[RESOLVED] Question about Echoing

youtnodknoem

I'm trying to prepopulate a form so that it gets data from a variable stored in a PHP script that calls a mysql query. I'm just wondering if echo statements will interfere with the quotations on the form script.
For example <form action: ""> has brackets, so how will that work with an echo statement?

JVassie

Here is an example from one of my scripts I've written:

<input type="text" name="health5" value="<?php echo $row[health5]; ?>">

And that works fine, easier to store the data in a variable beforehand, then you can echo it without using quotes.

Hope that helps

NogDog

Note that the array index in the preceding example should be quoted, otherwise it is treated as a constant, and will throw a notice-level warning if that constant is not yet defined.

Also, if there is any possibility that the contents of that variable could have special characters or quotes that might mess up your HTML, you should escape it:

<input type="text" name="health5" value="<?php echo htmlentities($row['health5'], ENT_QUOTES); ?>">

JVassie

NogDog;10885767 wrote:
Note that the array index in the preceding example should be quoted, otherwise it is treated as a constant, and will throw a notice-level warning if that constant is not yet defined.

Also, if there is any possibility that the contents of that variable could have special characters or quotes that might mess up your HTML, you should escape it:
<input type="text" name="health5" value="<?php echo htmlentities($row['health5'], ENT_QUOTES); ?>">

Thanks for correcting me NogDog, i shall amend my own code accordingly 🙂

youtnodknoem

Ah, One more thing then. Thanks though, that gave me some more insight. I guess what I'm trying to actually do is prepopulate a form, with SQL data which I think i've found out how to do off a zend forum. However, now i'm wondering how to use your example in context of my page.

You see, I only want to print the form if a certain action is selected. Therefor is it possible to put HTML within a PHP script...like have that HTML print, only if an if statement holds true or something like that? thanks.

JVassie

<?php
if($foo == 'bar')
{
?>
// HTML Code goes here if true
<?php
}
else
{
?>
// HTML Code goes here if false
<?php
}
?>

That should do the trick. 🙂

youtnodknoem

i'll give it a try, thanks mate!

JVassie

Pleasure, hope it works ok.

Please remember to mark this thread resolved if/when it is 🙂

James