help with a form printing script

FatStratCat

I need to develop a form that a will print out new orders entered into my database, then mark each record as printed. I'm new at this and could use a nudge in the right direction. There already is a "mark to print" field in each record, a basic on off switch to indicate if a record has been printed.

I've read Larry ullmans second edition - am I at a decent enough level to figure something like this out with some help?

Also - there is an order form already to use. I just am not sure exactly how to call all the data from each field/record to propagate the form, and do so for a specified range of records, then mark them as printed.

Is there maybe a sample script anywhere I could use as a starting point?

Thanks

bogu

U may create a field in your table named printed; type ENUM; value('yes','no'); default value 'no'

When u want to print the records that are not printed:

SELECT * FROM table WHERE printed = 'no'

After u printed the records u make them printed = 'yes'

FatStratCat

That seems logically very direct and simple to do, but How would you format the fields into a form for printing?

also,not all fields get printed, for example the fields mark to print and data stamp.

bogu

FatStratCat wrote:
How would you format the fields into a form for printing?

What do u mean by format the fields into a form for printing?

FatStratCat

IN my database I have records with multiple fields. I would need to extract the data from specific fields in each record and insert that data into a form, which is already set up ( its the same form the customer fills out when they initially order)

In other words, the form they fill out could be used as the print template, but I'm not sure how to get the data out of the database and into the form.

bogu

mysql SELECT?

leatherback

Hi,

As I am sure you realize.. You cannot make a page print itself: You will have to press the print button yourself (Uless you write some external script that will be called, and invokes printing for you). This is a security feature, else you could force a persons printer to start buzzing.

Anyway..Do you know how to retireve records from the database? How much do you know?

In a form, you can use the value="" tag for ext values, the " selected " keyword for selected dropdown menu items, and <textarea>YourTextHere</textarea> to echoe the record into the form.

If you setup CSS properly (I am assuming you have to do this on a monthly basis or something), you could just keep spitting out filled-out forms in one long page, and use CSS to handle page-breaks, so in the end you have all your records sitting in one big document, which you can print in one press of the print button.

FatStratCat

Forgive me but I'm new at this.

How can I use the form that my customers fill out when they place an order to retrieve the data they entered BACK into that form for printing?

I think I can manage to write some code loop for printing records based on a yes/no field, but I do not know how to re work the form ( which is already formatted for printing) to get the data from the mysql database TO the form fields.

Am I making any sense?

vaaaska

FatStrat...you really need to post some code. You're asking the same question over and over here...and you have nothing specific for people to help you with:

01 - query your database for unprinted records
02 - propagate your template for printing
02 - press the print button

If you don't know how to do 1 or 2 then I suggest you start reading on how to query a database and then how to loop your data to fill your template(s). OR, show us what you have so far...

FatStratCat

OK. I'll pull out the order form, work with it, then post what ever I come up with.

In answer to your question, it was #2 I can't do. I can write the query for #1, and I THINK I can figure out how to presss the "print" button. 🙂

I just thought that perhaps someone here could give me a link or a script on how to loop data from a database to fill a template. I don't have anything except the simple examples in the book, and they're too simple.

EDIT:

OK all I have so far is the html code, and the body section. Here is a sample, I cut out repetitive sections and the standard headers. Remember this is from a submission form, that was designed for my site. the listed options in the form have corresponding fields in the database.

<body onLoad="javascript: setFocus();">

<div http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">

<form id=myForm name=myForm action="addRec.php" onsubmit='return onSubmitt();' method=post>

<table>
<tr>

<td colspan=1>

<div align=right no wrap>Address:</div>

</td>

<td colspan=9><input name="Address" id="address" value="<?=getvalue('Address')?>" style='width:100%;' Maxlength="86"></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td colspan=1>

<div align=right>City:</div>

</td>

<td colspan=4><input name="City" id="City" value="<?=getvalue('City')?>" width='100%' Maxlength="30"></td>

<td colspan=2>

<div align=right>Zip:</div>

</td>

<td colspan=3><input name="Zipcode" width='100%' maxlength="5" value="<?=getvalue('Zipcode')?>" id="Zipcode" ></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td><input type="checkbox" name="OptionA" value="-1" <?=isChecked(getvalue('OptionA'))?> id="OptionA"></td>

<td>Option A</td>

<td><input type="checkbox" name="OptionB" value="-1" <?=isChecked(getvalue('OptionB'))?> id="OptionB"></td>

<td>Option B</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="30%"><input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Submit Order"></td>

<td ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="30%"></td>

<td ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="30%"><input type="reset" name="Submit2" value="Reset Form"></td>

</tr>
</table>

FatStratCat

Oops! there is a php file called addrec.php, but all the code in there adds the data to the database. I guess that part of the code in the body is useless here.

vaaaska

Show us number one then...what is the PHP like...not the html. The reason I ask is because it would be nice to see what kind of query you are using so we can help you write the data back out - then we can show you how to loop.

But, here is a reference for loops => http://be2.php.net/manual/en/language.control-structures.php

FatStratCat

#1 I am working on right now. I'll post it after I get it done and debugged

I will get back to the drawing board on this and repost later.

Thank you for the loop link. Usually I can run with stuff If I get help, it's just getting that kick start that usually hampers me!

Weedpacket

Incidentally, might I suggest you don't get into the habit of using <? or <?= for your opening tags? They're actually a leftover from Long Ago and aren't guaranteed to be recognised by current PHP configurations (or even future versions of PHP). Stick to <?php and <?php echo and you won't get stung later and have to change them all.

FatStratCat

Thanks, I agree. That was the programmer who designed the site for me who did all that. I planned on changing them.

I have so much to learn. It's a bit intimidating.

leatherback

Hey FatStratCat,

On www.bio-vision.nl/coding I have a few basic tutorials, which I have tried to write for the starters. Not re-populating forms (yet) but basic querying and stuff

vaaaska

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner...you can output to PDF. Print from there...this is a great PDF class...for once you get the other parts handled:

http://www.fpdf.org/

FatStratCat

Leatherback, thanks for the tutorial link. I need all the help I can get!!

Vaaska - that looks like an awesome program, and fits my needs very very well as we are already pdfing a bunch of stuff.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me. WHen I get it more together I'll post some code for critique.

thanks again for all the help.