Set values on html page with php

[jriggs]

php beginner here.  I'm working on a registration form that will post some values to a php page, which in turn redirects to a thank you page.  I plan on using javascript to do some basic data validation, but I also will need to connect to a database to re-validate the data.  Suppose the form passes the javascript validation, but fails the db stuff on the php page:

- How would I redirect back to the html page, but automatically populate whatever fields the user has already filled in?  Is there a preferred method to accomplish this?  Thanks for any suggestions-

[DeanWhitehouse]

To repopulate the fields do (if you are using post)

<input type="text" value="<?php if(isset($_POST['field1'])) {echo $_POST['field1'];} ?>" name="field1">

[seangamer]

Could you not just have php write a quick js script instead of new page if error? i.e:

if(PASSED) { ... }

else { echo('<script type="text/javascript">window.location.history.back();</script>'); }

 

Oor something to that effect. I'm not sure about IE but with FF the browser automatically remembers the form information filled. Hope this helps!