Checkbox forms, php & mysql

Okay, I'm about to add some checkboxes to a form, and then store the data in
a column on a MySQL database. Just wanted to know best practice, at the
moment I'm writing and thinking .. God that's ungly code ...

<input type="checkbox" name="delta" <?php if ($delta==1) { echo
"checked"; }?>> Delta<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="mastercard" <?php if ($mastercard==1) {
echo "checked"; }?>> Mastercard<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="solo" <?php if ($solo==1) { echo
"checked"; }?>> Solo<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="switch" <?php if ($switch==1) { echo
"checked"; }?>> Switch<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="visa" <?php if ($visa==1) { echo
"checked"; }?>> Visa<br>

MySQL database fields ...
delta binary(1) No 0
mastercard binary(1) No 0
solo binary(1) No 0
switch binary(1) No 0
visa binary(1) No 0

When I output the fields, I get "on" or empty, and am wondering whether I am
making a good decision to do the code this way. Now I need to figure out how
to update the database based on the forms output.

Thanks

re: Checkbox forms, php & mysql

elyob wrote:[color=blue]
> Okay, I'm about to add some checkboxes to a form, and then store the
> data in a column on a MySQL database. Just wanted to know best
> practice, at the moment I'm writing and thinking .. God that's ungly
> code ...
>
> <input type="checkbox" name="delta" <?php if ($delta==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Delta<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="mastercard" <?php if
> ($mastercard==1) { echo "checked"; }?>> Mastercard<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="solo" <?php if ($solo==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Solo<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="switch" <?php if ($switch==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Switch<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="visa" <?php if ($visa==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Visa<br>
>
> MySQL database fields ...
> delta binary(1) No 0
> mastercard binary(1) No 0
> solo binary(1) No 0
> switch binary(1) No 0
> visa binary(1) No 0
>
> When I output the fields, I get "on" or empty, and am wondering
> whether I am making a good decision to do the code this way. Now I
> need to figure out how to update the database based on the forms
> output.[/color]

On the right track IMO.

You could query the database like this (Warning:I'm an xhtml-fetishist):

SELECT `id`, `some_field`, IF(`delta` = 1, ' checked="checked"','') AS
'delta', etc.....

And, assuming you have a $row array resulting form the query:

echo "<input type=\"checkbox\" name="delta"{$row['delta']} />";

On submitting the update:
$delta = (isset($_POST['delta']))?'1':'0';

"UPDATE table SET delta='$delta',ect...."

Grtz,
--
Rik Wasmus

re: Checkbox forms, php & mysql

elyob wrote:[color=blue]
> Okay, I'm about to add some checkboxes to a form, and then store the data in
> a column on a MySQL database. Just wanted to know best practice, at the
> moment I'm writing and thinking .. God that's ungly code ...
>
> <input type="checkbox" name="delta" <?php if ($delta==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Delta<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="mastercard" <?php if ($mastercard==1) {
> echo "checked"; }?>> Mastercard<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="solo" <?php if ($solo==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Solo<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="switch" <?php if ($switch==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Switch<br>
> <input type="checkbox" name="visa" <?php if ($visa==1) { echo
> "checked"; }?>> Visa<br>
>
> MySQL database fields ...
> delta binary(1) No 0
> mastercard binary(1) No 0
> solo binary(1) No 0
> switch binary(1) No 0
> visa binary(1) No 0
>
> When I output the fields, I get "on" or empty, and am wondering whether I am
> making a good decision to do the code this way. Now I need to figure out how
> to update the database based on the forms output.
>
> Thanks
>
>[/color]

Are these mutually exclusive? Or can they have mastercard and visa checked at
the same time?

If they're mutually exclusive, a better way is to use a single field to hold a
value (perhaps an ENUM). Otherwise - what i f due to some problem you have both
mastercard and visa on in the field?


--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

re: Checkbox forms, php & mysql

Another option is to loose the binary and use a text field and just
store the on or blank. It really just depends on what you are going
for.

Using int you would do it such:

$d = null;
if ($_POST['check_box_name']=="on") {
$d = 1;
} else {
$d = 0;
}

Then just update your database accordingly.