[RESOLVED] Creating dropdown box with php to show MySql information

the_mysox1

I have this code that is supposed to create a drop down box that shows a list of names each name has a number assosiated with it inside a table. so what i want to do is to make it so that the user selects a name from the box and then enters the rest of the information and clicks submit and then the name in the drop down box would be transfered into the database as a number so that when i want to i can call all of the information from this form and display it in a nice neat format. sofar the dropdown box only shows one name and it does not have any functionality (it doesn't assosiate the name with the number). i would prefer it to all be done in php/js/html not ajax or anything if that is possible

<?php 
	mysql_connect("localhost", "email", "qwe") or die(mysql_error());
	mysql_select_db("bhi_info") or die(mysql_error());

	$sql = mysql_query("SELECT pastor_id, fname FROM pastors_info") or die(mysql_error());

			while($row=mysql_fetch_array($sql)) { 
				$id=$row["pastor_id"]; 
				$thing=$row["fname"]; 
			$item="<OPTION VALUE=\"$id\">".$thing.'</option>';


} 
?>
<body onload="document.add_church.pastor_id.focus()">

<form action="submit_churches.php" name="add_church" method="post">

Pastor ID: <SELECT NAME="pastor_id">
<OPTION VALUE=0>Choose 
<?php=$item?> 
</SELECT>


<br />
Address: <input type="text" name="c_address" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
City: <input type="text" name="c_city" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
District: <input type="text" name="c_district" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
Postal Code: <input type="text" name="c_pc" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
State: <input type="text" name="c_state" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
Landline Number: <input type="text" name="c_landline" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
Notes: <input type="text" name="c_notes" AUTOCOMPLETE=OFF /><br />
<br/>
<input type="submit" value="Add Contact" /> <input type="reset" Value ="Clear Fields">

</form>

</body>

nevvermind

Get organized!

http://pastebin.com/RnfaHRv8

I've changed lines:
7 - initialize the variable (it's not necessary, but a good practice);
12 - every line (row) gets appended in the $item variable
22 - echoing the $item variable.

EDIT: Made a few other changes resulting in line 9: http://pastebin.com/CtJcf3UM

the_mysox1

Thanks. What did changeing that line do?

the_mysox1

also how would i make this so that when the user types into a textbox and selects the database from a dropdown box it searches specific fields in that database. ie. I type in mosox and select users as the database when i click submit it will check what database i selected and search that database and then display the my contact information in a formated way (it would be nice if i can format how each database is displayed but if i can ok) i have databases with different field names so i don't think that i can just use one formatting meathod.