HELP - PHP NEWBIE - PHPBuilder Forums

HELP - PHP NEWBIE

dr85

Hi All,

I have to develop a php page which pulls data from a field (content) from a table in a database (table1). I have been asked specifically to put these values into a div, whose contenteditable attribute is set to true.

This I have managed to do.

I then need to capture the text from the divs (the user can change the contents) and update the content field according to user input. This is where I am having the problem. How can I capture user input from a content editable div?

Here is the code I have so far:

<html>
<head>
<title>Test Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php

//connect to the database
$link = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "");
$database = "Examples";

if(!$link){
die("Couldn't connect to database");
}else{
print "successfully connected to the server<P>";
}

mysql_select_db($database) or die ("Couldn't open " . $database );
print "successfully connected to the database \"$database\"<P>";

//sql query
$query = mysql_query("SELECT content FROM table1");

$count = 0;
//loop through all rows in the table
while($value = mysql_fetch_row($query)){
//make $x equal to the value required
foreach($value as $content){
//make each value editable
$arr[] = $content;
echo "<div contenteditable=\"true\">$arr[$count]</div> ";
$count = $count + 1;
}
}

//need to update the results
//use UPDATE query and submit via form
?>

</body>
</html>

Thanks in advance. .

dr85

Sorry I forgot to add the form code at the bottom which is supposed to update the data once the submit button is pressed:

<html>
<head>
<title>Test Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php

//connect to the database
$link = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "");
$database = "Examples";

if(!$link){
	die("Couldn't connect to database");
}else{
	print "successfully connected to the server<P>";
}

mysql_select_db($database) or die ("Couldn't open " . $database );
print "successfully connected to the database \"$database\"<P>";

//sql query
$query = mysql_query("SELECT content FROM table1");

$count = 0;
//loop through all rows in the table 
while($value  = mysql_fetch_row($query)){
	//make $x equal to the value required
	foreach($value as $content){
		//make each value editable
		$arr[] = $content;
		echo "<div contenteditable=\"true\">$arr[$count]</div> ";
		$count = $count + 1;
	}
}


?>


<form action = "<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];?>" method = "POST">
<?php
//need to update the results
//use UPDATE query and submit via form
<input type="submit" value = "Submit"/>
</form>

</body>
</html>

nawrik

Having never worked with 'content editable' div's...please correct me if i'm wrong, but would it not be easier to simply use a form 'textarea' wrapped in a div.

By then updating the form you subsequently update the database?

Or am I missing the point here?

What benefits does a content editable div bring?

I don't want to go into a full on example if i'm completely off the mark!

dr85

Wow - thanks for the quick response.

being a newbie, I'm not sure which method is best? I guess my example leads to the question, what is the best approach?

Thanks again.

dr85

The only thing is that the text area must pull the stored info from the database at runtime and update when the user modifies the text. Is that possible?

laserlight

Yes, in the sense that when the form is submitted, you can process it and update the database accordingly.

dr85

ok so how do I go about doing it? Sorry for dumb questions, I am a newb

laserlight

Well, are you learning from say, a book or a tutorial? I could give an example, but it would easier to follow more structured material that will explain it to you.

dr85

I have been learning from this very contrived book which only seems to give advice about the specific examples it provides - which, unfortunately, do not closely relate to what I need to do.

nawrik

dr85,

it seems you have no need for a 'editable content' div - and honestly, I can't even
think of any benefits of such an option.

I imagine the best setup (eventually) for this will be a combination of PHP and AJAX - the AJAX will allow you to update the database instantaneously, without the need of a 'submit' button.

But for now I would recommend getting the basic structure in place.

Hopefully the book you have will talk you through the reasoning behind what you are doing - if not just take each of the blocks below one at a time - google your aim and work on that.

I'm not going to write the code, I feel the best way to learn is search and type yourself.

Create two new .php pages - 'form.php' and 'submit.php'.

Eventually you will be able to combine these pages into one - but having two separate pages will help solidify your thinking into the structure of whats actually going on.

form.php

will need:
// A basic HTML form
// Use HTML text area to create the box you want to type in
// Don't forget the submit button
// Connect to your database
// Create a MYSQL query to select the right information from the database
// Create a variable from that query
// Display that query when the form loads.

submit.php
will need:
// check if the form.php has been 'POST'ed
// Create a variable from the posted textarea
// Connect to your database
// Update your database with the new text
// Was the update successful? (a result)

Have a good go at the above points and post back with your results.

I look forward to seeing your work.

dr85

ok thanks again for your reply. Could you inform me of a way to POST more than one variable within a a form . . .?

Currently I am posting on variable within a textarea within a form and retrieving it in another php file using:

$val = $_POST['var'];

Is it not possible to send across two variables as opposed to one?

Thanks

ps I have completely moved away from editable divs and am now using textarea as suggested. Much easier.

nawrik

You are right,you can send as many as you want...

...the answer lies in the "name=" part of the form components.

For example:

and then you capture it into a variable like this:

$textarea = $_POST['THIS_GETS_POSTed'];
$textbox = $_POST['SO_DOES_THIS'];

Start getting into the habit of naming your variables relevant to the data in them:

i.e Email = $email - not just $val, $value, $variable etc...

dr85

hi I dont get it:

Say on page1.php I have a variable $val which contains a string.

I want that string to be sent across to the next page (update.php) using 'POST' and a form along with another variable which is contained within a textarea:

$val = $_POST['page']; //obtain the selected page

foreach($value as $otherval){?>
<form action = "update.php" method = "POST">
<textarea name = "new_text" rows = "4" cols = "40">
<?php print $otherval;?>
</textarea>
<?php //post another var (page name)?>
<input type ="hidden" name = "page" value =""><?php $val ?></input>
<P>
<input type = "submit" value = "Edit Text"/>
</form>
<?php
}
?>

How do I post $val?? The above doesnt work.

dr85

Ok So i modified the above a little to :

foreach($value as $otherval){?>
	<form action = "update.php" method = "POST">
	<textarea name = "new_text" rows = "4" cols = "40">
	<?php print $otherval;?>
	</textarea>
	<?php //post another var (page name)?>
	<input type = "hidden" name = "pagename" value = "<?php $_POST['page'];?>">
	<P>
	<input type = "submit" value = "Edit Text">

</form>
<?php
}
?>

In update.php I try to print the value of $_POST['pagename'] but it remains blank. . .

Any Ideas as to why its value isnt being sent? Is it something to do with the hidden attribute? How do I access the variable sent in my new php file:

Thanks

dr85

<?php $_POST['page'];?> has a value in this current php page too, it's value isnt being sent across however.

bradgrafelman

That's because you're not telling PHP to do anything with that value - try adding a print/echo there.

EDIT: Also, when posting PHP code, please use the board's [noparse]

..

[/noparse] bbcode tags as they make your code much easier to read and analyze.

nawrik

dr85,

apologies for the late reply, I saw your reply in my phone email but completely forgot to get back.

Yep, bradgrafelman is correct in saying you are not actually telling $_POST['page'] to actually do anything.

storing the content in a variable would be the obvious choice, you can then do what you like with that data.

Something like this:

$page = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['page']);

This stores your POST data into the variable $page, the 'mysql_real_escape_string()' is an optional extra which I highly recommend getting into the habit of using.

You can find out more about what it does here - but in a nutshell it prepends backslashes to certain characters ultimately stopping bad people from 'injecting' naughty code into your database and possibly doing untold things like wiping the data stored.

Anyway, you have your $page variable - simply call it like this:

<input type="hidden" name="pagename" value="<?php echo $page; ?>">

Hope this helps!