Small issue with $_POST and whitespace....

[Angelic]

Hi there, I'm in search of a small solution to a bit of a niggling problem - you know, the kind that hinders your progress because you just can't work it out!

I've had a flick through google and asked on a couple of forums and I'm sure it's a common problem with a simple answer, I just can't seem to find it...........I have a mysql database of items, some with names with whitespace. This displays fine on my first page reading the database with a simple php script, however when I try to pass the name onto the next page using the $_POST tag the list referring back to the database leaves out all of the items with whitespace. This is quite important as it's a preorder page for seed potatoes (not the most exciting of subjects!) so if, for example someone wants to order "Accent", "Accord" and "Pentland Dell" then the second page (which confirms the order and emails it to me) will only show and email "Accent" and "Accord".

I'm hoping there's a simple solution as I'm quite new to php and I don't want to go rewriting the entire script if I can just put an underscore in place of whitespace or if there's a tiny bit of script I'm missing out.

Very roughly (it's not full, it's just the part I think is relevant - if you need more, please ask!).........

<?php
$bgcol = "68856C";
$textcol = "FFFFFF";

$conn = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM pots";
$result = mysql_query($sql,$conn) or die(mysql_error());
echo "<table width=\"400\" border=\"1\" RULES=ROWS FRAME=HSIDES bordercolor=#A58F7B background=\"pics/earlybg.png\"><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><p id=\"textd\"><b>First Earlies:</b></p></td></tr>";
while ($newArray = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
$id = $newArrary['ID'];
$var = $newArray['VAR'];
$link = "<tr><td width=\"300\"><p id=\"textd\"><a href=\"javascript:popUp('linkpop.php?id=$var')\" name=\"$var\">$var</a></td><td width=\"60\"><input name=\"$var\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"$var\"></td><td width=\"40\"><p id=\"textd\">$unit</td></tr>";
echo $link;
}
echo "</table>";
?>

And.......

<?php
$unit = $GET[unit];
$conn = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM pots";
$result = mysql_query($sql,$conn) or die(mysql_error());
while ($newArray = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
$id = $newArrary['ID'];
$var = $newArray['VAR'];
$num = $POST[$var];
if ($num > 0) {
$msg .= "$var : $num\n";
$msguser .= "$var : $num $unit<br>";
}
else {
$msg .= "";
$msguser .= "";
}
}

$msg .= "\nMeasurement : $unit\n\n";
$msg .= "Name: $POST[name]\n";
$msg .= "Telephone: $POST[telephone]\n";
$msg .= "Address 1: $POST[address1]\n";
$msg .= "Address 2: $POST[address2]\n";
$msg .= "County: $POST[county]\n";
$msg .= "Postcode: $POST[postcode]\n";

$msguser .= "<br>Measurement : $unit<br><br>";
$msguser .= "Name: $POST[name]<br>";
$msguser .= "Telephone: $POST[telephone]<br>";
$msguser .= "Address 1: $POST[address1]<br>";
$msguser .= "Address 2: $POST[address2]<br>";
$msguser .= "County: $POST[county]<br>";
$msguser .= "Postcode: $POST[postcode]<br>";

$recipient = "[e-mail]";
$subject = "Seed Potato Preorder";
$mailheaders = "From: $_POST[con]";
mail($recipient, $subject, $msg, $mailheaders);
echo "Many thanks for preordering your seed potatoes with us, please print this page out for your records as it contains the details of your preorder.<br><br>Once again, someone will be in touch in January to confirm availability and to arrange payment and delivery.<br><br>";
echo $msguser;
?>

Many thanks for looking,

Richard.

😕

[laserlight]

What does the VAR column contain?

[Angelic]

Hi laserlight, thanks for the quick reply 🙂

The VAR column contains the potato variety name - the column that I'm having issues with. Do you think I ought to rename the column - would it be that I named the column VAR?

[laserlight]

Angelic wrote:

The VAR column contains the potato variety name - the column that I'm having issues with.

Then this is a little strange:

<input name=\"$var\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"$var\">

I would expect something like this instead:

<input name=\"variety\" value=\"$var\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"variety\">

and then you use $_POST['variety'] on the next page.

Angelic wrote:

Do you think I ought to rename the column - would it be that I named the column VAR?

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet", and indeed to the database engine and to the PHP interpreter, any valid name will do. However, if you asked a friend to buy a bouquet of R for your significant other and he handed you a bouquet of Rafflesia flowers instead of roses, you would probably get pretty upset (or happy, since a bouquet of Rafflesia flowers would be rather hard to come by, but anyway).

So, you should give descriptive names so as to make your code more readable, e.g., "variety" instead of "VAR" which could be interpreted as "variable".

[Angelic]

I see, I've tried that however whilst it now accepts the space, the script seems to put the highest number in any given field next to all of the varieties in that table.....which is confusing me further! I'll c/p the whole script below to see if it makes any more sense. What I'm trying to achieve is three separate 'types' of potato hence the $var, $var2 and $var3. I've changed the third type, but not the other two as you'll see. Once again, many thanks for your help, I'm slowly getting it 🙂

I've also blanked out the value as I don't want the variety name appearing in the quantity box.

[Angelic]

Sorry for the long posts!

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<?php
$unit = $_GET[unit];
?>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
<title>BrooksideNurseries.co.uk - gardening supplies, cut flowers, bouquets, seed potatoes, tools - shop online now!</title>
<link rel=StyleSheet href="scripts/bn.css">
<script language="javascript" src="scripts/image.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
function popUp(URL) {
day = new Date();
id = day.getTime();
eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=300,height=400');");
}
// End -->
</script>
</head>
<body class="bg" bgcolor=777777>

<span id="band"><img src="pics/band.gif" border="0" ismap usemap="#band">
<map name="band">
<area name="band" shape="poly" href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog" coords="97,0,0,97,0,150,150,0"></map>
</span>

<span id="table">

<span id="logo"><a href="home.html"><img src="pics/logo.jpg" height=177 width=800 alt="" border="0"></a></span>
<span id="navbg"><img src="pics/buttonbg.jpg" width=800 alt=""></span>
<span id="nav"><a href="home.html"><img src="pics/button1.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="about.html"><img src="pics/button2.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog"><img src="pics/button3.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="floristry.html"><img src="pics/button4.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="contact.html"><img src="pics/button5.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="links.html"><img src="pics/button6.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a></span>

<span id="box1" class="border">
<p id="textd"><b>Opening hours...</b><br><br>
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm<br>
Sunday: 9am - 1pm<br><br><b>Contact Us...</b><br><br>
t: 01162 364564<br>
e: <a href="mailto:[e-mail]?subject=Website Enquiry">[e-mail]</a><br><br><b>Shop Online Now...</b><br><br>
<a href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog">Shop Online Here!</a>
</p>
</span>

<span id="box2" class="border">
<p id="textd">

<center>

<table border="0" background="pics/spwbg.png" width="400"><tr><td>
<p id="textd"><b><u>Step 1:</u></b> Choose your measurement.<br><br>
<?php
echo "Current Unit is <b>\"$unit\"</b>";
?></p><p id="textd">Switch to:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=kg">kg</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=g">g</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=lb">lb</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=oz">oz</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=sack">sack</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="spw.php?unit=unit">unit</a>
</p>
</td></tr>
</table>
<br>
<table border="0" background="pics/spwbg.png" width="400"><tr><td colspan="2">
<p id="textd"><b><u>Step 2:</u></b> Enter your details (all fields required).<br><br></td></tr><tr><td>
<?php
echo "<form action=\"submit.php?unit=$unit\" method=\"POST\">";
?>
<label for="name" id="textd">Your Name:</label></td><td>
<input name="name" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="name" />
<br /></td></tr><tr><td>
<label for="telephone" id="textd">Contact Telephone Number:</label></td><td>
<input name="telephone" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="telephone" />
<br /></td></tr><tr><td>
<label for="address1" id="textd">Address Line 1:</label></td><td>
<input name="address1" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="address1" />
<br /></td></tr><tr><td>
<label for="address2" id="textd">Address Line 2:</label></td><td>
<input name="address2" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="address2" />
<br /></td></tr><tr><td>
<label for="county" id="textd">County:</label></td><td>
<input name="county" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="county" />
<br /></td></tr><tr><td>
<label for="postcode" id="textd">Postcode:</label></td><td>
<input name="postcode" type="text" STYLE="background-color: #68856C; color: #000000;" class="textfield2" id="postcode" />
<br />

</td></tr>
</table>
<br>

<table border="0" background="pics/spwbg.png" width="400"><tr><td>
<p id="textd"><b><u>Step 3:</u></b> Choose your varieties.<br><br>
Simply type into the box next to each variety the quantity of the desired measurement (for example, for 2 <?php echo $unit; ?> of Accent and 3 <?php echo $unit; ?> of Milva, type 2 and 3 in the appropriate places).<br><br>Be sure to fill out <b>ALL</b> desired varieties and submit the form as one for easier processing and to save you submitting multiple forms.<br><br>For more information on each potato, simply click on the variety.<br><br>Please note, varieties highlighted in: <font color="red">RED</font> are First earlies; <font color="green">GREEN</font> are Second Earlies/Early Maincrop; and <font color="blue">BLUE</font> are Maincrop.
</p>
</td></tr>
</table>
<br>

<?php
$bgcol = "68856C";
$textcol = "FFFFFF";

$conn = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn);
$sql = "SELECT FROM pots ORDER BY VAR";
$result = mysql_query($sql,$conn) or die(mysql_error());
echo "<table width=\"400\" border=\"1\" RULES=ROWS FRAME=HSIDES bordercolor=#A58F7B background=\"pics/earlybg.png\"><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><p id=\"textd\"><b>First Earlies:</b></p></td></tr>";
while ($newArray = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
$id = $newArrary['ID'];
$var = $newArray['VAR'];
$link = "<tr><td width=\"300\"><p id=\"textd\"><a href=\"javascript:popUp('linkpop.php?id=$var')\" name=\"$var\">$var</a></td><td width=\"60\"><input name=\"$var\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"$var\"></td><td width=\"40\"><p id=\"textd\">$unit</td></tr>";
echo $link;
}
echo "</table>";
?>
<br>
<?php
$conn2 = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn2);
$sql2 = "SELECT FROM pots2 ORDER BY VAR";
$result2 = mysql_query($sql2,$conn2) or die(mysql_error());
echo "<table width=\"400\" border=\"1\" RULES=ROWS FRAME=HSIDES bordercolor=#76B27D background=\"pics/secondbg.png\"><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><p id=\"textd\"><b>Second Earlies/Early Maincrop:</b></p></td></tr>";
while ($newArray2 = mysql_fetch_array($result2)) {
$id2 = $newArrary2['ID'];
$var2 = $newArray2['VAR'];
$link2 = "<tr><td width=\"300\"><p id=\"textd\"><a href=\"javascript:popUp('linkpop.php?id=$var2')\" name=\"$var2\">$var2</a></td><td width=\"60\"><input name=\"$var2\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"$var2\"></td><td width=\"40\"><p id=\"textd\">$unit</td></tr>";
echo $link2;
}
echo "</table>";
?>
<br>
<?php
$conn3 = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn3);
$sql3 = "SELECT * FROM pots3 ORDER BY VARIETY";
$result3 = mysql_query($sql3,$conn3) or die(mysql_error());
echo "<table width=\"400\" border=\"1\" RULES=ROWS FRAME=HSIDES bordercolor=#6C928C background=\"pics/mains.png\"><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><p id=\"textd\"><b>Maincrop:</b></p></td></tr>";
while ($newArray3 = mysql_fetch_array($result3)) {
$id3 = $newArrary3['ID'];
$var3 = $newArray3['VARIETY'];
$link3 = "<tr><td width=\"300\"><p id=\"textd\"><a href=\"javascript:popUp('linkpop.php?id=$var3')\" name=\"$var3\">$var3</a></td><td width=\"60\"><input name=\"variety3\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" STYLE=\"background-color: #$bgcol; color: #$textcol;\" class=\"textfield\" id=\"variety3\"></td><td width=\"40\"><p id=\"textd\">$unit</td></tr>";
echo $link3;
}
echo "</table>";
?>
<br>
<table border="0" background="pics/spwbg.png" width="400"><tr><td>
<p id="textd"><b><u>Step 4:</u></b> Submit your form.<br><br>
This is the final step. Please check you've entered the right quantities in the right boxes and you have the right measurements selected (currently <?php echo $unit; ?>). Finally, just click the big 'Send' button below.<br><br>We shall be in touch with you in January to arrange payment and delivery/collection, and to confirm availability.<br><br>Many thanks for preordering your seed potatoes with us.<br><br>

</p>
</td></tr>
<tr><td>
<center>
<input name="submit" type="image" src="submit.gif" width="150" height="30" alt="Submit Preorder" class="submit" id="submit" value="submit preorder" />
</center>
</td></tr>
</table>
</form>
</center>

</span><span id="picbox" class="bordernp"><img src="pics/pots.jpg" alt="" width=250></span>
<span id="brbox"></span>

</span>
</body>
</html>

[Angelic]

Second 'submit' page.....

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<?php
$unit = $_GET[unit];
?>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8">
<title>BrooksideNurseries.co.uk - gardening supplies, cut flowers, bouquets, seed potatoes, tools - shop online now!</title>
<link rel=StyleSheet href="scripts/bn.css">
<script language="javascript" src="scripts/image.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
function popUp(URL) {
day = new Date();
id = day.getTime();
eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=600');");
}
// End -->
</script>
</head>
<body class="bg" bgcolor=777777>

<span id="band"><img src="pics/band.gif" border="0" ismap usemap="#band">
<map name="band">
<area name="band" shape="poly" href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog" coords="97,0,0,97,0,150,150,0"></map>
</span>

<span id="table">

<span id="logo"><a href="home.html"><img src="pics/logo.jpg" height=177 width=800 alt="" border="0"></a></span>
<span id="navbg"><img src="pics/buttonbg.jpg" width=800 alt=""></span>
<span id="nav"><a href="home.html"><img src="pics/button1.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="about.html"><img src="pics/button2.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog"><img src="pics/button3.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="floristry.html"><img src="pics/button4.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="contact.html"><img src="pics/button5.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a><a href="links.html"><img src="pics/button6.jpg" border=0 style=filter:alpha(opacity=0) onMouseOver=nereidFade(this,100,0,10) onMouseOut=nereidFade(this,0,5,5) alt=""></a></span>

<span id="box1" class="border">
<p id="textd"><b>Opening hours...</b><br><br>
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm<br>
Sunday: 9am - 1pm<br><br><b>Contact Us...</b><br><br>
t: 01162 364564<br>
e: <a href="mailto:[e-mail]?subject=Website Enquiry">[e-mail]</a><br><br><b>Shop Online Now...</b><br><br>
<a href="http://www.angelicgroup.com/catalog">Shop Online Here!</a>
</p>
</span>

<span id="box2" class="border">
<p id="textd">

<?php
$unit = $GET[unit];
$conn = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM pots ORDER BY VAR";
$result = mysql_query($sql,$conn) or die(mysql_error());
while ($newArray = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
$id = $newArrary['ID'];
$var = $newArray['VAR'];
$num = $POST[$var];
if ($num > 0) {
$msg .= "$var : $num\n";
$msguser .= "$var : $num $unit<br>";
}
else {
$msg .= "";
$msguser .= "";
}
}

$conn2 = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn2);
$sql2 = "SELECT * FROM pots2 ORDER BY VAR";
$result2 = mysql_query($sql2,$conn2) or die(mysql_error());
while ($newArray2 = mysql_fetch_array($result2)) {
$id2 = $newArrary2['ID'];
$var2 = $newArray2['VAR'];
$num2 = $_POST[$var2];
if ($num2 > 0) {
$msg .= "$var2 : $num2\n";
$msguser .= "$var2 : $num2 $unit<br>";
}
else {
$msg .= "";
$msguser .= "";
}
}

$conn3 = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "pass");
mysql_select_db("brook_pots",$conn3);
$sql3 = "SELECT * FROM pots3 ORDER BY VARIETY";
$result3 = mysql_query($sql3,$conn3) or die(mysql_error());
while ($newArray3 = mysql_fetch_array($result3)) {
$id3 = $newArrary3['ID'];
$var3 = $newArray3['VARIETY'];
$num3 = $POST[variety3];
if ($num3 > 0) {
$msg .= "$var3 : $num3\n";
$msguser .= "$var3 : $num3 $unit<br>";
}
else {
$msg .= "";
$msguser .= "";
}
}
$msg .= "\nMeasurement : $unit\n\n";
$msg .= "Name: $POST[name]\n";
$msg .= "Telephone: $POST[telephone]\n";
$msg .= "Address 1: $POST[address1]\n";
$msg .= "Address 2: $POST[address2]\n";
$msg .= "County: $POST[county]\n";
$msg .= "Postcode: $_POST[postcode]\n";

$msguser .= "<br>Measurement : $unit<br><br>";
$msguser .= "Name: $POST[name]<br>";
$msguser .= "Telephone: $POST[telephone]<br>";
$msguser .= "Address 1: $POST[address1]<br>";
$msguser .= "Address 2: $POST[address2]<br>";
$msguser .= "County: $POST[county]<br>";
$msguser .= "Postcode: $POST[postcode]<br>";

$recipient = "[e-mail]";
$subject = "Seed Potato Preorder";
$mailheaders = "From: $_POST[con]";
mail($recipient, $subject, $msg, $mailheaders);
echo "Many thanks for preordering your seed potatoes with us, please print this page out for your records as it contains the details of your preorder.<br><br>Once again, someone will be in touch in January to confirm availability and to arrange payment and delivery.<br><br>";
echo $msguser;
?>

</span><span id="picbox" class="bordernp"><img src="pics/pots.jpg" alt="" width=250></span>
<span id="brbox"></span>

</span>
</body>
</html>

There's a third popup page, hence the $_GET to reflect the information of each variety based on which link (variety) is clicked.......

<html>

<head>

<title>More Information</title>
<link rel=StyleSheet href="scripts/bn.css">

</head>

<body class="bg">
<p id="textd">
<?php
$id = $_GET[id];
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","user","pass");
if (!$con)
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
mysql_select_db("brook_pots", $con);
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM pots
WHERE VAR='$id'");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
echo $row['DESC'];
}
?>

<?php
$id = $_GET[id];
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","user","pass");
if (!$con)
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
mysql_select_db("brook_pots", $con);
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM pots2
WHERE VAR='$id'");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
echo $row['DESC'];
}
?>

<?php
$id = $_GET[id];
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","user","pass");
if (!$con)
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
mysql_select_db("brook_pots", $con);
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM pots3
WHERE VARIETY='$id'");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
echo $row['DESC'];
}
?>
</p>
</body>

</html>

I'm sure that lot is littered with mistakes, sorry!!

If you fancy having a look at what I'm trying to achieve.....it's at http://www.brooksidenurseries.co.uk/spw.php

Many thanks.