using text files and forms

[slimjim]

How would i use several text files in a drop down box so that if i chose one, then the info in that txt file would show up in a textarea automatically?

I am thinking my other way using mysql would be tough so now i am thinking more toward txt files.

[devinemke]

1. put all of the text files in a directory
2. get all the file names into an array using [man]scandir[/man] (PHP5) or [man]opendir[/man] (PHP4)
3. loop thru the array to build the select list
4. when the form is submitted, grab the contents of the selected file into a string using [man]file_get_contents[/man]
5. put the string into your textarea

...or...

put all the text that would be into these files into mySQL and do a simple SELECT query to achieve the same result.

i would go the database route.