[RESOLVED] Using many submit buttons to $_POST

[robkir]

I have a list which includes each item's unique ID. I want the user to view the list and choose which item he wants to update by clicking on a submit button that is next to each list item. My problem? How do I get the ID number into the button name?

The list page looks something like this:

$userName $classDates $attendSession $category [BUTTON]

An obvious solution would be to use a drop down list; however, in this case, I need to give the user more information than a drop down will easily show (I also have some color coded, conditional statements). The concept is to let the user quickly scan 40 or so items--choose the one he wants, click on the button, then have the userID open that record for input.

echo "<tr>
			<td class=\"table_cell\">$userID</td>
			<td class=\"table_cell\">$userlogin</td>
			<td class=\"table_cell\">$userpass</td>
			<td class=\"table_cell\">$nameL</td> 
			$hilite $session_status</td> 
		    <td><form action=\"update_candidates_show.php\"  method=\"post\"> 
    		<input type=\"submit\" name=\"userID\" /></form></td>
    	</tr>";
    	$i++;
		}
	echo "</table>";

Any help would be gratefully appreciated

[mblack0508]

The idea I can think of is using ajax to update the fields. You would have a javascript to open a popup with a GET with the field you want to update.

So for example the uri would be update.php?field=Name

Then in update.php you would check the $_GET["field"] against what you would allow to update.

The originating page could have a button that says <input type="button" name="Update" onclick="popup("name");"/>

I'm sure there is a much better way of doing it, but thats how I would do it.

[tave]

You could also have radio buttons next to each item and one submit button. The user can select which item they want to edit and press the edit button. Later , you can check which radio button was selected and edit that item .....

I prefer this method because it makes you javascript independent.

[robkir]

Thanks mblack. I'm trying to avoid using java, since many of our users seem resistant to using java. But I appreciate the info.

[robkir]

Thanks, Tave. My confusion lies in getting the userID assigned to each instance of either the radio button or submit button. So, if you have forty items, each with a unique id, the first one would be userID=1, the last one would be userID=40.

Any thoughts?

[cahva]

You can use multiple submit buttons in one form. Heres an example(I cleaned up a little bit for the example purpose):

<form action="update_candidates_show.php" method="post">
	<table>
		<tr>
			<th>UserId</th>
			<th>Userlogin</th>
			<th>Userpass</th>
			<th>NameL</th>
			<th>Status</th>
			<th>Action</th>
		</tr>
		<?php foreach ($users as $user): ?>
		<tr>
			<td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['id'] ?></td>
			<td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['login'] ?></td>
			<td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['pass'] ?></td>
			<td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['nameL'] ?></td>
			<td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['session_status'] ?></td>
			<td><input type="submit" name="edituser[<?php echo $user['id'] ?>]" value="Edit"></td>
		</tr>
		<?php endforeach; ?>
	</table>
</form>

Now, in the update_candidates_show.php script you can access the userid like this:

if (isset($_POST['edit_user']) AND is_array($_POST['edit_user']))
{
	$tmp = array_keys($_POST['edit_user']);
	$userid = (int) $tmp[0];
}

Usually the value is used but in this case the userid is found in the key element so thats why it has to be fetched with array_keys.

If you want to use radio button, just replace it to the submit button eg.

<input type="radio" name="edituser" value="<?php $user['id'] ?>">

..and add one submit button. After this the userid can be found straight with $_POST['edituser']

[mblack0508]

robkir;10923387 wrote:

Thanks mblack. I'm trying to avoid using java, since many of our users seem resistant to using java. But I appreciate the info.

another idea is you can use checkboxes that are named after the fields you wish to update. You could then use sessions to pull back the ID of the user.

you can then use a $_POST to see which was checked and dynamically build a new <form> with its inputs for the updates.

With using sessions you could prepopulate the fields for the user.

Its not javascript so your users should be ok with it.

[robkir]

I'm getting closer, Cahva, but I'm hung up on understanding how I load the array from the database. I thought it would be simply:

$sql="SELECT *
FROM ref_candidates

ORDER BY session_pref, nameL ";

$users = mysql_query($sql, $link )or die(mysql_error($mysql));

but no dice (I always try to educate myself before asking a question so I searched the internet for the answer but all the examples manually load the array). Otherwise, I think I understand your example.

Thanks.

[mblack0508]

robkir;10923419 wrote:

I'm getting closer, Cahva, but I'm hung up on understanding how I load the array from the database. I thought it would be simply:

$sql="SELECT *
FROM ref_candidates

ORDER BY session_pref, nameL ";

$users = mysql_query($sql, $link )or die(mysql_error($mysql));

but no dice (I always try to educate myself before asking a question so I searched the internet for the answer but all the examples manually load the array). Otherwise, I think I understand your example.

Thanks.

You need one more piece of code

http://us.php.net/mysql_fetch_array

[robkir]

I am so lost...I've tried every iteration I can think of to understand this process. I appreciate your patience, mblack. Here's what I've got. What am I missing?

<?php
session_start();
include('style_sheet.php');
include('DBconMOD.php');
include('navmenu.php');

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM ref_candidates");

while ($users = mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_BOTH)) {
   $users["userID"], $users["nameL"]);  

}

?>

<form action="update_candidates_show.php" method="post">
    <table>
        <tr>
            <th class="table_cell">UserId</th>
            <th class="table_cell">Userlogin</th>
            <thclass="table_cell" >Userpass</th>
            <th class="table_cell">NameL</th>
            <th class="table_cell">Status</th>
            <th class="table_cell">Action</th>
        </tr>
        <?php foreach ($users as $user): ?>
        <tr>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userID'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userlogin'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userpass'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['nameL'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['session_status'] ?></td>
            <td><input type="submit" name="edituser[<?php echo $user['userID'] ?>]" value="Edit"></td>
        </tr>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </table>
</form>

[mblack0508]

I think you need to use a form for each entry. Also I wouldnt use the id in the submit, I would use a hidden input type.

[robkir]

I tried using a form for each entry in my first attempt and got into the problem that it only passed the last record's ID, irregardless of the record I wanted. I needed to get this program up and running so I resorted to making the user put in the ID number. I'll keep fooling around with it. If you come up with any other ideas, please let me know.

Thanks

[mblack0508]

robkir;10923632 wrote:

I tried using a form for each entry in my first attempt and got into the problem that it only passed the last record's ID, irregardless of the record I wanted. I needed to get this program up and running so I resorted to making the user put in the ID number. I'll keep fooling around with it. If you come up with any other ideas, please let me know.

Thanks

Ok, but one thing you should do is look at the html and start asking questions.

If its only taking the last user id, is it that all the forms have the same data or is it possible the form is not correct?

[cahva]

This:

while ($users = mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_BOTH)) {
   $users["userID"], $users["nameL"]);  

}

..should be like this:

while ($row= mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
   $users[] = $row;  

}

But you dont actually need to put the rows to $users array first.
Remove that and use it later on straight:

<?php while ($user = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)): ?>
        <tr>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userID'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userlogin'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['userpass'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['nameL'] ?></td>
            <td class="table_cell"><?php echo $user['session_status'] ?></td>
            <td><input type="submit" name="edituser[<?php echo $user['userID'] ?>]" value="Edit"></td>
        </tr>
<?php endwhile; ?>