Preserve Array Data and Insert (Please Help!)

[java0035]

Hello all,

Please help me to do the following. I try to search PHPBuilder.com, but I can't find what I need. Ok, here it is.

I have the following form:

<?php

echo '<form action="'.htmlspecialchars($_SERVER['PHP_SELF']).'" method="post">';

for($i=1; $i<6; $i++)
{
  echo ' '.$i.': <input type="hidden" name="id" value="'.$i.'">';
  echo 'Last name: <input type="text" name="lastname[]">&nbsp;&nbsp;';
  echo 'First Name:<input type="text" name="firtname[]"><br>';
}

echo '<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter">
       </form>");
?>

So, I have the following:

1. I have a form that take in 5 last names and 5 first names, also has id assigned to each first adn last name.
2. I am trying to pass it to the same page.

What I am trying to do:
1. I need a way to preserve the data on this form, if the user enter a last name and forgot to enter a first name. It will then display errors and ask the user to enter the first name. BUT, I need to preserve the data for the rest of the form.
2. Insert id, last name, first name accordingly (correctly). Example, id1, lastname1, firstname1... and so on.

I hope that my questions make sense. Thanks in advance.

Proteus