checkbox validation and php retrieval

[andersstudio]

Hi.
I need the javascript to make sure that at least one checkbox was checked.
Next, I need to retrieve ALL values that were checked via php and insert into the mailbody.
I have rigged the validation to work, but since I didn't put [] for arrays, the php retrieval doesn't work.
Please help!!!

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
// require that at least one checkbox be checked
var checkSelected = false;
for (i = 0; i < document.form.space.length; i++){
if (document.form.space.checked)
checkSelected = true;
}
if (!checkSelected){
alert("Please select at least one area for your event");
return (false);
}
</script>

// form stuff
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Ballroom" class="required" />
Ballroom <br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Classrooms" class="required" />
Classrooms<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Conference Room 301" class="required" />
Conference Room 301<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Conference Rooms 308, 310, and 312" class="required" />
Conference Rooms 308, 310, and 312<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Dan Rodden Theatre" class="required" />
Dan Rodden Theatre<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Dunleavy Room" class="required" />
Dunleavy Room<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Holroyd Lecture Halls 141 and 232" class="required" />
Holroyd Lecture Halls 141 and 232<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Music Room" class="required" />
Music Room<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Olney Lecture Hall 100" class="required" />
Olney Lecture Hall 100<br />
<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Housing" class="required" />
Housing

<?
foreach ($POST['space'] as $key => $value){
$space[$key] = $POST['space'][$key];
$string.= "<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td align='left' valign='top'>$space[$key]</td></tr>";
}

THANK YOU!!!
?>

[devinemke]

andersstudio wrote:

I have rigged the validation to work, but since I didn't put [] for arrays, the php retrieval doesn't work.

...exactly, you just pointed out exactly what the problem is. you need to change all of the space fields to space[].

[andersstudio]

I tried that and then the javascript does not work.
???

[devinemke]

read this. there are specific references to the exact problem you are having.

[etully]

Ignore my post - I was wrong

[andersstudio]

not sure how that is different than what I have.
I do not get an error now, but it doesn't pull the values from my form...

i'm checking out the manual...

[Houdini]

A checkbox is an array you can use either an indexed or associative array, I like touse the associative cause they are easier to understand and work with. This is what you have

<input type="checkbox" name="space" value="Ballroom" class="required" />

and this is what you need in the form to make an associative array.

<input type="checkbox" name="space[ballroom]" value="Ballroom" class="required" />

Then to access it you would use

$_POST['space'][ballroom]

and if it were checked the value would be Ballroom

[andersstudio]

i appreciate the code, but that actually makes more code because I would have to do an if statement for each checkbox to test if something was checked or not.
Also, this still does not help with the validation.

Here is the main problem:
Everywhere I look, I see two different ways to name the checkboxes, but each way only solves 1 of the 2 problems. I can't believe I have yet to find a source that takes care of the common needs that I am experiencing.

1. One way to name the checkboxes is without array brackets. This allows the javascript to validate it correctly, but this way cannot be retrieved by the php. (The php needs the brackets.)

2. The other way explains to name the form with brackets, ie: space[], which will retrieve all values that were checked, BUT I cannot figure out how to validate this via javascript.

So, as you can see each of the examples only concludes 1 of the 2 programming issues.
How can you help me solve this problem?

THX as always.

[devinemke]

andersstudio wrote:

2. The other way explains to name the form with brackets, ie: space[], which will retrieve all values that were checked, BUT I cannot figure out how to validate this via javascript.

did you bother reading the manual page i linked to in my post above? it explains precisely how to deal the exact problem you are having.

[andersstudio]

I did read through the manual.

The piece that explains the javascript and brackets is unclear to me.
I placed my variables in brackets with specific keys, ie: space[ballroom]
and for the javascript tried this:

for (i = 0;  i < document.form.elements['space[]'].length;  i++){}

I also tried looping through the array the common way:

for (i = 0;  i < document.form.space.length;  i++){}

but this logic seems to be incorrect for both loops. I just can't figure out how to loop through the array length.

[devinemke]

consider this example:

<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
function check()
{
	var checked = false;

for (i = 0; i < document.form.elements.length; i++)
{
	if (document.form.elements[i].name.match("numbers") && document.form.elements[i].checked)
	{
		checked = true;
		break;
	}
}

if (!checked)
{
	alert("you must select at least 1 number");
	return false;
}
}
</script>

<form action="" method="POST" name="form" onsubmit="return check();">
<input type="checkbox" name="numbers[]" value="1">1<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="numbers[]" value="2">2<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="numbers[]" value="3">3<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="numbers[]" value="4">4<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="numbers[]" value="5">5<br>
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit">
</form>
<br>
<br>

<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit']))
{
	if (isset($_POST['numbers']))
	{
		echo 'you checked the following numbers:<br>';
		foreach ($_POST['numbers'] as $value) {echo $value . '<br>';}
	}
	else
	{
		echo 'you did not check any numbers';
	}
}
?>