One form triggering another

timstring

I have a 'multiple' form consisting of a field named 'System', and others. After a user selects a system in the list, I want another 'multiple' form to appear on the same page which is generated depending on the selected System.

What language would be best to accomplish this? Would y'all point me in the right direction?

jeepin81

What you're looking for is either AJAX or reloading the page.. I would recommend using AJAX. Trying searching for "php ajax form"... That should point you in the right direction.

HTH

timstring

I've spent the whole day digging for answers and none are simple enough for what I need to do. All I need to do is pass one number from one <select> routine to another.

Here's the code that will draw both fields:

$host="localhost";
$user="root";
$password="*type password here**";
$Dbname = "CallsToDispatch";


$cxn = mysql_connect($host,$user,$password)
or die (mysql_error() . "couldn’t connect to server");


mysql_select_db($Dbname, $cxn)
or die(mysql_error() . "couldn't select database");


echo '<form name="SystemForm" action="Retrieve.php" method="post" >';

echo '<select name="SystemNum" size="8" multiple="multiple" style="text-align:left;">';



echo '<option value = "0">All Systems In Texoma</option>';



$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM Systems ORDER BY LongSystem");

while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))

		{
			$SystemNum = $row['SystemNum'];
			echo '<option value = "' . $SystemNum . '">' . $row['LongSystem'] . '</option>';
		}
echo '</select>';

// second box starts here

echo '<div class = "center" style="width:400px; margin:auto">';

echo '<select name="TechNum" size="8" multiple="multiple" style="text-align:left;">';
echo '<option value="0">All Techs in System</option>';


$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM Techs", $cxn);
$num_rows = mysql_num_rows($result);

	if ($SystemNum == 67) $Quest = "SELECT * FROM Techs WHERE Contractor != ''";
	else $Quest = "SELECT * FROM Techs WHERE SystemNum = '$SystemNum' ORDER BY '$TechNum'";
	$result = mysql_query($Quest, $cxn)
		or die ('Santa Claus is watching you' . mysql_error());

	while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
		{ 
			$FirstName = $row['FirstName'];
			$LastName = $row['LastName'];
			$TechNum = $row['TechNum'];

			echo '<option value = "' . $TechNum . '">' . $TechNum . '--' . $FirstName . ' ' . $LastName . '</option>';
		}

echo '</select>';

echo '<br><br><input type="submit" value="Go" class = "FormButton" name = "Retrieve" style="font:24px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold;">';

echo '</form>';

All I need is to pass the value of "SystemNum" to the second <select> field, which will then be populated with the techs that are in that "SystemNum". Also, I don't want the second <select> to appear until the user makes his selection of "SystemNum"

Derokorian

so if [man]isset/man then output the second select box? Also, did you look at ajax at all like he recommended? You'll have to trigger the post when the first select is chosen OR make it a 3 step process, first step select system, second step select tech, final step retrieve (whatever Retrive.php does).

timstring

Did I look at ajax? I spent almost a whole day searching for AJAX answers, and everything I found was way too hefty for the seemingly small problem I have. I finally found the manual for jQuery, and there I have found some helpful hints.

Thank you for the 'isset' hint.

timstring

I shamelessly steal good stuff. Here's what I found @ good ole w3schools, which isn't working as it should.:

<script>
function showUser(str)
{
alert(str + "hello");


xmlhttp.open("GET","TryQ.php?q="+str,true);
xmlhttp.send();
}
</script>

Instead of launching "TryQ.php" the routine reverts to itself in an endless loop.

Then, the code for TryQ.php:

<?php
$q=$_GET["q"];
echo 'help ' . $q;
die();

Yep, that's all there is for now. What am I doing wrong?

timstring

Google keeps drawing me to this code:

<script>
function loadXMLDoc()
{
var xmlhttp;
if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
  {// code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
  xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
  }
else
  {// code for IE6, IE5
  xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
  }
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange=function()
  {
  if (xmlhttp.readyState==4 && xmlhttp.status==200)
    {
    document.getElementById("myDiv").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;
    }
  }
xmlhttp.open("GET","demo_get2.asp?fname=Henry&lname=Ford",true);
xmlhttp.send();
}
</script>

This works fine if triggered by a button, but I'll be switched if I can figure out how to pass a variable to the function with "onChange".

Any more hints?

I'll get that duck sooner or later.

timstring

Persistance. I now have enough feathers to make a king-size mattress. I'll probably have another question in a few minutes.

jeepin81

Maybe instead of going for the full monty.... start with the basics. It will help in the long run. As far as onchange.... yourFunc(this.value);

hth