required fields, valid email...

[heatherbee]

I have the following code in a php file ("form.php"), and it works fine (i have the form in an .shtml page, where form action="form.php" method="post">:

<?php

/* Subject and Email Variables */

$emailsubject = "$subject1, $subject2";
$webMaster = '[e-mail]';

/* Gathering Data Variables */

$name = $_POST['name'];
$surname = $_POST['surname'];
$email = $_POST['email'];
$number = $_POST['number'];
$street = $_POST['street'];
$zip = $_POST['zip'];
$city = $_POST['city'];
$phone = $_POST['phone'];
$fax = $_POST['fax'];
$subject1 = $_POST['subject1'];
$subject2 = $_POST['subject2'];
$message = $_POST['message'];
$body = <<<EOT

Name: $name $surname
Email: $email
Number: $number
Street: $street
Postcode: $zip
City: $city
Contact Number: $phone
fax: $fax
Subjects: $subject1, $subject2
Message: $message



EOT;

$headers = "From: $email\r\n";
$headers .= "Content=type: text/html\r\n";

/* Emailing the Form */

mail($webMaster, $emailsubject, $body, $headers);

/* Directing the User to the Webpage thanks.html */

header('Location: success.shtml');


?> 

HOWEVER
the fields are all optional, and I am able to receive empty emails.
what php code would help me with this?

Ideally, error messages would appear on the same .shtml page, not in a new window...

TIA from a total newbie!

[dagon]

for all the vars you want to check

if(empty($_POST['name'])){
$error='must supply a name';
};

and then

if(!empty($error)){
//out put errors
}else{
//send email
}

there are more tutorials on php email forms than most other php subjects.

[heatherbee]

Thanks for your reply!
I am trying that code, still not working... perhaps I'm not placing it in the correct places...
but I will continue working on it.
Thanks again.

[heatherbee]

my code

<?php

/* Subject and Email Variables */

$webMaster = '[e-mail]';
$subject = "Aus Visum-Usa Kontaktformular";


/* Gathering Data Variables */

$name = $_POST['name'];
$surname = $_POST['surname'];
$email = $_POST['email'];
$number = $_POST['number'];
$street = $_POST['street'];
$zip = $_POST['zip'];
$city = $_POST['city'];
$phone = $_POST['phone'];
$fax = $_POST['fax'];
$ichbin = $_POST['ichbin'];
$visum = $_POST['visum'];
$copysender = $_POST['copysender'];
$message = $_POST['message'];

$body = <<<EOT
Name: $name $surname
Email: $email

Ich Bin: $ichbin
Ich interessiere mich für: $visum

Message: $message

Address: $number $street, $zip $city
Phone: $phone, Fax: $fax


EOT;

$headers = "From: $email\r\n";
$headers .= "Content=type: text/html\r\n";
$headers .= 'Reply-To:' . $email . "\r\n";
$headers .= 'X-Mailer: PHP/' . phpversion();


//if no name entered and no surname entered print an error
if (empty($name) && empty($surname)){
print "No name was entered. <br>Please go back and enter your name.<br>";
}
if (empty($ichbin) && empty($visum)){
print "No subjects were selected. <br>Please go back and select from the options.<br>";
}
//if no message entered send print an error
elseif (empty($message)){
print "No message was entered.<br>Please go back include your message.<br>";
}


/* Check email is valid */
$email = htmlspecialchars($_POST['email']);
if (!preg_match("/([\w\-]+\@[\w\-]+\.[\w\-]+)/",$email))
{
    die("E-mail address not valid, please go back and enter a valid email.</br>Thank you!");
}


/* Emailing the Form */

mail($webMaster, $subject, $body, $headers);

/* Directing the User to the Webpage thanks.html */

header('Location: success.shtml');
?> 

error message i get when email is filled out :

[INDENT]No name was entered.
Please go back and enter your name.
No subjects were selected.
Please go back and select from the options.

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /mnt/web4/10/76/51864576/htdocs/form3.php:48) in /mnt/web4/10/76/51864576/htdocs/form3.php on line 73
[/INDENT]