Select DropDowns And The Selected Option

[sleepingpeace]

If I have a variable and a hard coded select dropdown, what is the easiest way to compare the variable with the value and set that particular option's selected attributed to selected?

[Alexv]

Only way i can think of is by using JavaScript.

[Psycho]

If I have a variable and a hard coded select dropdown, what is the easiest way to compare the variable with the value and set that particular option's selected attributed to selected?

 

You can start by making your drop-down to NOT be hard coded. At the very least make your options a hard-coded array, then build the select list dynamically so you can auto-select the appropriate value.

 

Here is some rough sample code

<?php

$selectedValue = 'b';

$colorList = (
    'r' => 'Red',
    'g' => 'Green',
    'b' => 'Blue',
    'y' => 'Yellow',
    'p' => 'Purple'
)

$colorOptions = '';
foreach($colorList as $value => $label)
{
    $selected = ($selectedValue==$value) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
    $colorOptions .= "<option value='{$value}'>{$label}</option>\n";
}

?>
Select a color:
<select name="color">
<?php echo $colorOptions; ?>
</select>

[sleepingpeace]

Excellent response and just what I needed. With a few adjustments to your rough draft it worked perfectly. Thank God for forums and intelligent people.