Validation Help and Parse Error?

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

Hi,

I am fairly new to PHP and I was wondering whether the program here will work and that the validation in it will work (i.e. so that if a user enters a number below 1 or above 20, they are informed of their mistake and that if they do not enter anything, then they are informed and that if they enter something that is not a number, they are told).

I have also downloaded WAMP and when I try to run the file on a web browser, I get an error saying "Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '=', expecting '}' in C:\wamp\www\Guessing.php on line 32" and I see no error.

EDIT: The program is a guessing game, where the user has to try to guess a random number between 1 and 20F

Here is the coding:

    <?php
    header("Cache-Control:no-cache");
    function setnum()
    {
    global $num;
    $num=rand(1,20);
    }
    ?>
    <html><head><title>Guessing Game</title></head>
    <body>
    <?php
    $num= check_input($_POST['num']);
    $guess = check_input($_POST['guess']);
    $self=check_input($_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
     
    if ($num==null)
    {
    $msg="I have thought of a number between 1 and 20";
    $msg .="<h3>guess what it is... </h3>";
    setnum();
    }
    else
    {
    if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess=$num)
    {
    $msg = "CORRECT-THE NUMBER WAS $num";
    $msg .= "<h3><a href=\"$self\">";
    $msg .= "CLICK HERE TO TRY AGAIN</a></h3>;
    setnum();
    }
    else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
    {$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is lower</h3>";}
    else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess<$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
    {$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is higher</h3>";}
     
    else if ((is_numeric($guess) && $guess<1) or (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>20)
    {
    $msg="You have entered a number outside of the range of the game<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>;
    }
    else if (empty($_POST['guess']))
    {
    $msg="You did not enter anything into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>;
    }
    else
    {
    $msg="You did not enter a number into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>;
    }
    }
    echo ($msg);
    ?>
     
    <form action = "<?php $self ?>" method="post">
    <input type = "hidden" name = "num" value = "<?php echo $num; ?>">
    Guess: <input type="text" name = "guess">
    <input type = "sumbit" value = "Submit">
    </form>
    </body>
    </html>
     
    <?php
    function check_input($data)
    {
    $data = trim($data);
    $data = stripslashes($data);
    $data = htmlspecialchars($data);
    return $data;
    }
    ?>

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

nine7ySix · January 24, 2012

First off, check your quotes.

You are missing double quotes on lines 28, 38, 42 and 46.

You are also missing a closing bracket on line 36.

On line 55, you also misspelling submit, causing it to be a textbox instead of a submit button.

I'll update this once I find other errors.

And finally, on line 24, you wrote

if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess=$num)

Watch your usage of

and

==

Simply change line 24 to

if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess==$num)

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

First off, check your quotes.

You are missing double quotes on lines 28, 38, 42 and 46.

You are also missing a closing bracket on line 36.

On line 55, you also misspelling submit, causing it to be a textbox instead of a submit button.

I'll update this once I find other errors.

And finally, on line 24, you wrote
if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess=$num)
Watch your usage of
=
and
==
Simply change line 24 to
if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess==$num)

Thanks for the help, but it's now kicking up a fuss about "Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '{' in C:\wamp\www\Guessing2.php on line 35"

:-\

nine7ySix · January 24, 2012

Whenever I apply the changes I suggested, the code works for me.

This is what I have

<?php
header("Cache-Control:no-cache");
function setnum()
{
global $num;
$num=rand(1,20);
}
?>
<html><head><title>Guessing Game</title></head>
<body>
<?php
$num= check_input($_POST['num']);
$guess = check_input($_POST['guess']);
$self=check_input($_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);

if ($num==null)
{
$msg="I have thought of a number between 1 and 20";
$msg .="<h3>guess what it is... </h3>";
setnum();
}
else
{
if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess==$num)
{
$msg = "CORRECT-THE NUMBER WAS $num";
$msg .= "<h3><a href=\"$self\">";
$msg .= "CLICK HERE TO TRY AGAIN</a></h3>";
setnum();
}
else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
{$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is lower</h3>";}
else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess<$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
{$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is higher</h3>";}

else if ((is_numeric($guess) && $guess<1) or (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>20))
{
$msg="You have entered a number outside of the range of the game<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
else if (empty($_POST['guess']))
{
$msg="You did not enter anything into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
else
{
$msg="You did not enter a number into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
}
echo ($msg);
?>

<form action = "<?php $self ?>" method="post">
<input type = "hidden" name = "num" value = "<?php echo $num; ?>">
Guess: <input type="text" name = "guess">
<input type = "submit" value = "Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>

<?php
function check_input($data)
{
$data = trim($data);
$data = stripslashes($data);
$data = htmlspecialchars($data);
return $data;
}
?>

Can you test to see if it works?

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

Whenever I apply the changes I suggested, the code works for me.

This is what I have

<?php
header("Cache-Control:no-cache");
function setnum()
{
global $num;
$num=rand(1,20);
}
?>
<html><head><title>Guessing Game</title></head>
<body>
<?php
$num= check_input($_POST['num']);
$guess = check_input($_POST['guess']);
$self=check_input($_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);

if ($num==null)
{
$msg="I have thought of a number between 1 and 20";
$msg .="<h3>guess what it is... </h3>";
setnum();
}
else
{
if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess==$num)
{
$msg = "CORRECT-THE NUMBER WAS $num";
$msg .= "<h3><a href=\"$self\">";
$msg .= "CLICK HERE TO TRY AGAIN</a></h3>";
setnum();
}
else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
{$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is lower</h3>";}
else if (is_numeric($guess) && $guess<$num && $guess>0 && $guess<21)
{$msg="You guessed $guess<h3>My number is higher</h3>";}

else if ((is_numeric($guess) && $guess<1) or (is_numeric($guess) && $guess>20))
{
$msg="You have entered a number outside of the range of the game<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
else if (empty($_POST['guess']))
{
$msg="You did not enter anything into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
else
{
$msg="You did not enter a number into the text box that was provided<h3>Please enter a number between 1 and 20</h3>";
}
}
echo ($msg);
?>

<form action = "<?php $self ?>" method="post">
<input type = "hidden" name = "num" value = "<?php echo $num; ?>">
Guess: <input type="text" name = "guess">
<input type = "submit" value = "Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>

<?php
function check_input($data)
{
$data = trim($data);
$data = stripslashes($data);
$data = htmlspecialchars($data);
return $data;
}
?>

Can you test to see if it works?

Tested it and apart from a couple of call stack tables appearing (I assume that they are a feature of WAMP, since when I use gPHPEdit on Ubuntu at college, I do not get anything like that), it seems to work and the validation works in the form of messages appearing alerting the user of any errors. Thank you!

nine7ySix · January 24, 2012

Glad to help

Pikachu2000 · January 24, 2012

"Call stack tables"? You mean error messages?

litebearer · January 24, 2012

Pika - more like TV tables that nest under each other. Useful for holding pain meds and scotch while debugging my bad code

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

Me again with another "Parse error", this time it is "Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or T_NUM_STRING in C:\wamp\www\Accident.php on line 7" but with me being an extreme beginner at this language, I do not see any errors with my coding. The idea of this script is to allow for customers to enter in details on an accident report form and if they leave any fields blank, they are alerted as well as if they put in an unsuitable value for their age or number of weeks since the accident. Here is the coding:

    <?php
    header("Cache-Control:no-cache);?>
     
    <html><head><title>Car Accident Report</title></head>
    <body>
    <?php
    $firstname = check_input($_POST['firstname']);
    $surname=check_input($_POST['surname']);
    $age=check_input($_POST['age']);
    $weeks = check_input($_POST['weeks']);
    $self=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
     
    if (empty($_POST['firstname']) or empty($_POST['surname']) or empty($_POST['age']) or empty($_POST['weeks']))
    $msg="You have missed out one or more fields that you need to input data into";
    $msg .=<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to fill in the fields</a></h3>";
    }
    else if ($age<18)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot submit an Accident Report if you are under 18 years of age";
    $msg .="<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary</a></h3>";
     
    else if ($weeks<0)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot enter a negative number for the number of weeks since the accident";
    $msg .="<h3><a href=\"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary</a></h3>";
    }
    else if ($weeks>0 && $weeks<1)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot make a report if the accident was a week or less ago";
    $ .msg="<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $ .msg="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary";
    }
    else
    {
    $msg = "First Name: $firstname";
    $msg .= "Surname: $surname";
    $msg .= "Age: $age";
    $msg .= "Number of weeks since accident: $weeks";
    $msg .= "Your report has successfully been sent to be viewed by the staff";
    $msg .="<a href=\"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form if you want to submit another Accident Report</a>
    }
    echo ($msg);
    ?>
     
    <form action = "<php $self ?>" method = "post">
    <b>First Name:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "firstname"><br>
    <b>Surname:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "surname"><br>
    <b>Age:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "age"><br>
    <b>Weeks since accident:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "weeks"><br>
    <input type = "submit" value = "Submit this report">
    <input type = "reset" value = "Clear">
    </form>
    </body>
    </html>
    <?php
    function check_input($data)
    {
    $data = trim($data);
    $data = stripslashes($data);
    $data = htmlspecialchars ($data);
    return $data;
    }
    ?>

I'll probably kick myself for this, but I may need some assistance

Psycho · January 24, 2012

I don't know what editor you are using, but you need to find one that colorizes the code such as this forum does when using [ php ] tags. You will then get accustomed to seeing certain elements in certain colors. Just "looking" at the code you posted I was able to easily spot at least one error. Looking at the last echo() statement the command is in red fond whereas all the other functions are in green. That is because you forgot to close the last text string with double quotes.

Also, you run the POST vars through a function to parse them and assign to new variables, but then you use the original POST vars when doing the validation.

Lastly, the mistakes you are making are simple syntax errors. You obviously know that a string starting with a quote mark needs to have the ending quote mark because you did it correctly many other times. So, stop excusing yourself for being a beginner. Programming is a VERY unforgiving process. You need to dot ALL your I's and cross ALL your T's.

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

I don't know what editor you are using, but you need to find one that colorizes the code such as this forum does when using [ php ] tags. You will then get accustomed to seeing certain elements in certain colors. Just "looking" at the code you posted I was able to easily spot at least one error. Looking at the last echo() statement the command is in red fond whereas all the other functions are in green. That is because you forgot to close the last text string with double quotes.

Also, you run the POST vars through a function to parse them and assign to new variables, but then you use the original POST vars when doing the validation.

Lastly, the mistakes you are making are simple syntax errors. You obviously know that a string starting with a quote mark needs to have the ending quote mark because you did it correctly many other times. So, stop excusing yourself for being a beginner. Programming is a VERY unforgiving process. You need to dot ALL your I's and cross ALL your T's.

I changed the echo line of code, but there are still errors with line 7 of the code apparently, even though it looks fine to me :/

Pikachu2000 · January 24, 2012

There's a problem in the very first line, in the header() call.

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

There's a problem in the very first line, in the header() call.

Thanks for that

I think I'm getting closer, but there's a problem with my code at the moment. If I enter information into all of the fields, I would like the information to then be displayed, but only the "Welcome" message seems to appear and I cannot view the text that should appear based on either correct or incorrect information. I think it may be due to the "hidden" aspect of my form at the end of my form coding. My coding as of now is as follows:

    <?php
    header("Cache-Control:no-cache");?>
     
    <html><head><title>Car Accident Report</title></head>
    <body>
    <?php
    $firstname = check_input($_POST['firstname']);
    $surname=check_input($_POST['surname']);
    $age=check_input($_POST['age']);
    $weeks = check_input($_POST['weeks']);
    $self=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
     
    if ($firstname==null && $surname==null && $age==null && $weeks==null)
    {
    $msg="Welcome to the Car Accident Report Form<br>";
    $msg .="Please enter in the relevant details in the text boxes";
    }
     
    else
    {
    if ($age<18)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot submit an Accident Report if you are under 18 years of age";
    $msg .="<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary</a></h3>";
    }
     
    if (empty($_POST['firstname']) or empty($_POST['surname']) or empty($_POST['age']) or empty($_POST['weeks']))
    {
    $msg="You have missed out one or more fields that you need to input data into";
    $msg .="<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to fill in the fields</a></h3>";
    }
     
    else if ($weeks<0)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot enter a negative number for the number of weeks since the accident";
    $msg .="<h3><a href=\"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary</a></h3>";
    }
    else if ($weeks>0 && $weeks<1)
    {
    $msg = "You cannot make a report if the accident was a week or less ago";
    $msg .="<h3><a href = \"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form to change your details if necessary";
    }
    else
    {
    $msg = "First Name: $firstname";
    $msg .= "Surname: $surname";
    $msg .= "Age: $age";
    $msg .= "Number of weeks since accident: $weeks";
    $msg .= "Your report has successfully been sent to be viewed by the staff";
    $msg .="<a href=\"$self\">";
    $msg .="Click here to go back to the Accident Report Form if you want to submit another Accident Report</a>";
    }
    }
    echo ($msg);
    ?>
     
    <form action = "<?php $self ?>" method = "post">
    <b>First Name:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "firstname"><br>
    <b>Surname:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "surname"><br>
    <b>Age:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "age"><br>
    <b>Weeks since accident:</br><br>
    <input type = "text size = 45 name = "weeks"><br>
    <input type = "submit" value = "Submit this report">
    <input type = "reset" value = "Clear">
    <input type="hidden" name= "form" value = "<?php $msg; ?>">
    </form>
    </body>
    </html>
    <?php
    function check_input($data)
    {
    $data = trim($data);
    $data = stripslashes($data);
    $data = htmlspecialchars ($data);
    return $data;
    }
    ?>

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

Can any help be provided?

APD1993 · January 24, 2012

I decided to go through this in another way that I used before which was to have a PHP script linked to an HTML page. I would like it so that when the PHP script is run, the user can go back to the HTML page, however, I am having some difficulty with being able to show a link on a PHP script that will go back to an HTML page. Here is my code:

    <html><head><title>Maths Program</title></head>
    <body>
    //In this block of code I am creating a PHP script with some validation so as to show the results of performing mathematical operations on two numbers entered by the user
    //Validation is also used so that two numbers are entered by the user, one in each text box
    <?php
    $number1= $_POST ['number1'];
    $number2=$_POST ['number2'];
    if (is_numeric($number1)&&is_numeric($number2))
    {
    $addtotal=$number1+$number2;
    $subtracttotal=$number1-$number2;
    $multiplytotal=$number1*$number2;
    $dividetotal=$number1/$number2;
    echo ("Your numbers were $number1 and $number2<br>");
    echo ("$number1 + $number2= $addtotal<br>");
    echo ("$number1 - $number2= $subtracttotal<br>");
    echo ("$number1 * $number2= $multiplytotal<br>");
    echo ("$number1 / $number2= $dividetotal<br>");
    echo ("Click here to go back: <a href="localhost/Sum.htm">Want to choose more numbers?</a>);
    }
    else if (empty($number1) or empty($number2))
    {echo ("Please enter two numbers and try again");}
    ?>
    </body>
    </html>

nine7ySix · January 25, 2012

Look on line 19

echo ("Click here to go back: <a href="localhost/Sum.htm">Want to choose more numbers?</a>);

You need a closing quotation.

Also, you can't have double quotes within double quotes, that is a big no no.

It should be

echo ("Click here to go back: <a href='localhost/Sum.htm'>Want to choose more numbers?</a>");

or

echo ('Click here to go back: <a href="localhost/Sum.htm">Want to choose more numbers?</a>');

Try using a PHP editor so you can see your mistakes easier. I hear NotePad++ is good for Windows and Textmate is good for Mac.

Pikachu2000 · January 25, 2012

Or more accurately, if you need to use quotes within the same type of quotes in a string, they must be escaped with a backslash.

$string = "This is a double quoted \"string\" with double quotes in it.";
$string1 = 'This is a single quoted\'string\' with single quotes in it'';

You can use the opposite type of quote within a string without escaping them. If you want to use variables in a quoted string, you need to use double quotes to enclose the string.

nine7ySix · January 25, 2012

Or more accurately, if you need to use quotes within the same type of quotes in a string, they must be escaped with a backslash.
$string = "This is a double quoted \"string\" with double quotes in it.";
$string1 = 'This is a single quoted\'string\' with single quotes in it'';
You can use the opposite type of quote within a string without escaping them. If you want to use variables in a quoted string, you need to use double quotes to enclose the string.

That being said, you have two single quotes at the end of $string1, either accidental or you forgot to escape

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