flow of data between web pages

[chuckym7]

im working on a web datase using mysql and php4. I have the input form working and all the tables made. For now its one mysql table. One page contanis a list of items..webtable1 FieldA and FieldB. FieldB is a list of hyperlinks. When I click on a link in FeildB, info relating to that field should be filtered into the next page. Instead I get everything sent to the next page. I have a feeling the problem lies in the WHERE statemnet. Which for now I have blank until I can find the right entry to make. I hope I explained this properly. Im new to "linking" items in a web enviorment. THank you so much in advance, any help would be extrreamly useful to me. Im out of ideas. If any more info is needed, I will supply it.

$table = 'main';

mysql_connect($host,$user,$pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db) or die(mysql_error());

// Select the fields from the appropriate tables

$query =
"SELECT Id, congress_number, year_s, public_law_number, title_of_public_law
FROM $table
WHERE ??
ORDER BY title_of_public_law";

$result = mysql_query($query);
$number = mysql_numrows($result);

print "<h2>Select the title of the law you are interensted in:</h2>";
print "<table cellpadding=5>";
print " <tr bgcolor=black>
<td><font color=white><b>Congress Number</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Year/s</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Public Law Number</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Title Of Public Law</b></td></font></tr>";

for($i=0; $i<$number; $i++) {

$congress_number = mysql_result($result, $i, "congress_number");
$year_s = mysql_result($result, $i, "year_s");
$public_law_number = mysql_result($result, $i, "public_law_number");
$title_of_public_law = mysql_result($result, $i, "title_of_public_law");
if ($i%2 == 0) {
print "<tr bgcolor=lightgrey>";
} else {
print "<tr>";
}
print "<td>$congress_number</td>
<td>$year_s</td>
<td>$public_law_number</td>
<td><a href=\"Welcome5.php?Id=$Id\">
$title_of_public_law</</td></tr>";
}
print "</table>";

[chuckym7]

this is not my work, but I did manage to find an example of exactly what I want to have happen.

http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/web/database/inventory/display/formatted/pickFromList.php3

[Roger_Ramjet]

Assuming that your link passes the selected id in the URL

$query =
"SELECT Id, congress_number, year_s, public_law_number, title_of_public_law
FROM $table
WHERE id=$_GET['id']
ORDER BY title_of_public_law";

Of course you should first verify that there is actually something valid in the $_GET['id']

[chuckym7]

thank you roger. I inserted the id=$GET['id'] like you recommeded, but Im still doing something wrong. I think it has to do with the prior page. Im a MS ACCESS guy moving into this relm, I feel silly asking for such basic help. THe last stump in this project is getting that id=$GET['id'] to work. I will leave that in and try to make it work. this is some code from the previous page..

$table = 'main';

mysql_connect($host,$user,$pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db) or die(mysql_error());
$query = "SELECT *
FROM $table
ORDER BY congress_number";
$result = mysql_query($query);
$number = mysql_num_rows($result);

/ Print the congress numbers
make names hyperlinks to
lisresults.php3?EmplyeeID=$EmployeeID /

print "<table cellpadding=5>
<tr bgcolor=\"lightgrey\">
<td>
<b>Select one of the following:</b>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<ul>";
for($i=0; $i<$number; $i++) {
$Id = mysql_result($result, $i, "Id");

$congress_number = mysql_result($result, $i, "congress_number");
$year_s = mysql_result($result, $i, "year_s");
print "<li>
<a href=\"Welcome4.php?Id=$Id\">
$congress_number</a>
$year_s
</li>";
}
print "</ul>";

// Close the database connection
mysql_close();
?>

[Roger_Ramjet]

Same as me then. Im busy planning the replacement of all our Access etc apps with the next generation, web based and XML-ready is where we need to be from now on.

One point, use a while to loop through your recordset. And use echo not print to generate the html

echo '<ul>';

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
   echo '<li><a href="Welcome4.php?id=' . $row['id'] . '">' . $row['congress_number'] . '</a>&nbsp' . $row['year_s'] . '</li>';
}

echo '</ul>';

Then on the welcome4 page

// check that there is an id
if (isset($_GET['id'])) {
   $sql = "SELECT * FROM main WHERE id=$_GET['id']";

// and run the query and display the results

}

[chuckym7]

Thank you again so very much. I took your recomedation, changed all the PRINT to ECHO and made the other changes. I seem to be stuck on this problem. I can understand the logic in your statemnts and they make perfect sense to me. More sense than anything Ive found so far. This project is just not working for me 🙂 Welcome3 stayed the same, Welcome 4 is now blank white (If I undo the changes, it comes back, but even thouhg it will come back its non funtional) If you have a moment please look at these files. Whatever changes you suggest, I will try. If can get over this, everything else will fall into place. Working in IT for years, I know moments (especailly "FREE" moments dont come around. I will continue working. ANy more help will be treasured.
Welcome3:
$db = 'soclh';
$table = 'main';

mysql_connect($host,$user,$pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db) or die(mysql_error());
$query = "SELECT *
FROM $table
ORDER BY congress_number";
$result = mysql_query($query);
$number = mysql_num_rows($result);

echo "<table cellpadding=5>
<tr bgcolor=\"lightgrey\">
<td>
<b>Select one of the following:</b>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<ul>";

echo '<ul>';
for($i=0; $i<$number; $i++)
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
echo '<li><a href="Welcome4.php?id=' . $row['id'] . '">' . $row['congress_number'] . '</a>&nbsp' . $row['year_s'] . '</li>';
}

echo '</ul>';

// Close the database connection
mysql_close();
?>

</body>
</html>

Welcome4:
$db = 'soclh';
$table = 'main';

mysql_connect($host,$user,$pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db) or die(mysql_error());

// check that there is an id
if (isset($GET['id'])) {
$sql = "SELECT * FROM $table WHERE id=$GET['id']";

// and run the query and display the results

}
$result = mysql_query($query);
$number = mysql_numrows($result);

echo "<h2>Select the title of the law you are interensted in:</h2>";
echo "<table cellpadding=5>";
echo " <tr bgcolor=black>
<td><font color=white><b>Congress Number</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Year/s</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Public Law Number</b></font></td>
<td><font color=white><b>Title Of Public Law</b></td></font></tr>";

for($i=0; $i<$number; $i++) {

$congress_number = mysql_result($result, $i, "congress_number");
$year_s = mysql_result($result, $i, "year_s");
$public_law_number = mysql_result($result, $i, "public_law_number");
$title_of_public_law = mysql_result($result, $i, "title_of_public_law");
if ($i%2 == 0) {
echo "<tr bgcolor=lightgrey>";
} else {
echo "<tr>";
}
echo "<td>$congress_number</td>
<td>$year_s</td>
<td>$public_law_number</td>
<td><a href=\"Welcome5.php?Id=$Id\">
$title_of_public_law</</td></tr>";
}
echo "</table>";

// Close the database connection
mysql_close();
?>

</body>
</html>

[Roger_Ramjet]

If you use a 'while' then you don't need or use the 'for'. Take it out, it is at best redundant, but at worst it will prevent your script from processing the data.

[YappyDog]

I've never been able to pull something from an array within double quotes. Your statement within Welcome4

Welcome4:
if (isset($GET['id'])) {
$sql = "SELECT * FROM $table WHERE id=$GET['id']";

may need to be changed to

Welcome4:
if (isset($GET['id'])) {
$sql = "SELECT * FROM $table WHERE id=" . $GET['id'];

I'd put in an echo of your $sql statement to see that it is being built correctly before executing it.

[Roger_Ramjet]

Hm! Never actually noticed that, but I'll take your word for it. I know I wrote the thing originally, but my actual coding style is to to test for, extract and validate post and get data before using it in my script so I would not have run into this problem before. Must be more carefull what I post here for other people.

[mourisj]

// check that there is an id
if (isset($GET['id'])) {
$sql = "SELECT * FROM $table WHERE id=$GET['id']";

// and run the query and display the results

}
$result = mysql_query($query);

You define a variable $sql, and then you submit one called $query ???

[chuckym7]

I made the changes and it will not send the data across pages. I think the prpblem is still with the WHERE id=$GET['id']"; part of the page. I can chne the WHERE to any line number an it will work . I know the $GET['id'] is set up correctly, therefore im getting a blank page because im not telling Welcome4 what WHERE id=$_GET['id']"; equals.

[Roger_Ramjet]

Well spotted mourisj.

$sql is my coding style, so I think chucky copy-pasted from my code example into his page without noticing the change. It's just fewer keystroke than $query, and reminds me that is must be strict SQL syntax.

[chuckym7]

I saw that too, I corrected it earlier on.. 🙂 The variable is still not being sent over from We;cpme3

[leatherback]

Hi,

There might be a problem with $Id and $id -> they are different variables.

You can check which variables are passed to a page, by placing :
echo "URl passed vars:";
print_r($_get);

on top of the code. That should help you figure out whether the variable actually gets to the next page. If it does, echo your $sql / $query, and check whether there all is OK.

J.

[chuckym7]

this is what Welcome3 looks like now:
$db = 'soclh';
$table = 'main';

mysql_connect($host,$user,$pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db) or die(mysql_error());
$query = "SELECT *
FROM $table
ORDER BY congress_number";
$result = mysql_query($query);
$number = mysql_num_rows($result);

echo "<table cellpadding=5>
<tr bgcolor=\"lightgrey\">
<td>
<b>Select one of the following:</b>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<ul>"
echo '<ul>';
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
echo '<li><a href="Welcome4.php?id=' . $row['id'] . '">' . $row['congress_number'] . '</a>&nbsp' . $row['year_s'] . '</li>';

}

// Close the database connection
mysql_close();

[chuckym7]

I made all the Id the same, one was lower case. when i do:
echo "URl passed vars:";
print_r($_Get);

the answer is blank onboth pages.. I feel this is almost resolved 🙂

[chuckym7]

PROBLEM SOLVED. Thank you Roger Ramjet, mourisj, YappyDog, and leatherback. The data startd to flow between the 2 pages. Im so happy and can now continue with this project. With a combination off all your advice and me checking my spelling, it works!!! Thank you so much. IF I may ask one last favor and I will not bother this board again!!
Now that its working pleaee look at
http://backup.monteleones.net/Welcome3.php
Notice the list contains some records that are the same, which is not a problem in itself, but I would like to clean up the list by just having each congress year listed once, reguardless of hany many entried there are for that year. Thank you againso very much!! Even though its 10am, I wanta drink to celebrate!
Charlie

[Roger_Ramjet]

SELECT DISTINCT will cull the duplicates

[mourisj]

A few advices for your HTML code:

• You have an error in your non-breaking-space syntax:
  you have to write &nbsp; instead of &nbsp
  Your page shows the full text &nbsp instead of inserting a space.

• To make your code/output more readable for yourself or for people interested in what you do in your pages (I do these things sometimes if a page is interesting) , you should insert line breaks at appropraite places, otherwise the source of your page displays all on one line. This is very easy: simply put a \n in your echo-statements where you want a line-break (e.g. after every </p>, after every </tr>, everi </li> etc. )

• You double opened your <li> tag, but you never close it! This is not very important in this case, but in huge projects you might run into trouble with page formatting if you don't car for these things.

Good luck,

JJ Mouris