Values into an array

[zzz]

Long day... stuck, need help.

I've got this dymanic form that, I need to take the values of the selected checkboxes and puthem into an array. Here's my form:

foreach ($inputArr as $key => $value) { 
  echo "<input type='checkbox' name='$key' "; 
  if (in_array($key, $checkedArr)) 
    echo "checked='checked' "; 
  echo "/>$value\n"; 
} 

I've trid something like this, but it's not working.

$new_array = array($_POST[$key']); 
$info = implode(",", $new_array);

[laserlight]

Hold on, do you really want to "take the values of the selected checkboxes and put them into an array", or do you want to check the checkboxes that correspond to an array, or do you want to take the values of the selected checkboxes and put them into a comma separated value string?

What you say you want to do and the two code snippets are totally different things.

[zzz]

No the code snippet above already does the first part. It takes an array and builds a list of checkboxes. Than I take another array of the previously saved values and ran it against the firstst array-based list of checkboxes and check the checkboxes that correspond to the second array. Now, after the user modifies the selection, I need to take values and save them into a new array (that will replace the seccond array with saved results). I know, a bit confusing.

[laserlight]

Basically, you have an array containing possible values ($values) and another array containing selected values ($selected).

You use $values to print the checkboxes, and scan $selected for matches so as to check the checkboxes for display.

When the user updates by checking or unchecking checkboxes, $selected is updated to reflect the changes.

But here's the thing - $selected only needs to store what is currently checked, so creating it is trivial:

$selected = array();
foreach ($values as $name => $value) {
	if (isset($_POST[$name])) {
		$selected[$name] = $value;
	}
}

[zzz]

OK, I like the shorter version of the code, but I am lost. Remember, arrays is my handicap... Please let me see if I understand what you're saying.

Let's say I have an array for checkboxes $boxes (it'll be always the same). And another array $user_choice

$boxes = array('b1' => 'red', 'b2' => 'blue',' b3' => 'green');

$user_choice = array('c1' => 'red', 'c2' => 'green);

So now I need to build the list of checkboxes baser on $boxes and then check the ones corresponding to values containes in $user_choice. Now, once I have output it all in front of the user again, that user needs to make changes (if he wishes), i.e. select whatever her/she wants and save that selection in an array that will basically replace the array stored with $user_choice values.

Now here's where it gets hairy for me.

In my previous code I could do just that:

foreach ($boxes as $key => $value) { 
  echo "<input type='checkbox' name='$key' "; 
  if (in_array($key, $user_choice)) 
    echo "checked='checked' "; 
  echo "/>$value\n"; 
}

I'm still sort of lost how to save submitted results into an array... I tried :

$new_array = array($_POST[$key']); 
$new_user_choice = implode(",", $new_array);

Am I overcomplicating this issue again?..

[laserlight]

Am I overcomplicating this issue again?..

Yes, you are. Look at my code. Translated to your example, I loop over the $boxes array and check if each element is set in $_POST. If it is, I add it to the new array.

[zzz]

I think we're talking about two slightly different things here.

I need to build an list of checkboxes every time the user is coming to that particular page.

When the user comes to that page, besides building a list of all available options I need to retreave an array of values previously selected by that used and based on put check in the corresponding checkboxes already present on the page -- BEFORE USER MADE ANY $_POST.

Then, if that user makes any changes and submits the form, ONLY THEN I need to take the list of values and store it in an array that will overwite the previous user selection stored in db.

I love the simplicity of your solution but I think it's missing that middle step... I'm sorry if I don't make any sense. It is quite possible you 're right, in that case I guess I just didn't grasp your explanation yet...

[laserlight]

I need to retreave an array of values previously selected by that used and based on put check in the corresponding checkboxes already present on the page

Where does this array come from? serialize()?

[zzz]

No I get it from the db:

$choices = $usr->dbvalues;
$user_choice  = explode(",", $choices);

Then do the "famous" move with

<form method=post>
foreach ($boxes as $key => $value) { 
  echo "<input type='checkbox' name='$key' "; 
  if (in_array($key, $user_choice)) 
    echo "checked='checked' "; 
  echo "/>$value\n"; 
}
</post>

Then get lost in the dark woods of my own mind...

😕

[laserlight]

Oh, okay. So you are not retrieving an array, but a comma separated list of values, and turning that into an array. Then you dont want to save an array, but save a comma separated list of values translated from an array.

I believe that you can still use my solution, but you must perform the implode() on the array generated first.

[zzz]

I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let me tweak a bit.

[zzz]

Got it!

$i = 0;
$new_array = array(); 
foreach ($boxes as $key => $value) {
    if (isset($_POST[$key])) { 
       $new_array[$i++] = $_POST[$key];
    } 
}
$user_choice  = implode(", ", $new_array);

😃