HTML processing with PHP

phpbuild12

I would like to ask how do I process HTML dropdown menu with PHP?

Right now my dropdown looks like:

<select name="messages">
<option value="msg1">Message 1 - </option>
<option value="msg2">Message 2 - </option>
<option value="msg3">Message 3 - </option>
<option value="msg4">Message 4 - </option>
<option value="msg5">Message 5 - </option>
</select>

Weedpacket

[man]tutorial.forms[/man]
[man]variables.external[/man]

phpbuild12

Ohh I just found 1 mistake I made, I used value="" instead name="", as I call them by the value, right?

@the first tutorial....I know how to get data from textfields and stuff, I just dont get it right when dealing with dropdowns...
@second tutorial....did by the example shown in there, but couldnt get it right.

Ashley_Sheridan

What code have you got. Just saying you didn't get it right isn't really much help to us.

phpbuild12

Ok, well actually I got it working now. Now I have another problem....

I have a structure of...

html form1

<?php
code1
?>

html form2

<?php
code2
?>

Now I have defined a variable inside first php block that gets input from POST (from first html form), and I would like to use it in second block of php.. well...I can use it, echo it and all but after I do few check for html form inside second block of php code I cant use it fater if statements.

Ashley_Sheridan

Again, what code are you using? For all we know it might be unicorns and fairies causing the problems.

phpbuild12

Well..

HTML FROM HERE

<?php
if( isset($POST['message']) ) {
$selected_message = $POST['message'];
echo '<strong>Selected message:</strong> '.$selected_message;
}
?>

ANOTHER HTML FORM

<?php
//I can use that $selected_message here and it will display

if( $POST['form_submit'] ) {
if( isset($POST['birthday']) && !empty($_POST['birthday']) ) {

// echo $selected_message; it will not work here...

Ashley_Sheridan

How are you passing across $selected_message to the second script, or is it the same file? What processing is being done in the bits you've omitted from your code? Also, please use the

 or [code=php] forum tags to mark up your code.

phpbuild12

Well... $selected_message is a variable created from getting data from a HTML form in the same file. I dont really understand what you mean by the second question..

Ashley_Sheridan

My second question is about the stuff which you've omitted from your example. If you can use $selected_message in the second part of that script (I'm assuming now from what you're saying that this is all one file, HTML and all?) there is no way that it gets magically forgotten inside a couple of if statements unless there is other code that's causing this. The example you gave didn't show that.

phpbuild12

Well right now I get another problem, I have changed a code a bit, and now when I try to echo data from DB (I have 3 items inside), and it only shows 2?

Weedpacket

phpbuild12 wrote:
I have changed a code a bit

So what does your code look like now? We're not telepathic, you know. This is the first time you've even mentioned a database, so how do you expect us to have the faintest idea what you're talking about?

Please read this and pay attention to what it says before replying further.

dalecosp

Weedpacket;11018399 wrote:
Please read [thread=10218925]this[/thread] and pay attention to what it says before replying further.

Hey, Weed, did you know about the {THREAD} bbCode?

I don't know if it's simpler, or what-not (for one reason, I don't know if you type your BB code or use a clicky widget) ... it does offer the potential advantage of keeping one less tab open when your link is clicked.

Bonesnap

phpbuild12;11018369 wrote:
Ohh I just found 1 mistake I made, I used value="" instead name="", as I call them by the value, right?

No, you need the value attribute. The name attribute is for the select element itself. The value attribute is for the corresponding option elements.

So given the HTML you provided, you would get the value by doing something like this:

//Assuming the form has been submitted

$messages = $_POST['messages'];
echo $messages;

If they selected the first option then it would output msg1. If they selected the third option then it would output msg3.