Error trying to string SQL statement together with variable

[metomeya]

I'm getting an error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '"', expecting ']' at the line - '$_POST[ingredientAMT" . $i . "]',

I have the following code:

for ($i=1; $i<=$_POST[ingre_amt]; $i++)
{
$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO 
recipeingredients (MealID, IngreAmt, UnitID, IngreID) 
VALUES (
'$_POST[mealID]', 
'$_POST[ingredientAMT" . $i . "]', 
'$_POST[ingredientUNIT" . $i . "]', 
'$_POST[ingredientNAME" . $i . "]')";
} 

I also tried.....

for ($i=1; $i<=$_POST[ingre_amt]; $i++)
{
$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO 
recipeingredients (MealID, IngreAmt, UnitID, IngreID) 
VALUES (
'$_POST[mealID]', 
'$_POST[ingredientAMT"; 
$SQL1 .= $i;
$SQL1 .= "]', '$_POST[ingredientUNIT";
$SQL1 .= $i; 
$SQL1 .= "]', '$_POST[ingredientNAME";
$SQL1 .= $i;
$SQL1 .= "]')";
} 

I don't know how many ingredient will be inputted, so I need to have $i go in there.

Here is the HTML code if you need to look at it

<form action="recipe_info_post.php" method="post">
<?php 
if (isset($NumIngred))
{	
for ($i=1; $i<=$NumIngred; $i++)
  {
  echo "<tr>";
  echo "<td> <input type='text' name='ingredientAMT" . $i . "' size=1 /></td>";
  echo "<td><select name='ingredientUNIT" . $i . "'><option>" . $unit_options . "</option></select> </td>";
  echo "<td><select name='ingredientNAME" . $i . "'><option>" . $ingre_options . "</option></select> </td>";
  echo "</tr>";

  } 		
}
?>	

[djjjozsi]

you should learn how to create forms to send variables by arrays.

<select name="content[]"><option value="a">AAA</option></select>
<select name="content[]"><option value="a">AAA</option></select>
<select name="content[]"><option value="a">AAA</option></select>
<select name="content[]"><option value="a">AAA</option></select>

This will post $_POST["content"] as an array. You can get its selected values
by foreach() or add $i as an index name.

[laserlight]

What database extension are you using? You need to escape the incoming variables, and one good way to do so is to prepare a statement and then reuse it in the loop.

[metomeya]

I am using MySQL (phpmyadmin). How would I "then reuse it in the loop"?

I think djjjozsi's way might be what I need to do here.

Where would I pull the $i variable?

somethings like $_POST[content[$i]] ???

OR...

for ($ID=1; $AMT=1; $UNIT= 1; $INGRE=1; $ID<=$POST[ingre_amt];
$ID++; $AMT++; $UNIT++; $INGRE++)
{
$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO
recipeingredients (MealID, IngreAmt, UnitID, IngreID)
VALUES (
'$POST[$ID]',
'$POST[$AMT]',
'$POST[$UNIT]',
'$_POST[$INGRE]')";
}

[djjjozsi]

Change the repeated form fields as array names, and on submit,
see the structure of you $POST array.
You can get the lenght of this array.

echo count($_POST["ingredientAMT"];

With this lenght you can get the matched values by for() or foreach()...
See the manual about these functions.

<?php
for( $i = 0;$i < count( $_POST["ingredientAMT"] ) ; $i++ )
{
    echo "$i.  ingredientAMT is: " . $_POST["ingredientAMT"][$i];
} 

?>

And of course Laserlight is right.

[metomeya]

First, sorry I meant to say I think I'll go djjjozsi's way. Not that only djjjozsi is right.

I just realized in my source page i don't have an array after all. Here it is

for ($i=1; $i<=$NumIngred; $i++)
  {
  echo "<tr>";
  echo "<td> <input type='text' name='ingredientAMT" . $i . "' size=1 /></td>";
  echo "<td><select name='ingredientUNIT" . $i . "'><option>" . $unit_options . "</option></select> </td>";
  echo "<td><select name='ingredientNAME" . $i . "'><option>" . $ingre_options . "</option></select> </td>";
  echo "</tr>";

  } 

I guess the easiest way is to do it as an array uh? Is there anyway to keep it is now and change the code I have in my first post (would that be laserlight's way)?

[djjjozsi]

i show you on the first line:

  echo "<td> <input type='text' name='ingredientAMT[]' size=1 /></td>"; 

Because [] will generate automatic indexing, started from 0.

[metomeya]

ah I see thanks