need options for application form. User specifies multiple items.

[phil_b]

Hi all,

 

I'm about to build an application form where users get prices for items they may with to sell. They fill out their personal details then give details of their items.

 

they can add item after item until they are satisfied.

 

the form will look like this:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3900/applyform.jpg

 

I'm a bit confused how to go about it exactly.

 

I'm thinking they could complete it in stages. Stage1 = they provide personal details and a record is inserted into the database (new application record). They proceed to stage2 (new page) and add items one after the other. Each time, an 'items' table will be populated with a new record linking to the application record (in table 'applications').

When finished, an email is sent to the site owner passing the application ID and they can view its details + the details of the linked items.

 

This seems a bit of a long way around and I was wondering if there is a non DB way to go about this and simply email all details created to the site owner?

 

any code examples would be much appreciated!

[SetToLoki]

Hi all,

 

I'm about to build an application form where users get prices for items they may with to sell. They fill out their personal details then give details of their items.

 

they can add item after item until they are satisfied.

 

the form will look like this:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3900/applyform.jpg

 

I'm a bit confused how to go about it exactly.

 

I'm thinking they could complete it in stages. Stage1 = they provide personal details and a record is inserted into the database (new application record). They proceed to stage2 (new page) and add items one after the other. Each time, an 'items' table will be populated with a new record linking to the application record (in table 'applications').

When finished, an email is sent to the site owner passing the application ID and they can view its details + the details of the linked items.

 

This seems a bit of a long way around and I was wondering if there is a non DB way to go about this and simply email all details created to the site owner?

 

any code examples would be much appreciated!

 

my personal choice would be to add extra item boxes on demand using AJAX and then post the entire form to a php script that will do what you need email the contents etc.

 

or you could do as you said but instead of writing to a db write to a file and email the file

[natepizzle]

you could use sessions if you don't want to use a db and email everything when finished.

 

http://us2.php.net/manual/en/book.session.php