form validation help

[barnstormer]

I've spent forever trying to get this form to work and I'm almost there, but now my validation that makes sure only certain characters are used in the form is making it so that blank forms are considered invalid.  Here's a part of the code:

 

if (!empty($_POST['Submit'])) {
    
    //  firstname
if (!eregi("^([0-9a-z'\.-])+$", $_POST['firstname'])){
    $arrErrors['firstname'] = 'Invalid ';}
    if ($_POST['firstname']=='')
        $arrErrors['firstname'] = 'Please provide ';

//  lastname
if (!eregi("^([0-9a-z'\.-])+$", $_POST['lastname'])){
    $arrErrors['lastname'] = 'Invalid ';}
    if ($_POST['lastname']=='')
        $arrErrors['lastname'] = 'Please provide ';

//  address1
if (!eregi("^([0-9a-z'#/\.\-\ ])+$", $_POST['address1'])){
    $arrErrors['address1'] = 'Invalid ';}

//  address2
if (!eregi("^([0-9a-z'#/\.-])+$", $_POST['address2'])){
    $arrErrors['address2'] = 'Invalid ';}

//  city
if (!eregi("^([0-9a-z'\.-])+$", $_POST['city'])){
    $arrErrors['city'] = 'Invalid ';}

 

There's more but I won't put all of it there.  I only want certain fields (firstname, lastname, email, phonenum) to be required and the rest are optional.  But as I said, if the field is blank then my code allowing only certain characters to be used considers it invalid.  Is there something in the set to allow empty be valid as well?

 

You can see the functioning site at:  http://www.oneworldhealthcare.org/new/register.php

 

Feel free to try it out, right now it just emails form to me.

 

Thanks in advance for any help!  I must of spent 12 hours getting this thing to where it is now.  New to php... what a nightmare forms are.

 

Aaron

[barnstormer]

Oh yeah, the Email field won't take a proper email address yet because I haven't allowed the @ character (or other special ones).  Trying to get the thing to work first.

[barnstormer]

Anyone?  I'm desperate and any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!