db query in php -- help 911 lol

php4student

Hello everyone I am totally new to the php community and I want to learn this stuff! I am currently taking a class and our first real project is driving me nuts so here I am. :queasy:

Here is a working example of what I am trying to accomplish. Dont laugh I know its simple but this is a complete foreign language to me and im trying my best.
http://75.32.150.185/~david/ps7_8.dogfood.php

I am trying to make a dropmenu using php as you can see from the working example above and I am not sure if I am even doing it right. ANY insight or help you can provide will be greatly appreciated!

Here is the error which I am getting Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING on line 45

43 while ($stateArr = mysql_fetch_array($statesRsc)) {
44 $dropMenu = dropmenu
45 <select name="$result">
46 <option value="stateCode">AK</option>;
47 </select>
48 // Use each row as to generate an <option> tag for select box.
49 // Use the stateCode field as your label and the stateID code as your value.
50 }

I hope I posted all the needed information.

Thanking you in advance!

gitosh

Hello.
I had the same problem some few days ago and I was helped on this forum so I thought I should share. I've sent a sample code but I'm using SQL,so you'll change the SQL functions to the DB you're using.The variables should also be changed to suit yours. hope this will help.
<?php
// your database connection statements
//$sqlquery="selection query";
$result=mssql_query($sqlquery);
echo '<form action="'.$SERVER['PHP_SELF'].'" method="post">';
echo '<table border=0>';
echo '<tr>';
echo '<td>';
echo'<label>State </label>';
echo '</td>';
echo '<td>';
echo '<select name="cbostate" onChange="this.form.submit();">';
if(empty($POST) || !isset($_POST['cbostate'])) {
echo '
<option value="null" selected="selected">Please Select...</option>';
}

while ($row=mssql_fetch_array($result))
{

$cl = (isset($_POST['cbostate']) && !empty($_POST['cbostate'])) ? $_POST['cbostate'] : '';
echo '<option value="'.$row['StateCode'].'"'.(($cl==$row['StateCode'])?' selected="selected"':'').'>'.$row['StateName'].'</option>';


$dc=$_POST['cbostate'];
  }

echo '</select>';
echo '</td>';
?>

gitosh

Also search a thread called "Forms by selection" on the newbie section and read through it,it might help

php4student

Hi there gitosh thanks for your input!

I am trying my best to understand all this. Is there a working live demo of the code you have posted for me to check out? If so do tell! 🙂

I am determined to get this stuff one way or another. hehe

Thanks again!

gitosh

Hi php4student,
My project is a sensitive goverment project so I don't think it would be appropriate to show my example (the data is sensitive) but I'll explain to you the steps to take to ensure the above code works.
1. Create a table in the db with two columns (StateCode,StateName) and populate it with sample data.
2. Connect to the db(Hope that's not a problem)
3.create a query and assign it to a variable($sqlquery="select StateCode,StateName from tableName"😉
4.Create a result set. ie $result=mssql_query($sqlquery);(replace the mssql function to an equivalent function for the DB you're using, if it's mysql it should be mysql_query($sqlquery);
5.Let the rest of the code remain exactly as it is on the above code and it should work

php4student

Hi gitosh and everyone!

Thank you for trying to help this aspiriing php noobie. lol

I finally got the states to list from a dropmenu and I was so happy late last night! Now I am trying to figure out how I can fix the errors that are coming up.

So there are many states but I will list a couple just so you can see what I did.

                while ($stateArr = mysql_fetch_array($statesRsc)) 
  print "<select name=\"".$result."&nbsp;\">";
  {
  $dropMenu = dropmenu;
  print "<option value=\"1\">AK</option>";
  print "<option value=\"2\">AL</option>";
  }
  print "</select>";
            }

The first error that I noticed happend when I viewed the source from the browser after the page loaded. I noticed in the source of the loaded page towards the bottom it said,"Warning: mysql_fetch_array(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource on line 43

So then I went to line 43 and it reads as, "while ($stateArr = mysql_fetch_array($statesRsc))" like the 1st line of code above.

The second error I came upon was when I actually tried to select a state from the drop menu. I selected AK and as the page loaded it said, "Warning: mysql_fetch_array(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource on line 120".

Line 120 reads as, "while ($cityArr = mysql_fetch_array($citiesRsc)) {"

Question1 - What do I do to even begin to fix these errors? What does it mean? I have spent so many hours/days working on this that I dont know what else to do. My idea is once I get this thing working then I can make sense of each and every line of code and hopefully that will give me a clue.
Question2 - Why does one error show when the page is loaded and why does one error show only if you view the source?
Question3 - What do you recommend is the best way to jump in the huge ocean of knowledge on php? Get a tutor? Anyone live in the Bay Area? haha
Question4 - Do you think I will ever get this thing looking like this example? lol http://75.32.150.185/~david/ps7_8.dogfood.php (right now - questionable)

I hope I am posting somewhat intelligent posts with just enough information so that you guys can understand what I am trying to achieve. If not tell me what you need.

Thank you for the help!