Simple Web Post Form Error (Parse error)

[JMASTERJ]

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /home/pbgwell/public_html/process-form_CC.php on line 16

Hi all! First post so take it easy on me if i make a mistake. I have done many post forms before, and basically I do it "fool proof" way, save the last one as the new one and edit the data. I am not the PHP expert but I am not totally clueless either, and this has worked until now. I have checked for semicolons and quotes, but the thing is, I dont even have to bec I have tested between two different version on a different domain, and the same part of the error code works in one and doesnt in another. I have also checked my web page form code and thats fine too. Here is the code... (not final version but I deleted a lot of stuff to streamline for testing).. I have use that
$headers = "From: $email";
line in all my sites and this is the first time it comes up with an error. I must be missing something else, help!

---

<?php
// Pick up the form data and assign it to variables
$firstname = $POST['firstname'];
$lastname = $POST['lastname'];
$email = $_POST['email'];

// Build the email (replace the address in the $to section with your own)
$to = '[e-mail]';
$subject = "PBG.com Service Request from $first $last";
$body = "New Contact Form Information

First Name: $firstname
Last Name: $lastname
Email: $email

$headers = "From: $email";

// Send the mail using PHPs mail() function
mail($to, $subject, $body, $headers);

// Redirect
header("Location: form_ty.htm");

---

[Emma]

JMASTERJ;10961633 wrote:

<?php
// Pick up the form data and assign it to variables
$firstname = $_POST['firstname'];
$lastname = $_POST['lastname'];
$email = $_POST['email'];

// Build the email (replace the address in the $to section with your own)
$to = '[e-mail]';
$subject = "PBG.com Service Request from $first $last";
$body = "New Contact Form Information

First Name: $firstname
Last Name: $lastname
Email: $email

$headers = "From: $email";

// Send the mail using PHPs mail() function
mail($to, $subject, $body, $headers);

// Redirect
header("Location: form_ty.htm");

As you can see when you put your code in the

 tag, $body doesn't have a closing speech mark.  So it is complaining about 'From: $email' as that should be inside a string.

[ixalmida]

Two things:

1) Get yourself a decent editor (or IDE) that will help you avoid syntax errors such as this. Eclipse PHP is free and will alert you to syntax errors. Even a simple editor like VIM will give you enough feedback to at least know that there's an error somewhere.

2) Download a mail plug-in, such as Pear mail. The learning curve is pretty minor and it will give you easy capabilities (such as attachments) that are otherwise very difficult to implement with just mail().

[JMASTERJ]

Thanks so much for the prompt responses and good advice...

I was actually using Crimson and it does have some color codes but doesnt show errors...

Frankly I know about programming in general and am good at "copying" almost anything but I dont know ONE basic of PHP, lol, so ya, that closing the body tag, I didnt even know what u meant until I did research and saw I missed the "; tag at the end.

I'll try the Eclipse even though I dont do much PHP at all, but it should be nicer to use than Crimson for this.

I'll save the Pear for a future date, too many deadlines right now! Thanks tho, it does look cool.... 😃

[ixalmida]

There are Eclipse plugins for a variety other languages, so you'll probably find it useful for more than just PHP. For example, it is invaluable for developing Android apps.

One of the things I appreciate most about PHP is the extensive online manual, where I invariably find almost any PHP answer I'm looking for. Most of the questions I come to the forum with are issues of best practices and help with algorithms.