Need Help With Simple Search

[spock9458]

I am trying to get a simple search to work, using input from a form entry.  I have found tutorials and here is my very basic first try:

 

<form method="post" action="contact_search.php">
See if your name is listed as a Contact in our database:
<br><br>
Enter your full name and click the "Search" button:<br>
<input type="text" name="search" size="50"><br>
<br><input type="submit" value="Search"></input>
</form>

 

Anyway, the first line of "contact_search.php" says "if ($search) {..." and goes through the mysql query code after the bracket.  The 'else' code is just an echo that says "The search string is empty..." When I try to do a search, that is what I get - the message saying my search string is empty.  Obviously something is wrong with my code and the string is not getting assigned to "$search"... I'm sure it's something simple, but can someone help?

 

Thanks

[ozestretch]

The tutorial you are working from seems to be old, and relies on globals being on

 

several things;

$search needs to be assigned (and validated)

<?php
$search = mysql_escape_string($_POST['search']); // assuming it is used in a database query

 

another thing, you could post the rest of the code to make sure we are assuming correct

[syed]

Use the get method for searches not post.

[ozestretch]

Use the get method for searches not post.

 

For public searches, I agree. Makes it easy for bookmarking / crawling etc.

 

Either way... with little/no code, our diagnosis will only be assumptive and limited.