ROW["subheadings"];

echo "<TR><TD COLSPAN='4'><STRONG>$TITLE</STRONG></TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>Call Number:</STRONG></TD><TD COLSPAN='3'>$CALL1<BR>$CALL2</TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>ISBN:</STRONG></TD><TD>$ISBN</TD><TD><STRONG>Subject:</STRONG></TD><TD>$SUBJECT</TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>Subheadings:</STRONG></TD><TD COLSPAN='3'>$SUBHEADINGS</TD></TR>";
}
echo "</TABLE>";
}
//*****************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************
?>
</DIV>
<DIV ID="footer" ALIGN="center">
<?php include("includes/main_footer.htm") ?>
</DIV>
</BODY>
</HTML>

[TheDefender]

Where to begin, where to begin...

Let's first narrow down to just the applicable code section... My notes wil lbe commented for you.

<FORM METHOD='post' ACTION='authorsearch.php'> 
<SELECT NAME='wanted'> 
<OPTION VALUE="0" SELECTED>--- Browse Authors ---</OPTION> 
<?PHP 
// **************************************************
//POPULATES COMBO BOX 
// **************************************************
while ($ROW = mysql_fetch_array($RESULT)) 
{ 
//Here you define the $FNAME and $LNAME variables, which will always result to the last ones in the list for your query later (See note marked with ***)
$LNAME = $ROW["author_last_name"]; 
$FNAME = $ROW["author_first_name"]; 
echo "<OPTION VALUE='$ROW' ID='wanted'>$LNAME, $FNAME</OPTION>"; 
} 
// **************************************************
// **************************************************
?> 
</SELECT> 
<BR><BR> 
<INPUT TYPE='hidden' name='selectauthor' value='set'> 
<INPUT TYPE='SUBMIT' VALUE='View the Details!'> 
<INPUT TYPE='RESET' VALUE='Clear Selection!'> 
</FORM> 

<?PHP 
// **************************************************
//RETURNS INFO REQUESTED 
// **************************************************
if(isset($_POST['selectauthor'])) 
{ 
//Where is this variable being used?  I believe it's the one you want for your query below. (But you need to adjust the actual data in it first.)  Either your form or your query need to be fixed up so they work together for you.
$WANTED = $_POST['wanted']; 
echo "$WANTED"; 
//***This query will ALWAYS return the same results because of how you have $FNAME and $LNAME defined above.
$SQL1 = "SELECT * FROM $DB_TABLE WHERE author_last_name = '$LNAME' AND author_first_name = '$FNAME'"; 
$RESULT1 = mysql_query($SQL1, $CONNECTION) OR die("Query failed." ); 
$NUM1 = mysql_num_rows($RESULT1); 

if ($NUM1 == 0) 
{ 
echo "No books found"; 
} 
elseif ($NUM1 > 0) 
{ 
echo "$FNAME $LNAME has $NUM1 books in the collection."; 
echo "<BR><BR>"; 
echo "<TABLE ALIGN='center' CELLSPACING='2' CELLPADDING='2' BORDER='1' FRAME='box'>"; 
} 

Also, use the PHP button when you post... It makes it easier to decipher code.

[lynettes]

you're right i was getting the same record for everything. Here is my attempt at improvements ... now i just get no books found. PS. I pasted code in and I'm not sure how to use the php button.

<DIV ID="content" ALIGN="center">
<H3>Search By Author:</H3>
<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//CONNECTS DATABASE
//**************************************************************************************
$CONNECTION = mysql_connect($DB_SERVER, $DB_USER, $DB_PASS) or die ('I cannot connect to the database because: ' . mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($DB_NAME) or die("Couldnt select database");
//**************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************

//*****************************************************************************************
//GETS DATA
//**************************************************************************************
$SQL = "SELECT DISTINCT author_last_name, author_first_name FROM $DB_TABLE ORDER BY author_last_name, author_first_name";
$RESULT = mysql_query($SQL, $CONNECTION) OR die("Query failed.");
$NUM = mysql_num_rows($RESULT);
//**************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************
?>

<FORM METHOD='post' ACTION='authorsearch.php'>
<SELECT NAME='wanted'>
<OPTION VALUE="0" SELECTED>--- Browse Authors ---</OPTION>
<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//POPULATES COMBO BOX
//**************************************************************************************
while ($ROW = mysql_fetch_array($RESULT))
{
$RECORD = $ROW["record_num"];
$LNAME = $ROW["author_last_name"];
$FNAME = $ROW["author_first_name"];
echo "<OPTION VALUE='$RECORD'>$LNAME, $FNAME</OPTION>";
}
//**************************************************************************************
//*****************************************************************************************
?>
</SELECT>
<BR><BR>
<INPUT TYPE='hidden' name='selectauthor' value='set'>
<INPUT TYPE='SUBMIT' VALUE='View the Details!'>
<INPUT TYPE='RESET' VALUE='Clear Selection!'>
</FORM>

<?PHP
//*****************************************************************************************
//RETURNS INFO REQUESTED
//****************************************************************************************
if(isset($POST['wanted']))
{
$RECORD = $POST['wanted'];
$SQL1 = "SELECT FROM $DB_TABLE WHERE record_num = '$RECORD'";
$RESULT1 = mysql_query($SQL1, $CONNECTION) OR die("Query failed." );
$NUM1 = mysql_num_rows($RESULT1);

if ($NUM1 == 0)
{
echo "No books found";
}
elseif ($NUM1 > 0)
{
echo "$FNAME $LNAME has $NUM1 books in the collection.";
echo "<BR><BR>";
echo "<TABLE ALIGN='center' CELLSPACING='2' CELLPADDING='2' BORDER='1' FRAME='box'>";
}
while($ROW = mysql_fetch_array($RESULT1))
{
$TITLE = $ROW["title"];
$CALL1 = $ROW["call_number_1"];
$CALL2 = $ROW["call_number_2"];
$PAGES = $ROW["number_of_pages"];
$SUBJECT = $ROW["subject"];
$ISBN = $ROW["isbn"];
$SUBHEADINGS = $ROW["subheadings"];

echo "<TR><TD COLSPAN='4'><STRONG>$TITLE</STRONG></TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>Call Number:</STRONG></TD><TD COLSPAN='3'>$CALL1<BR>$CALL2</TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>ISBN:</STRONG></TD><TD>$ISBN</TD><TD><STRONG>Subject:</STRONG></TD><TD>$SUBJECT</TD></TR>";
echo "<TR><TD><STRONG>Subheadings:</STRONG></TD><TD COLSPAN='3'>$SUBHEADINGS</TD></TR>";
}
echo "</TABLE>";
}

[TheDefender]

Add a line here:

if(isset($_POST['wanted'])) 
{ 
$RECORD = $_POST['wanted']; 
//add the following:
echo $RECORD;

This way, we can see if the value is even being passed.

P.S. To use the PHP button, click the button, and put in a letter. Then you will see the PHPBB Tags with your letter in between. Erase it and put all of your code between the tags.

Or, just type it out like so:

[ /php] (without that space in the closing tag)