Could somebody please explain this drop down driven page to me?

spenceddd · December 3, 2009

Hi,

I am a total newbie at php. I have manged to setup my database and a form which writes and reads info from it, though probably a bit sketchily.

I have been struggling like hell to get all the fields (well any actually) of my html form to update when a user picks a item from the dropdown list. What I am trynig to achieve is that when a user picks an item from the DD the form finds the info from that row and then fills in all the fields pertaining to that the chosen DD item.

It looks like I have found some code lots of which is baffling me. If anyone could leave some comments on it exlpaining what the code is doing I would be very grateful.


<?php  
//error_reporting(E_ALL); 
require_once('db.php'); ?> 
<?php 
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db); 
$query_seminars = "SELECT id, attend FROM seminar"; 
$seminars = mysql_query($query_seminars, $db) or die(mysql_error()); 
$row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars); 
$totalRows_seminars = mysql_num_rows($seminars); 

$colname_chosen_seminar = "-1"; 
if (isset($_POST['attend'])) { 
  $colname_chosen_seminar = (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? $_POST['attend'] : addslashes($_POST['attend']); 
} 
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db); 
$query_chosen_seminar = sprintf("SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = %s", $colname_chosen_seminar); 
$chosen_seminar = mysql_query($query_chosen_seminar, $db) or die(mysql_error()); 
$row_chosen_seminar = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_seminar); 
$totalRows_chosen_seminar = mysql_num_rows($chosen_seminar); 
?> 
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> 
<html> 
<head> 
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> 
<title>Untitled Document</title> 
<script type="text/javascript"> 
function chkFrm(el){ 
    if(el.selectedIndex == 0){ 
        alert("Please choose an option"); 
        return false 
    } 
    else{ 
    el.form.submit(); 
    } 
} 
</script> 
</head> 

<body> 
<form name="form1" method="post" action=""> 
  <p> 
    <select name="attend" onchange="chkFrm(this)"> 
      <option value="Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['attend']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Seminar</option> 
      <?php 
do {   
?> 
      <option value="<?php echo $row_seminars['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_seminars['id'], $_POST['attend']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>><?php echo $row_seminars['attend']?></option> 
      <?php 
} while ($row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars)); 
  $rows = mysql_num_rows($seminars); 
  if($rows > 0) { 
      mysql_data_seek($seminars, 0); 
      $row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars); 
  } 
?> 
    </select> 
</p> 
  <p>Location  
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['location']; ?>"> 
    <br> 
    From  
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['from']; ?>"> 
    <br> 
    Leader 
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['leadership']; ?>"> 
  </p> 
</form> 
</body> 
</html> 
<?php 
mysql_free_result($seminars); 

mysql_free_result($chosen_seminar); 
?>

Thanks for any help on this...

MadTechie · December 3, 2009

NO...

Okay read the comments

<?php 
//error_reporting(E_ALL);
require_once('db.php'); ?>
<?php
/**
* 1. Query the database and get the ID and attend FROM the table seminar
*/
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db);
$query_seminars = "SELECT id, attend FROM seminar";
$seminars = mysql_query($query_seminars, $db) or die(mysql_error());
$row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars);
$totalRows_seminars = mysql_num_rows($seminars);

/**
* 2. If the form was submitted then get the ID from the attend text box
* This is used for the form location, from and leadership
*/

$colname_chosen_seminar = "-1";
if (isset($_POST['attend'])) {
$colname_chosen_seminar = (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? $_POST['attend'] : addslashes($_POST['attend']);
}
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db);
$query_chosen_seminar = sprintf("SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = %s", $colname_chosen_seminar);
$chosen_seminar = mysql_query($query_chosen_seminar, $db) or die(mysql_error());
$row_chosen_seminar = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_seminar);
$totalRows_chosen_seminar = mysql_num_rows($chosen_seminar);

/**
* Display form
*/
?>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-- THIS IS ALSO A COMMENT
Simple Javascript that checks a value form the drop down has been selected
-->
function chkFrm(el){
if(el.selectedIndex == 0){
	alert("Please choose an option");
	return false
}
else{
	el.form.submit();
}
}
</script>
</head>

<body>
<form name="form1" method="post" action="">
  <p>
    <select name="attend" onchange="chkFrm(this)">
      <option value="Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['attend']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Seminar</option>
      <?php
      /**
       * Loop thought the records found in 1., to build the drop down list for the attend's, Value = the attend ID while ie displays the field attend
       * if the last posted the same attend ID then that will the selected one in the list
       */
      do {
?>
      <option value="<?php echo $row_seminars['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_seminars['id'], $_POST['attend']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>><?php echo $row_seminars['attend']?></option>
      <?php
      } while ($row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars));
      $rows = mysql_num_rows($seminars);
      if($rows > 0) {
      	mysql_data_seek($seminars, 0);
      	$row_seminars = mysql_fetch_assoc($seminars);
      }
?>
    </select>
</p>
  <p>Location 
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['location']; ?>">
    <br>
    From 
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['from']; ?>">
    <br>
    Leader
    <input name="textfield" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_seminar['leadership']; ?>">
  </p>
</form>
</body>
</html>
<?php
mysql_free_result($seminars);

mysql_free_result($chosen_seminar);
?>

spenceddd · December 3, 2009

Thanks very much for that I will try and work it out.

MadTechie · December 3, 2009

As a note theirs a comment in the form (as its easy to miss)

<!-- THIS IS ALSO A COMMENT
Simple Javascript that checks a value form the drop down has been selected
-->

spenceddd · December 4, 2009

Ah yes thanks for pointing it out.

spenceddd · December 7, 2009

I am still quite stuck on understanding this code.

Could anyopne please tell me how the 'get_magic_quotes_gpc()' function works in the context of this code? Also I don't understand '?', addslashes() or %s.

$colname_chosen_seminar = "-1";if (isset($_POST['attend'])) { $colname_chosen_seminar = (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? $_POST['attend'] : addslashes($_POST['attend']);}mysql_select_db($database_db, $db);$query_chosen_seminar = sprintf("SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = %s", $colname_chosen_seminar);$chosen_seminar = mysql_query($query_chosen_seminar, $db) or die(mysql_error());$row_chosen_seminar = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_seminar);$totalRows_chosen_seminar = mysql_num_rows($chosen_seminar);

Again thanks for any guidance on this...

Spencer

MadTechie · December 7, 2009

I have re-written, the code in a format that may help

The commented out lines do exactly the same as the new lines below it

<?php
$colname_chosen_seminar = "-1";
if (isset($_POST['attend'])){
//$colname_chosen_seminar = (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? $_POST['attend'] : addslashes($_POST['attend']);
if(get_magic_quotes_gpc()){
	$colname_chosen_seminar = $_POST['attend']
}else{
	$colname_chosen_seminar =addslashes($_POST['attend']
}
}
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db);
//$query_chosen_seminar = sprintf("SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = %s", $colname_chosen_seminar);
$query_chosen_seminar = "SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = '".$colname_chosen_seminar."' ";
$chosen_seminar = mysql_query($query_chosen_seminar, $db) or die(mysql_error());
$row_chosen_seminar = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_seminar);
$totalRows_chosen_seminar = mysql_num_rows($chosen_seminar);

Now get_magic_quotes_gpc checks to see if "Magic Quotes" are turned on, on the server, (this automatically add's slashes to strings, So the code check to see if they are on, if they are then it doesn't addslashes, if are are NOT on then it does addslashes

As for the sprintf it gets the parameter and put it in a string format where the %s is,

Now my comments..

if the $_POST['attend'] is a number (i assume it is ad MOST ID's are and its not been quoted in the SQL statement) then i would do this

<?php
//if $_POST['attend'] is not set or 0 then set it to -1 else convert to int and user it
$colname_chosen_seminar = (empty($_POST['attend']))?-1:(int)$_POST['attend'];
mysql_select_db($database_db, $db);
//Use the number for the ID
$query_chosen_seminar = sprintf("SELECT * FROM seminar WHERE id = %d", $colname_chosen_seminar);

$chosen_seminar = mysql_query($query_chosen_seminar, $db) or die(mysql_error());
$row_chosen_seminar = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_seminar);
$totalRows_chosen_seminar = mysql_num_rows($chosen_seminar);

Hope that helps

spenceddd · December 7, 2009

Great! Thanks again for your help. I am working through it now hopefully I will have some success!

spenceddd · December 11, 2009

I have now successfuly integrated the above code into my form, though in taking my form forward I am stuck again. It's a bit frustrating as the answers are right in front of me with the existing code. I just need to apply the same functionality to some new UI items. Specifically the image chooser drop down.

Now I just need the image chooser drop down box to populate a table cell with an image when an item from the image chooser drop down list is chosen. Since the form already effectively does this with the portfolio item drop down menu at the top of the page I know it's just a case of understanding the code and reapplying it.

The new image chooser drop down box in question needs to:

# read it's list contents from a folder (which it already does)

# when a list item is selected and the form is submitted it needs to send the item (plus a path string) to the database - I cannot do this in conjunction with the feature above

Although the table cell is populated with the chosen image from the drop down I know that this is just a case of returning whatever is sent from the portfolio top drop down list at the top of the page using the 'post' function.

Below is the script for the entire form to help explain:


<?php  
    include('connectToDB.php');
include('populateDropDownList.php');
include('buildFileList5.php');

?>



<html> 
<head>
<script type="text/javascript"> 
function chkFrm(el){ 
    if(el.selectedIndex == 0){ 
        alert("Please choose an option"); 
        return false 
    } 
    else{ 
    el.form.submit(); 
    } 
} 
</script> 
</head>
<body>
<h1>Select Existing Item: </h1>
<form action"" method="POST" >Existing Item:   
  <select name="name" onChange="chkFrm(this)">
    <option value="Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['name']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Portfolio Items</option>
    <?php 
do {   
?>
    <option value="<?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_PortfolioItems['id'], $_POST['name']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>><?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['name']?></option>
    <?php 
} while ($row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems)); 
  $rows = mysql_num_rows($PortfolioItems); 
  if($rows > 0) { 
      mysql_data_seek($PortfolioItems, 0); 
      $row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems); 
  } 
?>
  </select>
</form> 

<form action="addToPortfolioItems.php" method="post">
<p> Name: 
  <input name="name" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['name']; ?>" size="25">
</p>
<p> Short Description:
  <textarea name="shortDesc" cols="40" rows="4"><?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['shortDesc']; ?></textarea>
</p>
<p> Long Description:
<textarea name="longDesc" cols="40" rows="10"><?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['longDesc']; ?></textarea>
  </p>
  <p>Image01: 
    <select name="img01">
    <option value= "Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['img01']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>
   <option value= <?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['img01']; ?>>
      Choose image</option>
      <? buildFileList5('uploaded'); ?> 
    </select>
</p>
  <table width="24" border="1">
    <tr>
      <td><?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['longDesc']; ?> </td>
      <td> </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><img src="<?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['img02']; ?>" width="250" height="250"></td>
      <td><?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['img02']; ?> </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td> </td>
      <td> </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td> </td>
      <td> </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td> </td>
      <td> </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <p>   </p>
  <p>Related Item01  <select name="relatedItem01" >
    <option value="" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['relateItem01']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Item</option>
    <?php 
do {   
?>
    <option value="<?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_PortfolioItems['id'], $_POST['relateItem01']))) {echo "name";} ?>><?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['name']?></option>
    <?php 
} while ($row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems)); 
  $rows = mysql_num_rows($PortfolioItems); 
  if($rows > 0) { 
      mysql_data_seek($PortfolioItems, 0); 
      $row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems); 
  } 
?>
  </select>
<p>Related Item02  <select name="relateItem02" >
    <option value="Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['relateItem01']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Item</option>
    <?php 
do {   
?>
    <option value="<?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_PortfolioItems['id'], $_POST['relateItem02']))) {echo "name";} ?>><?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['name']?></option>
    <?php 
} while ($row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems)); 
  $rows = mysql_num_rows($PortfolioItems); 
  if($rows > 0) { 
      mysql_data_seek($PortfolioItems, 0); 
      $row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems); 
  } 
?>
  </select>
<p>Related Item03  <select name="relateItem03" >
    <option value="Choose" <?php if (!(strcmp("Choose", $_POST['relateItem03']))) {echo "SELECTED";} ?>>Choose Item</option>
    <?php 
do {   
?>
    <option value="<?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['id']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_PortfolioItems['id'], $_POST['relateItem01']))) {echo "name";} ?>><?php echo $row_PortfolioItems['name']?></option>
    <?php 
} while ($row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems)); 
  $rows = mysql_num_rows($PortfolioItems); 
  if($rows > 0) { 
      mysql_data_seek($PortfolioItems, 0); 
      $row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems); 
  } 
?>
  </select>
<p>Keywords: <input name="keywords" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['keywords']; ?>" size="50">
<p>Skills: <input name="skills" type="text" value="<?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['skills']; ?>" size="50">
<p><input type="submit"/>   
</form>


<h1>Upload an image file</h1>
<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="uploaderAndResize.php" method="POST"><input type="file" name="myfile">
<p>
  <input name="Submit" type='submit' value="upload" >
  <?echo $heldVariable?>
</form>

<h1>Upload a movie file</h1>
<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="uploaderAndResize.php" method="POST"><input type="file" name="myfile">
<p>
  <input name="Submit" type='submit' value="upload" >
  <?echo $heldVariable?>
</form>

<h1>Upload a download file</h1>
<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="uploaderAndResize.php" method="POST"><input type="file" name="myfile">
<p>
  <input name="Submit" type='submit' value="upload" >
  <?echo $heldVariable?>
</form>

</body>
</html>

<?php


?>

This link shows the form in action in its current state:

http://www.spencercarpenter.co.uk/portfolioAppFiles/simpleForm.php

I hope I have explained this properly and will very much appreciate some help.

Spencer

MadTechie · December 11, 2009

$row_chosen_pItem['img01'] and $row_chosen_pItem['longDesc'] don't seam to be set, can you post the code that builds the imagefile list

   include('populateDropDownList.php');
   include('buildFileList5.php');

spenceddd · December 11, 2009

Yeah sure here they are:

buildfileList5:


<?php
function buildFileList5($theFolder) {
  // Execute code if the folder can be opened, or fail silently
  if ($contents = @ scandir($theFolder)) {
    // initialize an array for matching files
    $found = array();
    // Create an array of file types
    $fileTypes = array('jpg','jpeg','gif','png');
    // Traverse the folder, and add filename to $found array if type matches
$found = array();
    foreach ($contents as $item) {
      $fileInfo = pathinfo($item);
      if (array_key_exists('extension', $fileInfo) && in_array($fileInfo['extension'],$fileTypes)) {
        $found[] = $item;
        }
      }

    // Check the $found array is not empty
    if ($found) {
      // Sort in natural, case-insensitive order, and populate menu
      natcasesort($found);
      foreach ($found as $filename) {
        echo "<option value='$filename'>$filename</option>\n";
        }
      }
    }
  }
?>

populateDropDownList:


<?php 
/* 1. Query the database and get the ID and name FROM the table PortfolioItems  */

mysql_select_db($database_db, $dbc); 
$query_PortfolioItems = "SELECT id, name FROM PortfolioItems"; 
$PortfolioItems = mysql_query($query_PortfolioItems, $dbc) or die(mysql_error()); 
$row_PortfolioItems = mysql_fetch_assoc($PortfolioItems); 
$totalRows_PortfolioItems = mysql_num_rows($PortfolioItems); 


/* 2. If the form was submitted then get the ID from the name text box * This is used for the form location, from and leadership **/

$colname_chosen_pItem = "-1"; 
if (isset($_POST['name']))
{	
$colname_chosen_pItem = (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? $_POST['name'] : addslashes($_POST['name']);				
/*if(get_magic_quotes_gpc()){		
	$colname_chosen_pItem = $_POST['name']
}else{
	$colname_chosen_pItem =addslashes($_POST['name']
}*/
}
mysql_select_db($database_db, $dbc); 
$query_chosen_pItem = sprintf("SELECT * FROM PortfolioItems WHERE id = %s", $colname_chosen_pItem); 
$chosen_pItem = mysql_query($query_chosen_pItem, $dbc) or die(mysql_error()); 
$row_chosen_pItem = mysql_fetch_assoc($chosen_pItem); 
$totalRows_chosen_pItem = mysql_num_rows($chosen_pItem); 

//not sure if the term id is meant to be used for the sprintf function

?>

Thanks

Spenec

MadTechie · December 11, 2009

Sorry i have been as busy as hell today, and I'm off out now,

but try this

update

      foreach ($found as $filename) {
        echo "<option value='$filename'>$filename</option>\n";
        }

to

$selectedImage = ""; //default image
foreach ($found as $filename) {
        if(!empty($_POST['img01']) && $_POST['img01'] == $filename){
                $sel = "SELECTED":"";
                $selectedImage = $filename;
        }
        echo "<option value='$filename' $sel>$filename</option>\n";
        }
      }

and

<tr>
      <td><img src="<?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['img02']; ?>" width="250" height="250"></td>
      <td><?php echo $row_chosen_pItem['img02']; ?> </td>
    </tr>

to

<tr>
      <td><img src="uploaded/<?php echo $selectedImage; ?>" width="250" height="250"></td>
      <td><?php echo $selectedImage; ?> </td>
    </tr>

MadTechie · December 11, 2009

Oh and your need to have an onchange

update

<select name="img01">

to

<select name="img01" onchange="chkFrm(this)">

should do it!

spenceddd · December 11, 2009

Ok will do and thanks a million for your help, you are very kind.

spenceddd · December 11, 2009

Hi I have just tried that and now if it errors on the buildfileList5.php file on the line where it says:

$sel = "SELECTED":"";

It says unexpencted ":"

I'm not sure how that operator works so cannot fix it on my own, any ideas?

Spence

MadTechie · December 13, 2009

oops that should be

$sel = "SELECTED";

spenceddd · December 13, 2009

Ah, ok thanks.

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Could somebody please explain this drop down driven page to me?

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