setting up form fields automatically - PHP Development

[Xerxes]

Hi,
I am trying to set up some form fields based on values queried from a
database, in a PHP file.
If users have already filled out a form and have an ID, they can enter the
ID and have the form filled automaticaaly based on results fetched from the
DB (using customer id).
I put the <input ...> field where users enter their id in one form that
submits to itself and the actual form field (FirstName, LastName,...) in a
separate form. There is no problem, I can enter the id and get the results
from DB and have the fields filled in. The problem is that I can only fill
in the <inpt...> fields and don't know how to get the checkboxes checked or
Select boxes show the proper text(option).
// $cid is customer id that user enters, using an input field called cid
$cid = $_POST['cid'];
$query = "SELECT * from Customers WHERE CustomerID=\"$cid\"";
$result = mysql_query($query);
if(mysql_numrows($result)>0)
{
$result = mysql_fetch_array($result);
$FirstName = $result['FirstName'];
$LastName = $result['LastName'];
....
$select_field = $result['value_from_a_select_box'] // Let's say = text2
$checked_value = $result['value_based_on_a_checkbox_] // if == "yes",
check the checkbox
}

Then in form:
<input type="text" name="FirstName" size="30" value="<?php echo $FirstName
?>" />
<select name="select_name">
<option>text1
<option>text2
<option>text3
</select>

<input name="FR" type="checkbox">

I really appreciate your help.

TIA.

[Alistair Baillie \(SE2002\)]

Checkboxes and lists requie you to set the checked / selected property.

So you would need to do something like (In Pseudocode):

if (thisCheckBoxValueFromDatabase == Selected){
echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" checked name=\"theName\">\n";
}else{
echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"theName\">\n";
}


The same applies for your Selection boxes, only u set the <option
selected>Blah</option> for selected and <option>Blah</option> for
unselected.

- Ali

"Xerxes" <ashkan57hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:91970219665e37b1995bc9f1086fc9f8news.teranew s.com...

> Hi,
> I am trying to set up some form fields based on values queried from a
> database, in a PHP file.
> If users have already filled out a form and have an ID, they can enter the
> ID and have the form filled automaticaaly based on results fetched from

the

> DB (using customer id).
> I put the <input ...> field where users enter their id in one form that
> submits to itself and the actual form field (FirstName, LastName,...) in a
> separate form. There is no problem, I can enter the id and get the results
> from DB and have the fields filled in. The problem is that I can only fill
> in the <inpt...> fields and don't know how to get the checkboxes checked

or

> Select boxes show the proper text(option).
> // $cid is customer id that user enters, using an input field called cid
> $cid = $_POST['cid'];
> $query = "SELECT * from Customers WHERE CustomerID=\"$cid\"";
> $result = mysql_query($query);
> if(mysql_numrows($result)>0)
> {
> $result = mysql_fetch_array($result);
> $FirstName = $result['FirstName'];
> $LastName = $result['LastName'];
> ....
> $select_field = $result['value_from_a_select_box'] // Let's say = text2
> $checked_value = $result['value_based_on_a_checkbox_] // if == "yes",
> check the checkbox
> }
>
> Then in form:
> <input type="text" name="FirstName" size="30" value="<?php echo

$FirstName

> ?>" />
> <select name="select_name">
> <option>text1
> <option>text2
> <option>text3
> </select>
>
> <input name="FR" type="checkbox">
>
> I really appreciate your help.
>
> TIA.
>
>

[jsWalter]

"Alistair Baillie (SE2002)" <abailliecis.strath.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:409f66c9nntphost.cis.strath.ac.uk...

> Checkboxes and lists requie you to set the checked / selected property.
>
> So you would need to do something like (In Pseudocode):
>
> if (thisCheckBoxValueFromDatabase == Selected){
> echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" checked name=\"theName\">\n";
> }else{
> echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"theName\">\n";
> }

Yes, but, syntactically, I would do...

The field in the DB that represents the Checkbox field on the form would
contain a 1 (one) or a ZERO (0). 1 = selected, 0 = not selected

Then in the PHP code...

(at the top of the FORM)
// This makes sure that this variable name is still passed and has a
value
// Remember, an unSELECTed checkbox is NOT passed back, therefore
// any existing value in the DB field would NOT be overwritten if this
// SELECTion is changed.
echo '<input type="hidden" name="theName" id="theName" value="0">

(wherever you need this in the form)
// Create Check box, if this is SELECTed, the HIDDEN object is discarded
// if this Checkbox in NOT SELECTed, then the HIDDEN object will be sent
echo '<input type="checkbox" ';

// If there is a TRUE value (1) in the field, then SELECT this checkbox
if (thisCheckBoxValueFromDatabase)
echo ' checked '; // don't forget the space!

// define name and close checkbox tag
echo ' name="theName" id="theName" value="1">';

Hope this helps.

Walter

[Xerxes]

Thanks a lot guys. I got it working.

"jsWalter" <jsWalterKILLtorresSPAM.ws> wrote in message
news:SwEoc.111$kt2.36newssvr33.news.prodigy.com.. .

> "Alistair Baillie (SE2002)" <abailliecis.strath.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:409f66c9nntphost.cis.strath.ac.uk...
>

> > Checkboxes and lists requie you to set the checked / selected property.
> >
> > So you would need to do something like (In Pseudocode):
> >
> > if (thisCheckBoxValueFromDatabase == Selected){
> > echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" checked name=\"theName\">\n";
> > }else{
> > echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"theName\">\n";
> > }

>
> Yes, but, syntactically, I would do...
>
> The field in the DB that represents the Checkbox field on the form would
> contain a 1 (one) or a ZERO (0). 1 = selected, 0 = not selected
>
> Then in the PHP code...
>
> (at the top of the FORM)
> // This makes sure that this variable name is still passed and has a
> value
> // Remember, an unSELECTed checkbox is NOT passed back, therefore
> // any existing value in the DB field would NOT be overwritten if this
> // SELECTion is changed.
> echo '<input type="hidden" name="theName" id="theName" value="0">
>
> (wherever you need this in the form)
> // Create Check box, if this is SELECTed, the HIDDEN object is

discarded

> // if this Checkbox in NOT SELECTed, then the HIDDEN object will be

sent

> echo '<input type="checkbox" ';
>
> // If there is a TRUE value (1) in the field, then SELECT this checkbox
> if (thisCheckBoxValueFromDatabase)
> echo ' checked '; // don't forget the space!
>
> // define name and close checkbox tag
> echo ' name="theName" id="theName" value="1">';
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Walter
>
>