Select List: Assigning Variable and Making Sticky

[doubledee]

Okay, really newbie question, but for this code...

	<!-- Gender -->
	<label for="gender">Gender:</label>
	<select id="gender" name="gender">
		<option value="">--</option>
		<option value="F">Female</option>
		<option value="M">Male</option>
	</select>

 

1.) How do I assign a variable to this?

 

2.) How do I make this "sticky"?

 

 

Here is how I have usually done other form types...

<!-- First Name -->
<label for="firstName">First Name:</label>
<input id="firstName" name="firstName" type="text" maxlength="30"
	value="<?php if(isset($firstName)){echo htmlentities($firstName, ENT_QUOTES);} ?>" /><!-- Sticky Field -->
<?php
	if (!empty($errors['firstName'])){
		echo '<span class="error">' . $errors['firstName'] . '</span>';
	}
?>

 

 

Oh, by the way, at the top of my PHP file I have this code...

if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD']=='POST'){
	// Form was Submitted (Post).

	// Initialize Errors Array.
	$errors = array();

	// Trim all form data.
	$trimmed = array_map('trim', $_POST);

 

Thanks,

 

 

Debbie

 

[trq]

<label for="gender">Gender:</label>
<select id="gender" name="gender">
  <option value="">--</option>
  <option value="F"<?php (isset($gender) && $gender == "F") ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Female</option>
  <option value="M"<?php (isset($gender) && $gender == "M") ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Male</option>
</select>

[scootstah]

1. The same way as any other form element. $_POST['gender']

 

2. thorpe beat me to it.

 

EDIT: Although, he forgot echo's.

<label for="gender">Gender:</label>
<select id="gender" name="gender">
  <option value="">--</option>
  <option value="F"<?php echo (isset($gender) && $gender == "F") ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Female</option>
  <option value="M"<?php echo (isset($gender) && $gender == "M") ? 'selected="selected"' : ''; ?>>Male</option>
</select>