Why is this variable disappearing?

Houdini

I have a form that is being represented with the values filled out from the database, and I am disabling the first and last name since my UPDATE query is using these values in the WHERE clause. I am using a $SESSION variable in the query but it is blank (Iknow because I threw an echo of the variable into the code and it doesn't UPDATE). Here is the code that affects that part.

echo "<tr><td width=20% align = right>First Name: </td><td width=80%><input type='text' name ='first_name'size=80 $disabled[0] value='$_SESSION[first]'></td></tr>";
echo "<tr><td width=20% align = right>Last Name: </td><td width=80%><input type='text' name='last_name'size=80 $disabled[0] value='$_SESSION[last]'></td></tr></table>";
$first =$_SESSION["first"];
$last = $_SESSION["last"];

As expected the First and last names do appear in the form only greyed out and you can not edit them, but when submit is clicked the $last variable seems to vanish, if I enable the fields with $disabled[1] which = "" (blank) it works fine. Is the field first_name and last_name setting my $_SESSION[first] and $_SESSION[last] to blank? If so how to keep the disabled and wtill make the query WHERE clause work.

bradgrafelman

Two things:

Array indeces in your case should be strings. $SESSION[last] does not have a string as an index, but a constant. PHP will detect this (assuming there actually isn't a constant named 'last') and throw an E_WARNING and then assume it is a string, but then again we all know what happens when you assume, right? So, use quotes: $SESSION['last'].
Arrays, more specifically items in arrays referenced by indeces, should not simply appear inside a double-quoted string. If they do, they should be wrapped in braces ( {} ). Instead, I usually escape out of the string and concatenate the array in the middle, like so:

echo '<tr>....value="' . $_SESSION['last']. ">...';

Also, there's no code you showed us that takes $_POST['last_name'] and stores it into your session... I assume you're doing this, and also noting the differing key names - last_name and last.

Houdini

Let me give that a try, right now I am tired and have to get out earlier than normal tomorrow and will give that a go after I have helped a friend out on a home repair cause they have no clue as to construction. Thanks Brad.