Checkbox Validation in a Loop

[rn14]

Hi,

 

Below I output 3 pieces of information from a database in a loop. This is done for 7 records in the database. With each 3 pieces of information there is also a checkbox. The value of this checkbox is set to a value from the database. I want to be able to insert php validation to ensure that the user selects five and only five of these checkboxes.

 

I have a feeling there is a simple solution to this if anybody can point me towards it that would be great.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM menus_show ORDER BY date DESC LIMIT 0,7 ;");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
$image = $row['image'];
$title = $row['title'];
$description = $row['text'];
?>
<div class = "dishes">
<span>
<?
   echo strip_tags($image, '<img>, <span>'); 
?>
  </span>
  <h2>
<?echo strip_tags($title, '<span>');?>
</h2>
  <p>
<?echo strip_tags($description, '<span>');?>
</p>
<p><input type="checkbox" name="meal[]"  value="<?php echo $row['id']; ?>" CHECKED/> Include this meal in my selection</p>
  <div class="clear"></div>
<input type="hidden" name="number"  value="3"> 
</div>
<?
}
?>
   <input type="submit" value="Submit Changes" name = "b1" onclick = "function.php"> 
</form>

[rn14]

Anybody got any ideas here?

[.josh]

You mean like this?

 

if (count($_POST['meal']) > 5)) {
  // too many
}

[JasonLewis]

You mean like this?

 

if (count($_POST['meal']) > 5)) {
  // too many
}

 

Wouldn't it be this?

if (count($_POST['meal']) == 5)) {
//just enough
}else{
//too many or not enough
}

[rn14]

thanks for the help guys. Just one more question about this. I want it to prevent the user from going to the next page. How do I adapt this so that when the user hits the form submit button they will remain on this page if they have selected more than 5??

 

Thanks

[.josh]

@ProjectFear:  yeah probably. For some reason I interpreted the OP to mean "You can pick up to 5 but no more."

 

@rn14: in the else {..}  use a header to redirect back to the form.