Writing names to a list that can be read back

[pepperface]

Hi, I'm very new to all this so I do apologise if what I'm asking sounds stupid or isn't achievable for any reason.

What I want to be able to create is a series of input text fields that are identified by and range from name_01 to name_50.

Fields are blank until a user inputs his/her name in the field of their choice, (eg. 'Sammy decides to type her name into name_17) and hits the submit button. Once the submit button is hit the data in any/all the fields is sent to a php script which writes to a txt file, adding/listing each name and assigning it an identifier indicating which field it was typed into (eg Sammy=name_17 or similar...?).

The contents of the text file can then be read back and displayed to users; so that they can see which name slots have already been taken.

I don't know if any of this is do-able? I've tried to learn from and modify existing scripts (like guestbook or eCard stuff) to try and fit the bill but most of the existing scripts actually do way more than I need (I don't need validators of anything like that) and I end up getting horribly lost in it all 😕

Extra info: I'm using Flash to 'house' it all but don't worry particularly about that. If anyone can nudge me towards anything that might provide the hints or the info I need I can probably muddle through it enough to be able to apply it to the Flash environment. I just need some pointers, really. I've been at this for 18 hours straight, now and am at my wits end!

Huge thanks in adavance!

[NogDog]

Not entirely sure I understand, but you might make life on the PHP side a bit easier by using array-style names for the fields: "name[1]", "name[2]", "name[3]", etc. Then you can access them as an array in the PHP script. If you use the post method for your form, then all the names will be in $_POST['name'], which you can then loop through with a foreach loop or otherwise manipulate via any of the numerous PHP array functions.

[pepperface]

Hi and HUGE, HUGE thanks for replying! I'm afraid I'm still floundering, though.

I'll try and discover more about the arrays you talk of but I still don't quite understand how it could all work. It's all very frustrating because I've previously and sucessfully deployed all manner of seemingly more complex php (as mentioned, guestbooks, eCards etc) but this apparently simple task has got me so beaten and exhausted that I'm actually considering just phoning the 50 people concerned, asking what their time preferences are and then simply writing it all down using a pencil and a pice of paper!!! Sigh!

If it's any help in my attempts to explain, here's an image of the sort of thing I'd like users to see and be able to use:

[rsmith]

So you want a calendar?