trouble forwarding user input (using GET) to the third script

ikkyopaul

This is my first stab at PHP although I do have a history of programming going way back to my college years (in the 80s) so I guess I'll be able to pick things ok.

I run a martials arts club and am looking at moving to MySQL and PHP as a better solution to take attendance than the spreadsheet that I'm currently using.

Unfortunately I'm getting stuck at the first hurdle, hoping someone can help....

The scripts that I have in mind are:
1.dateSelector.php
2.attendance.php
3.SummaryOfAttendance.php

I want the variable $class_date to be carried from script1 through script2 (which works fine) then both values from script2 sent to script3 - this is where I'm getting stuck.

in more detail:

DateSelector.php
input class date $classDate
send $classDate to MemberAttendance.php
MemberAttendance.php
input member's name $memberName
Send $classDate and $memberName to 3.SummaryOfAttendance.php

Keep looping MemberAttendance.php for each person.

I imagine it shouldn't be too complicated but I've tried so many different things over the last few days that it's pretty clear I need some experienced help.

My Scripts

DateSelector.php

<html>
<body>
<form action="MemberAttendance.php" method="get">
Class Date: <input type="text" name="classDate" />
<input type="submit" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

MemberAttendance.php

<html>
<body>
Class Date: <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?><br /><br />
<form action="SummaryOfAttendance.php" method="get">
Members Name: <input type="text" name="memberName" /><br />
// ** How do I also send $classDate along with the form??<br />
<input type="submit" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

SummaryOfAttendance.php

<html>
<body>
Member Name: <?php echo $_GET["memberName"]; ?><br />
Class Date: <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?><br />
<br />
<a href="MemberAttendance.php">Click here to enter another student</a><br />
<a href="some_other_place.php">or here to go some other place</a><br />
</body>
</html>

bradgrafelman

Welcome to PHPBuilder!

ikkyopaul wrote:
// ** How do I also send $classDate along with the form??

You could either use a hidden INPUT element, or just include the variable in the form's action attribute (e.g. '?classDate=$classDate').

ikkyopaul

Thanks for the reply.

I've tried both methods you suggested but unfortunately I'mgetting no luck.

Method 1
Hidden input element

<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="$classDate">

This outputs the text $classDate

Method 2
Form's action attribute

<form action="SummaryOfAttendance.php?classDate=$classDate" method="get">

The form doesn't append $classDate to the URL

I feel I must be missing something 'obvious'. Any ideas?

bradgrafelman

ikkyopaul;10985197 wrote:
Method 1
Hidden input element
<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="$classDate">
This outputs the text $classDate

Well yes, of course it does - that's the value you gave the hidden input.

If you want to actually output the value of that variable, you'll have to use PHP and [man]echo[/man] its contents; PHP isn't going to search through the plain HTML and interpolate variables for you.

ikkyopaul

If you want to actually output the value of that variable, you'll have to use PHP and echo its contents; PHP isn't going to search through the plain HTML and interpolate variables for you.

I'm confused.

I'm am using PHP and echo <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?>
and getting the text $classDate

So I'm not can't really see what you're getting at. Am I supposed to use PHP and echo elsewhere?

This is what I've been using...

MemberAttendance.php

<html>
<body>
Member Name: <?php echo $_GET["memberName"]; ?><br />
Class Date: <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?><br />
<br />
<a href="MemberAttendance.php">Click here to enter another student</a><br />
<a href="DateSelector.php">or here to Change the date</a><br />
</body>
</html>

SummaryOfAttendance.php

<html>
<body>
Class Date: <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?><br /><br />
<form action="SummaryOfAttendance.php" method="get">
Members Name: <input type="text" name="memberName" /><br />
<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="$classDate">
<input type="submit" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

bradgrafelman

ikkyopaul;10985201 wrote:
I'm am using PHP and echo <?php echo $_GET["classDate"]; ?>
and getting the text $classDate

Yes, again, that's as expected since here:

<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="$classDate">

you aren't using PHP and are instead outputting HTML that says the 'classDate' input element should have a value of a dollar sign followed by 'classDate'.

ikkyopaul

bradgrafelman;10985202 wrote:
Yes, again, that's as expected since here:
<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="$classDate">
you aren't using PHP and are instead outputting HTML that says the 'classDate' input element should have a value of a dollar sign followed by 'classDate'.

While I appreciate the logic of what you're saying I don't see a way to fix this. I tried what I understood you were suggesting in your first reply and now this is the problem I'm facing.

I guess the question now is... How do I make a hidden input form function carry over the value of the variable $classDate?

Thanks

johanafm

First page, wether it's generated by php or a static html file. This is where the USER supplies a value for class date.

Let's call it form1.html

<form action="handleForm1.php" method="POST">
	<div>
		<input name="classDate" value="" />
		<input type="submit" value="Submit" name="submit" />
	</div>
</form>

The contents of classDate is sent in a post request, which means php will put the data in $_POST.

handleForm1.php

if (isset($_POST['submit']) && !empty($_POST['classDate']))
{
	$usedAsQueryStringParameterValue = urlencode($_POST['classDate']);
	$usedWithHiddenInput = htmlentities($_POST['classDate'], ENT_QUOTES, 'utf-8');

# do whatever other stuff you need to

# This is how you pass data in the query string (ends up in $_GET)
printf('<form action="handleForm2.php?classDate=&#37;s" method="POST">',
	$usedAsQueryStringParameterValue);

echo '<div>';

# This is how you pass the data as post data (ends up in $_GET or $_POST depending on
# the form's method attribute value
printf('<input type="hidden" name="classDate" value="%" />',
	$usedWithHiddenInput);

echo '<input type="submit name="submit" value="Submit" />

# other stuff
}
# The script was either accessed directly without posting the form data from your first page
# or someone tried to forge a POST request on their own and didn't include the data you require
# in the if conditional above, or an empty string or 0 was supplied as data
else
{
	# show the first form again. You must use a full URL, including schema and domain
	header('location: http://example.com/form1.html');
	exit;
}

handleForm2.php

if (isset($_POST['submit']))
{
	# You should obviously still check that the element 'classDate exists with isset
	# and that it contains valid data

# if you passed classDate in the query string
$cd = $_GET['classDate'];

# if you passed classDate in a hidden input field
$cd = $_POST['classDate'];
}