Retaining Form Variables

madigra_g

Good day to all, and much respect for all PHP info given to the world-at-large.

My question is relatively simple as i am a noob:

How do i ensure that my forms retain the variables entered by a user (multiple form variables per pages) after a submit action has been made or the back button selected?

Eg. pagename is step1.php which posts to step2.php

<html>
<form action = step2.php method = post>
Name <input type = text name = cn><br>
Address <input type = text name = adr><br>
<!and so on....!>
<input type = submit value = continue>
</form>
</html>

If a user successfully gets to step2.php (and accessing those values are ok using sessions), how do i ensure that by clicking the 'back button' on the browser or a similar <a> link to step1.php, the user will see the data previously entered, eg. name, addr in their respective fields?

Any help appreciated.

Thora_Fan

If you are using sessions, I would do something like this.

step1.php

<?php
session_start();
?>
<form action="step2.php" method="POST">
<input type="text" name="textBox1" value="<?=$_SESSION["textBox1"]?>">
// more form elements like above
</form>

step2.php

session_start();
$_SESSION["textBox1"] = $_POST["textBox1"];
// and so forth

The first time step1.php is called, the value of the form elements will be blank (obviously) because there is nothing in the $SESSION variables. However, the form is submitted, and step2.php is called, all the form elements are now placed into the session. Hence, if step1.php is called afterwards, the $SESSION variables still retain their values.

I'm sure there is probably an easier more effective way of doing this, but it's a starting point.

madigra_g

Worked like a charm.

Thanks a mil. 😃

Thora_Fan

Not a problem. As I said, there is probably and easier and more efficient way of doing this. I would recommend searching (probably on this board) for "Post Back". It might have a better solution.