form elements

kuanhuang

I am writing a php page that will process a form with unkonw number of elements. The number of form elements will depend on the records retrieved from mysql database (these elements will tell what the data type and user interface to be populated on form). I have named the form elements as arg1, arg2 etc... The problem is to process these elements. I used the following code to handles the form:

<?php
$count = count($_POST);
echo "number of elements: " . $count . "<br>";

echo "filter id: " . $_POST['fid'] . "<br>";

//first element is filter id and the last is submit
for($i=1;$i < $count-1;$i++){

	$arg = "arg" . $i;
	$value = $_POST[$arg];

	if(is_array($value)){
		for($j=0;$j<count($value);$j++){
			$element .= $value[$j] . ", ";
		}
		$element = substr($element,0, strlen($element) -2);
		echo "Getting array: " . $element;

	}else{
		echo "Getting $arg: "	. $value;
	}	
	echo "<br>";
}

?>
It works fine as long as the <select multiple> </select> element are selected. The element values after that <select></select> is lost if it does not have any value selected. Can any one offer me some advise?

Thanks,

Kuan Huang

jkurrle

What you want to do is create a script that will generate a form, based on what items you select. Is this correct?

Or are you simply trying to get a select statement to show, if there are items to populate it with, from a MySQL table?

Just trying to get a better understanding of what you want...

kuanhuang

Yes, the form will be created by another php page which will retrieve "filter" which can contains varied number arguments depending on witch filter the user select. The filter is where part of sql statement. The arguments retrieved from the form will be repacing part of the predefined text, such as #arg1#, #arg2# etc..., within the filter. The select and from part of sql is fixed. Once the where part is also contructed, a recordset can be retrieved then populated on the page. That's basically what I want to do.

I have be experimenting this script, but run into problems whenever I have some "empty" arrays form element (like <select multiple><select> passed to the next page. I can done this only if I force one of the option to be selected.

I hope this clarifies what I posted earlier.

Thanks,

Kuan Huang

jkurrle

Well, let me do some thinking out loud...

If I were to design such a script/database combination, I'd need a few mechanisms for control purposes. First, I'd need a form identification number, registered in one table. I would break the individual types of form elements probably into separate tables. Radio buttons in one, drop down boxes into another, etc. (Don't forget a table for the hidden inputs and a table for the submit buttons, if you want to customize them.) In each form element table, I'd reference the form number and the numeric position of the element. In the form table, I'd reference what processing script the form would go to, and possibly what method you'd use to pass the information, POST or GET.

Does this help at all?

kuanhuang

Thanks, it helps.

jkurrle

Here's a couple more ideas for you...

In your form table, you might have a column listing the total number of elements in the form. That will keep you from any unneccesary hashing.

Next, I'd load each table of elements into it's own array, and process the form, creating it from the series of arrays. This would keep you from doing any unnecessary hashing. It will be a bit of a hassle to keep all your variable names straight though.

Good luck!