[SOLVED] restricting number of characters

[php101]

Hi, I neeed to restrict an input field in a form to maximum 8 characters.

Can you help by adding in green color to the following code?

Thanks a lot.

 

<td><?=$s_lang['midname'];?>: </td>    <td><input type="text" class="main_text" name="midname" style="width:90%;" value="<?=$_POST['midname'];?>" /></td>

 

[947740]

<input type="text" class="main_text" name="midname" style="width:90%;" value="<?=$_POST['midname'];?>" maxlength="8"  />

 

[dptr1988]

Tack on a "size='8'" to the HTML input field to remind the user that it only accepts 8 characters.

<?php
<td><?=$s_lang['midname'];?>: </td>    <td><input type="text" size="8" class="main_text" name="midname" style="width:90%;" value="<?=$_POST['midname'];?>" /></td>
?>

 

 

Then check the lenght of the string in PHP like this:

<?php
$midname = trim($_POST['midname']);
if (strlen($midname) > 
{
  // Complain or cut the variable down to 8 characters
}
?>

 

 

http://us2.php.net/strlen

http://us2.php.net/manual/en/ref.strings.php

 

 

 

[dptr1988]

Oops! I was wrong!!

 

Use 'maxlength=8'  in HTML instead of 'size=8'

 

But be sure that you check the length in PHP. The is the one place that counts.

 

 

[947740]

You could use the size="8" anyways just so they do not misunderstand.

 

But be sure that you check the length in PHP. The is the one place that counts.

Is there really any point in checking it in PHP if you have the maxlength property?  I do not think there is a way to get around that.

 

[dptr1988]

If you are not concerned about security you can skip the PHP lenght check, but it's a good habit to always check you script input.

 

PS: I have a Firefox extension that overrides all of the properties like that in a HTML form and lets me submit what ever I want. There are many other ways to do that too.

[947740]

Ah.  You learn something new every day.  Never mind my previous post then.

[php101]

Thanks very much dptr2988 and 947740.

The page has been updated and it is working okay.

 

[947740]

Glad to help.