Submitting Data

Jermizzle

I have a table which consists of 20 items. each row also has a dropdown menu so i can change the price of these items. These dropdown menus all have the name of the position which it appears in the table. so for example the dropdown menu which is 4th in the table will have the name = 4. Im trying to work out how i can build script which will only submit the variables where there has been a change in the price.

At the moment i am using the foreach function. This works but it submits all the variables even if their hasnt been a change which means my date & name field has a date & name where there hasnt been a change in the price, and this is something i do not want.

so information which gets submitted is:
name=Jermz&1=5&2=0&3=0&4=0&5=0

i would prefer if the only data changed would be submitted:
name=Jermz&1=5

Here is the coding i am using at the moment.

foreach ($_REQUEST as $id = $rating){
$update_table = sprintf("UPDATE items SET price = price + %s, name = %s, date = %s, WHERE item_id = %s",
quote_smart ($price),
quote_smart ($name),
quote_smart ($date),
quote_smart ($id));
$result = mysql_query($update_table) or die ("ERROR".mysql_error());

This has the desired effect but the foreach function submits all the variables meaning all the items in table are displyed with the same name, when the person wasnt intending to update all the items.

Please Help!!!

leatherback

All fields in a form are always submitted. I cannot understand how you work your form/table, but you could just have a submit button for each individual row on your page.
Alternatively, you could check the database for elements, and check whether the field has changed, and only update those which have changed
Third option would be to have a checkbox next to each row, and have the user check the checkbox of items to be updated (Or have javascript do this, although it is not too reliable to use JS)

Jermizzle

leatherback wrote:
Alternatively, you could check the database for elements, and check whether the field has changed, and only update those which have changed

How would i go about doing this?

If i have to change alot of thecoding to suit this then i will create a seperate table and store the name, date. Thats probably the only way i can get details of the rater without being linked to the wrong items.

Thanks

leatherback

Easy:

$query = "Select * from TABLE where price = $price and id = $id";
$result = mysql_query($query);
if(mysql_num_rows($result) > 0)
  {
  // the price has not chanced
  }
else
  {
  // the price has changed;
  }

However, this is not very scalable (If you start to fill a form with 200 variables, it will go through 200 queries to the database and check whether the oldprice matches the submitted price). You are better of making a small form for each row, with an individual submit button for each price-update, or having a checkbox that needs to be set for updates. (This you could do in two steps: Show all the items, with checkboxes behind it. Based on submitted checked boxes, you load an edit form).

greenie2600

leatherback wrote:
All fields in a form are always submitted.

Untrue. Read the HTML 4.01 spec - there are numerous exceptions.

That's just a tangental nitpick, though 🙂

leatherback

Greenie, I have been annoyed with you a few times before. If you do not have anything constructive to add to a thread, you do not have to post. e.g., telling a person to bugger of when they ask a question about mod_rewite because it is not an apache forum is a bit sad. I cannot be bothered to look for the other cases where I was wondering why you bothered posting.

Anyway. I KNOW that not all form elements get submitted, and need not look at html4.01 specifications, thank you very much; However, in this case, and for all practical purposes, it holds true. Your comment gets Jermizzle more confused on how to solve his current problem, and does not offer a solution. Better shut up, or make a constructive statement after pointing out my obvious generalized answer.