Sending multiple SELECT post data to db table

[sunnydayz]

I am new around here. I started learning php over a week ago. Sorry bout the noobness. Alright, I am working on a classified ad form. I have two fields that are multiple SELECT and therefore I need to use an array for them. I need a function to get all of the POST_data from those into the corresponding field in the database. I've been looking for over 5 hours for a good working answer to my question. I've tried a few different codes, but they either display the last selection or they show "Array" followed by the first selection.

Here is a sample of the form code for these two items...

<select name="horse_disciplines[]" size="4" multiple="multiple" style="width:180px">
<option value="N/A">-- N/A --</option>
<option value="Barrel Racing">Barrel Racing</option>
<option value="Barrel Racing (Prospect)">Barrel Racing (Prospect)</option>
<option value="Beginner Family">Beginner/Family</option>
<option value="Breeding">Breeding</option>
<option value="Breeding (Prospect)">Breeding (Prospect)</option>
<option value="Broodmare">Broodmare</option>
<option value="Broodmare (Prospect)">Broodmare (Prospect)</option>

etc......

<select name="horse_attributes[]" size="4" multiple="multiple" style="width:180px">
<option value="N/A">-- N/A --</option>
<option value="Breed Assn Futurity Winner">Breed Assn Futurity Winner</option>
<option value="Breed Assn National Champ">Breed Assn National Champ</option>

etc..........

Now for some current php...

//define variables//
$horse_name = $_POST['horse_name'];
$horse_breed =$_POST['horse_breed'];
$horse_disciplines = $_POST["horse_disciplines"];
if (is_array($horse_disciplines)) {
  for ($i=0; $i<count($horse_disciplines); $i++) {
    $horse_disciplines .= $horse_disciplines[$i].",";
  }
  $horse_disciplines = substr ($horse_disciplines, 0, strlen ($horse_disciplines)-2);
} else {
  $horse_disciplines = "";
}			
$horse_attributes = $_POST["horse_attributes"];
if (is_array($horse_attributes)) {
  for ($i=0; $i<count($horse_attributes); $i++) {
    $horse_attributes .= $horse_attributes[$i].",";
  }
  $horse_attributes = substr ($horse_attributes, 0, strlen ($horse_attributes)-2);
} else {
  $horse_attributes = "";
}

//connect to database//
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "root",""); 
mysql_select_db("horse_ads",$db); 

//prepare the INSERT query//
$sql = "INSERT INTO text (horse_name, horse_breed, horse_disciplines, horse_attributes,etc....)
				 VALUES ('$horse_name','$horse_breed','$horse_disciplines','$horse_attributes',etc.....)";
$result = mysql_query($sql); 

//end INSERT info to database//

With the current code used to define those multiple SELECT variables I get ArrayBarrel Racing (Prospect (<-note missing parentheses and other selected items)for the horse_disciplines. I get ArrayN/ (<-note the missing A after / for N/A) for horse_attributes. That's what shows up in the corresponding table field.

I need to know how to correctly define my variables for horse_disciplines and horse_attributes with the POST data.

I also need to know if I need to change anything in the VALUES() or if I need to add anything to that section.

I'd like all selected values in one array to be entered into its corresponding table field with commas in between.

I have the single SELECT functions working in my form, but it's just the multiple ones that are giving me trouble.

ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated!

[Nomaad]

$multipleselect = implode(',', $_POST['multipleselect']);

This may work, replace multipleselect with whatever you need it to be.

[sunnydayz]

You're a genius and a lifesafer. Thank you soooo much!! I tried a couple different implode things before but the codes I got them from must have been wrong or just not exactly what i needed.

Again, thank you so so sooooo much! 🙂

[swatisonee]

Sunnydayz,Nomaad,

I dont understand how that worked - i have a similar issue but dont know how to do the implode. The multiple selections have to stored in a single column of the table correct ?

My issue is to create a simple pm system for users which can be used to send attachments between each other as well as save these messages in a mysql table.

Here's my code - would you tell me where i am supposed to put in the implode and how i should define the variable to match the field "To" ?

Please let me know if you could also shed some light on where/how the attachment gets saved .

Thanks.

<form enctype="multipart/form-data" method="post" action="send_message_process.php" >

<table border="0">

<tr><td>b>Upload a file:</td><td><input name="userfile" type="file"> File size should not exceed 2MB</font></td></tr><p><p>

<tr><td valign=top<b>Message:</td><td><textarea name="comment" cols=70 rows=15></textarea></td></tr>
<p><p>

<h4><p align="center"><br>Please select users you wish to message :</p></h4>


<input type="checkbox" name="usera" />A  

<input type="checkbox" name="userb" />B  </font>
<input type="checkbox" name="userc" />C  

// AND SO ON

</table>

<input type="hidden" name="userid" value="<? echo $userid ?>" >


<br><input type="submit" name="submit" value="Submit"> </p> </form>

2nd php file:

<?
$usera = $_POST["usera"];
$userb = $_POST["userb"];
$userc = $_POST["userc"];
$userid =  $_POST["userid"];

$comment = $_POST["comment"];
$com1=stripslashes($comment); //strip /
$com2 = nl2br ($com1); //convert CR to BR

if(!($_FILES["userfile"]["name"]==""))
{
    $uploaddir="./send_message/";
    //copy the file to some permanent location

if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES["userfile"]["tmp_name"], $uploaddir.$_FILES["userfile"]["name"]))
{
echo("<p>File uploaded<p><p>");
}
else
{
echo ("<p>Error in uploading file! Please try again.<br>");
if($_FILES['userfile']['error']==1) echo "<font color=red>Error: File size exceeds maximum permissible limit of 2MB</font><p><p>";
}
} 
// This is how i have coded to send email - will the same logic work for pm too ?



mysql_connect("localhost", $dbname, $dbpasswd )
        or die ("Unable to connect to server.");

mysql_select_db($database)
        or die ("Unable to select database.");

$result = mysql_query("INSERT INTO `Messages` (From, To, Message, Date) VALUES ($userid, [B][how do I insert if multiple recepients are chosen]  [/B] , $comment, $date )") or die (my_sql_error());

[sunnydayz]

Correct, all of the selections go into one cell in the table. Here is how my final code looks for that portion...

//define variables//
$horse_name = $_POST['horse_name'];
$horse_breed =$_POST['horse_breed'];
$horse_disciplines = implode(', ', $_POST['horse_disciplines']);          

$horse_attributes = implode(', ', $_POST['horse_attributes']);

//connect to database//
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "root","");
mysql_select_db("horse_ads",$db);

//prepare the INSERT query//
$sql = "INSERT INTO text (horse_name, horse_breed, horse_disciplines, horse_attributes,etc....)
                 VALUES ('$horse_name','$horse_breed','$horse_disciplines','$horse_attributes',etc.....)";
$result = mysql_query($sql);

//end INSERT info to database// 

so I just defined that variable with the implode function. This is my process.php code, so it's grabbing the data via POST from the page that the form was on. Hope that helps!

[swatisonee]

hi,

my input data is like this:

<input type="checkbox" name="usera" />A   

<input type="checkbox" name="userb" />B  </font> 
<input type="checkbox" name="userc" />C   

so its gets posted as

$usera = $_POST["usera"]; 
$userb = $_POST["userb"]; 
$userc = $_POST["userc"]; 

But to implode i need only a single variable. So how do i do that please ?

Thanks !

[Nomaad]

There's your trouble . . . if you are wanting to post to one field in your table the selections of the checkboxes the name is the field your posting to, the value would be user_a and so on . . . therefore you would only have one POST to the field your storing the data in. Make any sense?

[Nomaad]

Like this sorry, clicked reply to soon . . .

        <input name="primary_services[]" type="checkbox" value="plumbing" />
        <input name="primary_services[]" type="checkbox" value="construction" />
        <input name="primary_services[]" type="checkbox" value="hvac" />

[swatisonee]

You mean like this ?

<input type="checkbox" name="user[]" value="usera" />A    

<input type="checkbox" name="user[]" value="userb"  />B 
<input type="checkbox" name="user[]" value="userc"  />C 

And any idea how i would get the attachment going ??

Thanks