MySQL insert from form

[roygbiv]

Hello,
I am having difficulty selecting test from an unordered list and inserting it into a temporary table. The table does get created and receives inserts from the command line.
Up to now I have selected text from fields from other tables and put them in unordered list.
Question #1: What is the best form of input and submit for a simple insert and a delete? I tried using one form and one submit button per list element, but did not get very far.
Question #2: Assuming using checkboxes is not a bad way to allow an insert (ignoring the delete for the moment), what is wrong with the following code?

         echo "<form action='index.php' method='post'>\n";
         echo "<ul>\n";
     $query = "SELECT clypeus FROM clypeus";
       $results = mysql_query($query);

 while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($results)) {
   foreach($row as $value) {
     if ($_POST['$value']) {
     $value=$_POST['$value'];
     $query = "INSERT INTO results VALUES ('" . $_POST['$value'] . "')";
     $results = mysql_query($query);
     }

     echo "<li>\n";
     echo "<input type=checkbox name='beschrijving' value='$value'>";
 echo $value;
     echo "</li>\n";
   }
 }
 echo "</ul>";
 echo "<input type=submit value='Selecteer!'>";
 echo "</form>\n";

-greetings,
Roy G Biv

[big_nerd]

First off, lets break down your code, and point out some possible mistakes:

$query = "SELECT clypeus FROM clypeus";
       $results = mysql_query($query); 

Try using:

$query = "select * FROM clypeus ORDER BY varname";

I am unsure why (in the posted code) you are selecting anything, as you are not doing anything with it.. are you trying to compare to data that is already stored in the database?

 foreach($row as $value) {
         if ($_POST['$value']) {
         $value=$_POST['$value'];
         $query = "INSERT INTO results VALUES ('" . $_POST['$value'] . "')";
         $results = mysql_query($query);
         }

Try this:

$value = $_REQUEST['value']            // or $_POST['value'] doesn't matter.
                                                        // You don't use $ when getting post data.
while ($row = mysql_fetch_object) {
       echo $row->column_name; // Where column_name is the name of the column in                 

                                                  // your SQL table.
}

Once you put the POST DATA to a variable (with $_POST) you can continue to read it from that variable as many times as you like, and you don't have to re-do the POST data.

What would you like to do? Take the information submitted from a form and save it in the database? Then be able to back and delete it?

Mike

[roygbiv]

Thanks Mike,
It will be several hours before I can try out your advice. In the meantime I'll tell you what I want to do with the inserts. (I didn't find it necessary to tell at first, because that's simply the next hurdle for me.) I am trying to construct identification keys (for determining insects) that are not binary, but based on a multiple-choice database.
The contents of the temporary table are compared to the contents of the table listing all insects of a particular genus. One continues with selecting characteristics until a determination is "very likely" or "100%."
The temporary table is a necessary in-between step. Either the page or the database has to be able to remember all the selections one has made, one by one or all at once. And one has the right to delete a selection if, on second thought, it turns out to be a dead end.
That's it.
-Roy G Biv

[roygbiv]

Hello,
Just so you know how the first part of my page could look (but then without makeup), take a look at:
http://www.hymenoptera.nl/keys/
I'm experimenting with the list with checkboxes. It should become the model for all unordered lists after it. (The sentences are in Dutch.)
One selects one or more descriptions and submits them to the server. They wind up in the temporary list at the bottom of the page called "results." The rest of the page, the comparisons I make with "results," is not yet in place.
Greetings,
Roy

[roygbiv]

Hello Mike and others,
I tried variations on your suggestions. A few of them sent me into infinite loops of checkboxes. If you've read my intentions, above, maybe you'll better be able to help me. I'm still sure what I want is a variation on:

       echo "<form action='$_SERVER[PHP_SELF]' method='post'>\n";
       echo "<ul>\n";

   $query = "SELECT description FROM clypeus";
   $results = mysql_query($query);

   while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($results)) {
   foreach($row as $value) {

     echo "<li>\n";
     echo "<input type=checkbox name='description' value='$value'>";
 echo $value;
     echo "</li>\n";

     $query = "INSERT INTO results VALUES ('" . $_POST['description'] . "')";
     $results = mysql_query($query);

   }
 }
 echo "</ul>";
 echo "<input type=submit value='Selecteer!'>";
 echo "</form>\n";

At my best shot, I was able to add one selection to the table "results", but only one.
Any suggestions for improvement?
-Roy