Creating variables from database

DanielG_

Hi there,

I'm looking for the best approach to create variables that will carry across multiple form submits. Basically, I have several mySQL tables containing texts and attributes of the page, such as notifications, background color, font types, etc. Ideally I would like to query the database just once to grab these values, and carry them across multiple form submissions.

I attempted to define these as constants, but it seems that when there is a form submission on the page, the constant needs to be defined again, which means my query needs to run again to grab the same old variables.

Is there a way to accomplish this, hopefully without the use of sessions or cookies? Or is there no escaping having to query the database each time a form post takes place on the page?

Thanks much in advance!

TheDefender

You've pretty much answered your own question... Sessions, Cookies, or querying.

One thing you could consider is storing an array into a hidden text box on each form field that contains your variables and gets passed upon each submission... This would help minimize your querying and would keep you from having to rely on sessions or cookies.

cgraz

or hidden input fields. Each time the form is posted (meaning they moved on to the next page of the form), you can grab all the hidden input values and recreate them to pass on to the next stage of the form. You will have more risk of a malicious user potentially changing form values though.

DanielG_

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I'll probably end up living with repeating my database queries each form submission, though may explore passing the values in the hidden fields as suggested.

Thanks again - this forum is great!

TheDefender

Whether separate hidden inputs for each variable, or one array (which is more manageable), just make sure you build in some error checking to make sure what you get in the output is what you are expecting.