how to merge 3 form fields to 1?

[damic]

First - I'm new. So, please - go easy because I'm sure I'm going to have some noob questions.

I'm not a programmer, but I know enough to deal with much of it and with databases. Obviously, I'm not an expert at any of it, but I am truly trying to learn and understand what I can.

What I would like to do is to merge 3 fields of a form into 1 field in a db, but I have no idea how to do that exactly. So far today I've probably been to a few dozen links looks for info, and have yet to really find what I'm looking for. From what I understand, it is possible - I'm just not sure what code should be added where.

Currently, I'm dealing with a form that has 3 drop downs to represent the MM/DD/YYYY of someone's birthday. This form also has a dropdown for Age. Yes, that is redundant, I know. The reason they are both still on there is because I combined two forms (one serves as a newsletter form). The other form is what a client wanted with fields different from the typical newsletter form. Instead of needing two forms, I'm instead combining the forms so that they have the fields they want, but it still connects direct to the newsletter db. Hope that makes sense. For further references in my post - the newsletter form is form1 and the client side form is form2.

Currently, form2 has one text field for DOB. For the most part it works fine, however, 30-40% of people leave off the year, or there is confusion in month/day, etc. Form1 however does not have a DOB field - it instead has an Age dropdown.

What I wanted to do is to create 3 drop downs for MM/DD/YYYY - which I have done. Given that - you'd need a seperate db field to store each. However, I'd rather just have one new field that combines the three fields together. So instead of field1 being MM, field 2 being DD and field3 being YYYY - cmbfield would be MM/DD/YYYY.

I've read there are ways to do that using client side js - but I've also read that it tends to be buggy. I'd prefer it to be something done on the server side. OR - if anyone here has a better suggestion how to accomplish this - I am open to that.

The reason I am thinking of doing it this way is to ensure that people fill out their DOB correctly, making it easier to figure out their current age. In a perfect world, I'd like to eventually have the mysql db show their DOB and their age - but have the age field auto-calculated via the DOB fields. I'm sure that is more complicated though, and right now, I'm just trying to learn one thing at a time.

So, I guess for right now - the question is this something I can actually do? I presently have the three dropdowns - cmbMonth, cmbDay and cmbYear. What I'm most concerned about is that due to the way the system works. The main db is one domain - the client form is on another. So, there is one process file on the client location that communicates back to another process file at the primary location. Given that, I'll have to adjust both files for it to relay the information properly I would assume - or maybe, I can just make the adjustments on the primary process file - and let the client side just relay the 3 seperate fields to it.

I know this question may seem completely crazy and something most of you could do in your sleep. Thanks in advance for any tips and advice. I do appreciate it very much.

[Krik]

I think I get the gist of what you are trying to do.

As you didn't provide us with any of your code I am just going to copy paste two segments out of a current project I am working on. And hopefully it will get you going in the right direction.

In this project I have about 20 admins entering dates for scheduling. Of course I never could get them to use a YYYY-MM-DD formated date so I had to force them to do it the right way with drop down menus. So here is the dynamically generated year, month and day fields I have.

<div class="reportdiv">
	<label class="formlabels" title="Start Date for recurring events">Date: </label>
	<select class="formfields dates" id="syear" name="syear">
		<option value="">Year</option>
	<?php
		$startyear = date('Y');
		$endyear = date('Y') + 2;
		for ($i = $startyear; $i <= $endyear; $i++) {
	?>
		<option value="<?php echo $i; ?>"><?php echo $i; ?></option>
	<?php
		}
	?>
	</select>
	<select class="formfields dates" id="smonth" name="smonth">
		<option value="">Month</option>
	<?php
		for ($i = 1; $i <= 12; $i++) {
	?>
		<option value="<?php echo sprintf("%02s", $i); ?>"><?php echo sprintf("%02s", $i); ?></option>
	<?php
		}
	?>
	</select>
	<select class="formfields dates" id="sday" name="sday">
		<option value="">Day</option>
	<?php
		for ($i = 1; $i <= 31; $i++) {
	?>
		<option value="<?php echo sprintf("%02s", $i); ?>"><?php echo sprintf("%02s", $i); ?></option>
	<?php
		}
	?>
	</select>
</div>

And then this line coverts them to a single string in for the database

$startdate = $_POST['syear'] . '-' . $_POST['smonth'] . '-' . $_POST['sday'];

[Krik]

but have the age field auto-calculated via the DOB fields. I'm sure that is more complicated though, and right now, I'm just trying to learn one thing at a time.

Well if you get to that point here is how that is done. Its just basic math

Lets assume a DOB on 1996-01-30

$dob = '1996-01-30'; // represents the value from your database

$split_dob = explode('-', $dob);

if ($split_dob[1] > date('m') || ($split_dob[1] == date('m') && $split_dob[2] > date('d'))) {

$age = date('Y') - $split_dob[0] - 1;
}
else {
    $age = date('Y') - $split_dob[0];
}

[damic]

Wow - I had to step away for a few hours here. I really didn't expect such a response so quickly. Thank you very much Krik - I am certainly going to try this method and see what happens.

I didn't post code because I know some sites prefer that you don't. To try to give a bit more explanation though, I'll post some tidbits below. Keep in mind, this newsletter/member system was built by another person for me several years ago. It's setup as one big db - where I can create new user/client accounts - then for each, it auto generates a new default form. With that configuration, I can take a series of files to the client domain and display/process the form.

So - on client side I have a folder with the various form files. In that folder:

• config.php which provides the connection back to the primary db core.

• memberformphp The actual form itself, all fields and style elements.

Inside this memberform.php - it connects to a validation.js file:

//VP JavaScript Validation Document

//VP Email validation format
vld_Email 					= /^(([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+((\.|_)([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+)*@((\[(((([0-1])?([0-9])?[0-9])|(2[0-4][0-9])|(2[0-5][0-5])))\.(((([0-1])?([0-9])?[0-9])|(2[0-4][0-9])|(2[0-5][0-5])))\.(((([0-1])?([0-9])?[0-9])|(2[0-4][0-9])|(2[0-5][0-5])))\.(((([0-1])?([0-9])?[0-9])|(2[0-5][0-5]))\]))|((([a-zA-Z0-9])+(([\-])+([a-zA-Z0-9])+)*\.)+([a-zA-Z])+(([\-])+([a-zA-Z0-9])+)*)))?$/;
//vld_Email_Message			= "Format should be -\n\t [e-mail]\n\tor [e-mail]\n\tor [e-mail]"

/*
vld_ZipPostalCodeUS 		= /^(([0-9]{5}(( |\-)[0-9]{4})?){1})?$/;
vld_ZipPostalCodeUS_Message = "Use xxxxx-xxxx or xxxxx xxxx or xxxxx format.";

vld_ZipPostalCodeI 			= /^([0-9]{6})?$/;
vld_ZipPostalCodeI_Message 	= "It can contain a 6 Digit Number only";
*/

vld_ZipCode 				= /^([0-9]{5})?$/;
//vld_ZipCode_Message 		= "It can contain a 5 Digit Number only";


function ValidateForm(pobjForm)
{
	var IsValidField = true;

lobjElements = pobjForm.elements;
//alert(lobjElements.length);

for(lintLopCnt = 0; lintLopCnt < lobjElements.length; lintLopCnt ++ )
{
	if(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("required") == "yes")
	{
		//alert(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("fieldName"));
		if (lobjElements[lintLopCnt].type=="text")
		{
			if(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].value == "")
			{
				lstrErrSpan = "err" + lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("fieldName");
				//alert(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].value);
				document.getElementById(lstrErrSpan).innerHTML = "Required";

				IsValidField = false;
			}
			else if(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].value != "")
			{
				lstrErrSpan = "err" + lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("fieldName");

				if (validate(lobjElements[lintLopCnt]))
				{	
					document.getElementById(lstrErrSpan).innerHTML = "";
				}
				else
				{
					document.getElementById(lstrErrSpan).innerHTML = "Incorrect";
					IsValidField = false;
				}
			}
		}

		//VP textarea

		if (lobjElements[lintLopCnt].type=="textarea")
		{
			//
		}

		//VP validate combo box
		if (lobjElements[lintLopCnt].type=="select-one")
		{
			if(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("required") == "yes")
			{
				if(lobjElements[lintLopCnt].selectedIndex == 0)
				{
					lstrErrSpan = "err" + lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("fieldName");
					document.getElementById(lstrErrSpan).innerHTML = "Required";
					IsValidField = false;
				}
				else
				{
					lstrErrSpan = "err" + lobjElements[lintLopCnt].getAttribute("fieldName");
					document.getElementById(lstrErrSpan).innerHTML = "";
				}
			}
		}
	}
}

if(IsValidField == true)
{
	return true;
}
else
{
	alert('Please fill Required fields.');
	return false;
}
}

function validate(pObj)
{
	IsValidField = true;
	if(pObj.getAttribute("validation") != null)
	{
		lstrValid = pObj.getAttribute("validation");
		//alert(lstrValid);
		if ( (eval(lstrValid).test(pObj.value)== false ) )
		{
			IsValidField = false;
		}
	}

if (IsValidField == true)
{
	return true;
}
else
{
	return false;
}
}

• memberprocess.php is the actual process file which connects directly with the config file to communicate back to the db.

In side the memberprocess file: (keep in mind, the following does not include any of the changes I am making to the db yet, or the memberform itself.

<?php
	include("config.php");
	// ****************************************************************** 
	// CODE TO CHECK TO SEE IF USER ALREADY SIGNED UP WITH EMAIL 
	// ****************************************************************** 

$gcSiteId = 12;

$testquery = "SELECT * FROM tblmember".$gcSiteId." WHERE fldemail='".$_REQUEST['txtEMail']."'"; 
//echo($testquery);
// send query to db
$result = mysql_query($testquery); 
// Load from the db
// if we find any records we say we have found one. 

$found = false; 
while (mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC))
{ 
   $found = true;
} 

// ***************************************************************** 
// redirect to an already signed up page. 
// AND don't record the sign up 
// ***************************************************************** 

if ($found)
{
	/*echo("<script language=javascript>alert('Found..');</script>");*/
	header("Refresh: 0;url=".$serverRoot."index.php?pagetoget=error"); 
	exit(0);
} 
else
{
	/*echo("<script language=javascript>alert('Not found..');</script>");*/
	// ***************************************************************** 
	// otherwise sign the user up. 
	// *****************************************************************

	$sqlAdd = "INSERT INTO tblmember".$gcSiteId." (`fldId`, `fldfirstname`, `fldlastname`, `fldage`, `fldgender`,`fldphone`, `fldaddress`, `fldcity`, `fldstate`, `fldzip`, `fldemail`, `fldcomments`, `fldactive`) VALUES ('','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtFirstName'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtLastName'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['cmbAge'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['rdoGender'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtPhone'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtAddress'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtCity'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtState'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtZip'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtEMail'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtComments'])."','".$_REQUEST['rdoActive']."')";
	//echo($sqlAdd);
	if(mysql_query($sqlAdd))
	{
		header("Refresh: 0;url=".$serverRoot."index.php?pagetoget=thanks");
	}
	else
	{
		//echo(mysql_error();
	}
}
?>

Inside this memberprocess.php file is where the client assignment comes into play

$gcSiteId = 12;

That number represents the client assignment. Any entries to this form would then feed the data to the db - and assign to the specific client in it's own table.

Given that I didn't write all of this, I can't honestly say if it is the best/cleanest, etc. I'm just dealing with and trying to learn based on what I have to work with right now.

This form setup creates the new table for a user/client inside the same db - and each table has the same form fields by default. I can and do go in and make modifications to a form for a specific user/client, but I have yet to do anything this involved (meaning, creating the 3 drop downs and trying to merge them into one field).

Creating the 3 drop downs is easy enough, I'm just not clear on the merge part. For instance, each form already has a field for DOB - do I need to create 3 new fields for MM/DD/YYYY? Or, does the "merge" part of this plan mean that I don't need them? As in - the drop downs only exist on the client side - but when processed, feeds back to the db as one DOB field.

If that is the case, then I would assume that I don't need the additional 3 fields in the db - but that's one of the things I'm not 100% clear on just yet.

Thanks again for taking a look and for the tips.

[Krik]

Merging data is very common thing in PHP

$myvar = 'hello world';
$anothervar = 'bye world';

$newvar = $myvar . ' ' . $anothervar

$newvarplus =  'I said ' . $myvar . ' first and ' . $anothervar . ' later.;

In your case you are using a form so you just do that with $POST variables

$dob = $_POST['year'] . '-' . $_POST['month'] . '-' . $_POST['day']; 

and then insert "$dob" into the database

mysql_query ("INSERT INTO `user` (`DOB`) VALUE ('$dob')");

I think your confused on how the form and the database interact. And truly they don't even know the other exists. The form is just a form it just sends data to PHP. The database just stores data and PHP can look at or add data to it. PHP is the intermediary and the form and database never talk to each other. So your form is submitted to PHP and PHP can take it and manipulate, mutilate, combine, analyze, or completely make it unrecognizable. After PHP is done doing whatever needs to be done to the form data then PHP inserts the data into the database.

So whether you have 8 fields in the DOB (one for every numeral) or 1 field for the DOB, is entirely dictated by what PHP does with the data. You could have one field in the form and PHP could turn it in to 8 separate pieces of data or you can have 3 fields and PHP can make it 1 piece of data or an any combination in between.

I hope that all makes sense. So just make whatever form fields on your page you want then have php dictate how that data is handled.

[damic]

Krik;10962677 wrote:

I think your confused

I usually am 🙂 - so I think you are correct in this case.

I think what I am confused about this:

$dob = $_POST['year'] . '-' . $_POST['month'] . '-' . $_POST['day']; 

What I can't figure out is where to actually put this line in any of the docs. That may seem completely ridiculous to you - but then again, I am still trying to learn everything.

ON the page with the form called in - I have this:

<?php include("forms/config.php"); ?>

<?php $gcSiteId = 12; ?>

<?php

$selectQMem = "SELECT * FROM tbluser WHERE fldId = ".$gcSiteId;

$resMem = mysql_query($selectQMem);

$resArrayMem = mysql_fetch_array($resMem)

?>

I tried adding the merge in that section (just below $selectQMem) - but it didn't work. And it caused no error that I could see when submitting the form.

And, though I had included this file earlier - I revised these lines in memberprocess.php

		$sqlAdd = "INSERT INTO tblmember".$gcSiteId." (`fldId`, `fldfirstname`, `fldlastname`, `fldage`, `flddob`, `fldgender`,`fldfavoritedj`, `fldphone`, `fldaddress`, `fldcity`, `fldstate`, `fldzip`, `fldemail`, `fldmarried`, `fldkids`, `fldhomeowner`, `fldincome`, `fldcomments`, `fldactive`) 
			VALUES ('','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtFirstName'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtLastName'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['cmbAge'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['cmbDob'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['rdoGender'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['cmbFavoriteDJ'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtPhone'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtAddress'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtCity'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtState'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtZip'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtEMail'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['rdoMarried'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['rdoKids'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['rdoHomeowner'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['cmbIncome'])."','".addslashes($_REQUEST['txtComments'])."','".$_REQUEST['rdoActive']."')";

By modify - I mean that I added the instance of cmbDob and the various other new fields that I needed to add.

I then tried to add the line just under that set:

$flddob = $_POST['cmbYear'] . '-' . $_POST['cmbMonth'] . '-' . $_POST['cmbDay'];

Again, no error reported. It process the file file - however, it's not feeding any data into the flddob field in the db. At this point I'm not sure if it's a problem with the PHP (which, since it's not giving errors, I would think it's not) - or with the sql db field.

So at this point:

1 - am I putting the merge line in the correct place? Which of the two locations should I put it? Or is there another place instead?

2 - Any ideas why it wouldn't be feeding that info to the db? Of course, it may be related to #1.

Thanks again for all the tips. I think I'm finally headed in the right direction at least thanks to you.

[damic]

Still no luck figuring this out... any further suggestions? Any are much appreciated.