Best way to re-populating fields after clicking [< BACK]

[jibster]

Hi, quick question.

 

So I have a form. I POST the variables to itself (PHP_SELF) then if validation is ok I send them to the next page. Now if they click the back button the values aren't re-populated.

 

Is the way to repopulate by doing this?

 

<input name="forenames" type="text" value="<? if(!empty($_SESSION['value_forenames'])) { echo $_SESSION['value_forenames']} ?>" />

 

Or is there a way to automatically "remember" what was in those fields.

 

I'm sure this must have been answered before but my search didn't get any likely looking results.

 

Cheers

[soycharliente]

If you want them to be able to go back to the form and have it repopulate, I suggest you create a form on the next page with all the data that was posted in hidden field and give them a button to click that would simply repost it to that page.

[jibster]

Good idea that.

 

Except if they ignore my button and click back (as I am prone to doing) it's all over for that method isn't it.

 

Thanks

 

[soycharliente]

That's why you give it to them. As a favor. If they use your button, it works!

[vicodin]

Store the variables in a session

[Sulman]

The way you have done it (by echoing the session var in to the value field) is absolutely the way to do it!

[jibster]

Thank you for your replies. I'm probably wrong but isn't there a way to do it using

 

header("Cache-control: private");

 

...or similar header.