Updating mysql table info with js array on reload

[spenceddd]

Hi,

 

I've been stuck on this for a while now and I keep coming back to it only to hit another wall.

 

What I am trying to do is allow a user to modify a table on a page then submit the changes by refreshing the page.

 

I have setup the javascript to allow the user to alter the values of the table cells. These values then get passed to a hidden form element that keeps track of the updated rows information in the form of a multidimensional array. This array has all the information needed to update the mysql tables if only I could pass the array back to php when the table reloads.

 

I have had success in passing a php array to javascript using json.

 

I have already posted a thread about this thinking that a jquery ajax function would work but I'm not sure that's necessary plus the thread was moved to the ajax forum where nobody seems to post.

 

Could anyone please help me with this?

 

Any help much appreciated...

 

Spencer

[WebStyles]

if the values get put into a form, all you need to do is submit the form (button or javascript can do this), then detect if a forma has been submitted (because you're submitting to the same page) and just use php to do whatever it is you want to do with the values.

 

 

[spenceddd]

Yes but the form value is a js multidimensional array. Php doesn't seem to see this as anything but a very long string....

[WebStyles]

true, for php that will be a very long string. But it gets there doesn't it?

so you have 2 options:

either seperate all the variables in js and place them in individual forms so that they arrive separated in your php file.

or

break down the entire string once it reaches your php file.

[spenceddd]

Hmm...I can't send to individual form items as the number is limitless and unknown.

 

and I can't seem to interpret the string using php as the seperators for arrays are the same as seperators for array items.

 

Also isn't there just a relatively simple way to pass arrays from js to php?

 

Thanks for your help by the way.

[WebStyles]

in js you can loop through the array and create the string with your own separators before inserting it into the form. That should do the trick.

 

[spenceddd]

My issues there is that one of the table cell which is updateable is a text block where people can write comments, these comments could have any characters in which could ultimately trip it over.

[WebStyles]

you can also search through the text to see if it has anything that will mess up your delimiters and escape them if necessary.

 

or you can always choose something really far-out for your delimiters...

|#|#|-|||||-|#|#| (what are the chances someone will write something like that?)

 

[trq]

I can't send to individual form items as the number is limitless and unknown.

 

You can send arrays through post and get using a syntax such as:

 

<input type="text" name="foo[]" />
<input type="text" name="foo[]" />
<input type="text" name="foo[]" />

 

The value of the fields would show up as an array within the $_GET or $_POST arrays depending on your forms method.

 

Also isn't there just a relatively simple way to pass arrays from js to php?

 

Yes, you can send it as json then use php's json_decode to turn it into a php array.

 

As for the rest of your question. It sound more like your stuck with how to format the JavaScript to send to PHP. This is a JavaScript issue and doesn't belong in this board.

[djlee]

i may not understand the problem. but from what i can tell, could you not use json ? php has a json plugin, and theres both javascript and php libraries for json out there if you dont have the php_json or a library like jquery to work with. Just json encode the form elements and then decode in php. Failing that, why not use post arrays, you can send a limitless number of data via a single variable name using []. for example

 

<textarea name="body[]"></textarea>

 

Then you can just do

 

foreach($_POST['body'])

 

dont know if any pof those two are pertinent to your problem however

 

 

edit: thorpe seems to type quicker than me

[spenceddd]

Ah, sorry I keep replying but others keep beating me to it before I submit.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions but djlee may have a point with posting the array, that sounds even simpler than using json....so to confirm can a post variable hold a multidimesional array?..and can a form item hold a js multidimesional array?

 

thanks a million!

 

Spence

 

 

[trq]

Thanks for all the suggestions but djlee may have a point with posting the array, that sounds even simpler than using json....so to confirm can a post variable hold a multidimesional array?

Yes

..and can a form item hold a js multidimesional array?

No.

[spenceddd]

OK great that makes sense, now can form element hold a json value? and can a post variable hold a json value?

[trq]

Yes and yes. Give it a try.

[spenceddd]

Sorry one last thing, and I know this is specifically js but how do you format the code to put a js multidimensional array to json, is it just:

 

var jsArrays = json_encode(multidimensionalArray);

 

I have tried to find this online but am getting complicated possibilities and not one simple...

 

Thanks again

 

Spencer

[trq]

json_encode is a php function.

 

Most Javascript libraries (if your using one) come with some json manipulation functions. Otherwise, json is just simple JavaScript objects within a string.

[spenceddd]

OK great thanks.

 

I will continue to look for some.

 

Do you know of any of the top of your head?

 

Thanks again for your help.

[trq]

Some what?

[spenceddd]

Do you know of any json manipulation functions that you mentioned above?

 

Something that is equivalent to :

 

var jsArrays = json_encode(multidimensionalArray);

 

but that will allow me to store the multidimensional array in such a way that it can be successfully passed via post and held in a form element.

 

Thanks

 

Spencer

[trq]

Do you understand what json is?

[TeNDoLLA]

Using jquery and this you could do it I guess. http://code.google.com/p/jquery-json/

[spenceddd]

Hi Thorpe,

 

No I don't realy understand what it is to be honest, only that I have used it to pass an array from PHP to JS before....

 

Thanks TeNDoLLA I will check that link out.

 

Spencer