I need a unique search form

David_P

I have 3 search scripts - search.php, searchold.php, searchnew.php.

I want to use just one form to access any one of these three scripts based on a selection from the user.

I don't know how to work the action= part of the form to make this happen.

Here's the form:

<form name="form" action="????">
Bible Keyword Search:<br />
<input type="text" name="q" />
<br />
Search in:<br />
<select name="pull">
<option>Select One</option>
<option value="all">Entire Bible</option>
<option value="old">Old Testament</option>
<option value="new">New Testament</option>
</select>
</form>

The option they choose will determine which search script the keyword (q) is sent to.

all - search.php
old - searchold.php
new - searchnew.php

How do I do this?

timus

Hi David

An easy way to do it would be to create a new script called searching.php (choose a unique name)

In the action part of the form put action="searching.php"

The searching.php file may contain something like the following...

if ($_POST['pull'] == 'old') 
{
    include('searchold.php');
}
elseif($_POST['pull'] == 'new')
{
    include('searchnew.php');
}
else
{
    include('searchall.php');
}

All you're doing is deciding which script to run based on the the value in the selection box.

There are better ways to do this and you might consider investigating functions or creating some sort of class but this should get you up and running

All the best

Tim

David_P

Thanks, Timus

I had done something similar to this, but tried it your way too and still had the same problem.

When I did a search for the "new" option it the first page of the query comes up fine, but when you click on the pagination link for the next page it displays the second page of the "all" search.

In other words I start out in Matthew and then when I click on the next link I end up in Exodus.

TheDefender

It's because you aren't passing the search criteria to the script when you click on the next page... There are ways around it. Just pass it in the URL as a GET variable, and then ad a quick check to the page for $GET['pull'] as well... OR, rewrite your pagination script to use forms instead of links, OR use your links to submit forms with some Javascript hocus pocus and in your form, pass a hidden field that contains the $POST['pull'] value...

Lots to choose from, up to you to pick out what works best for you, but that's wy it's doing that.

timus

Hi David

Its as TheDefender says, you need to send your search information when you click on the page link. I always have problems with pagination but if you want to show 10 records at a time you need to limit the number of records you show.

You can do it through the database (i've used mysql) and use limit (start record number, number of records you want to show) e.g. limit (11,10) I believe should show you record 11 to record 20 in ur results set. Send the start record number as an value as part of page link and a bit of trial and error should get you on your way

There are other ways to do it and i'm sure there must be sample scripts

All the best
Tim

David_P

I appreciate the tips. I'll do some Internet research on how to pass the search criteria on to the next page. I find Pagination to be very confusing because you have to spread the code all over the place.

But Php itself is confusing because there's not just one way to do anything. Just as there's a hundred different ways you can make chili, there's a hundred different ways you can write a php script and have it do the same thing.

I just went ahead and made three separate forms calling three separate scripts. It's not very efficient but it works.

timus

Hi David

Following code shows you how to send variable data through a link. Use the $_GET['pagenumber'] to get the value from that part of the link.

You can then know which records you should be showing, what type of search you are using and what you searched for.

But you will need to dynamically know which page you ar on and set the next and previous page numbers, you will also need to know how many pages you are showing (number of records in ur search result / number of records you want to show on each page)

<a href="' . $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] . '?pagenumber=1&searchtype=old&searchterm=what i searched for">
Prev
</a>
<a href="' . $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] . '?pagenumber=3&searchtype=old&searchterm=what i searched for">
Next
</a>

Hope this helps buts there is still quite a bit for you to figure out

Tim

By the by... there are so many ways to do things in php that finding the best way isn't easy for a novice like me, but there's more than one good chilli...

timus

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/PHP/Paginating-MySQL-Data-with-PHP/

Hope this helps

Tim