Selection Box

[scottybwoy]

Is it possible to have a selection box with values from a table.  But when the form starts it has an empty value, then the user can type into it and as it does it finds the record that matches the user input?

If so what method must I use?

[willpower]

This can be done...but with javascript and in this case AJAX where you create a 'behind the scenes' link with the database using the DOM object.

But I am afraid...I cant do it

Search google for ajax applications and tutorials. 

[scottybwoy]

Cheers for the pointer.  I have heard of AJAX but didn't reaslise how it was needed.  Now I have to learn some JavaScript and XLM too, damn, was just learnin php first, but it'll all be good under the belt.

[ober]

www.ajaxfreaks.com

That is a sister-site to phpfreaks.com and should help you out quite a bit.  For what we're talking about here, you won't need any XML unless you're storing the data in XML files instead of a database.

[scottybwoy]

Thanks ober, I will be using a database.

While were here on the subject tho, will I have to use this If for instance the customer name entered does not exist can it still put the details into the form but not enter it into the database so that the other fields can be filled in manually by the user, before using a submit to Insert it into the database?