Best approach for server side Form Validation ?

[h7qvnk7q001]

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

I first tried making the form submit action= field point to the same
file. When the form was correct, I tried loading the next page by using
<META http-equiv refresh>. But that doesn't post the data, so the next
page didn't have access to it.

Then I tried changing the action= field of the form to an a PHP echo. I
would echo a variable that was set to either "ThisSamePage.P HP" or
"TheNextPage.PH P", depending on whether the validation was correct. The
problem is that the user has to press Submit an extra time once the
form is correct, since the form was still displayed with the action
equal to "TheNextPage.PH P"

I have looked for some way to submit the form directly from PHP code,
but I don't know enough about PHP yet.

I think I need some way to cause a Post action from PHP code, so I can
get to the next page without redisplaying the form and having the user
click submit again.

Or is there a better way to structure this type of validation that
avoids this issue?

[Rik]

h7*********@sne akemail.com wrote:

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.
I assume the redisplaying & highlighting errors is not the problem?
I first tried making the form submit action= field point to the same
file. When the form was correct, I tried loading the next page by
using <META http-equiv refresh>. But that doesn't post the data, so
the next page didn't have access to it.

In rederecting POST data is indeed lost.
There are several solution:
1. Use the same file for processing the data. (if it's a light application
it's the easiest one).
2. Use a temporary table in which you store the valid post data, preferably
with some auto_incremente d key, which you can use as a GET variable on the
redirect (major security leak: other visitors can see what the rest is
doing).
3. Use sessions, and store the valid posted data into the $_SESSION, use
those values in the processing on the other page.

Grtz,
--
Rik Wasmus

[Gordon Burditt]

>I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No

Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.
That would seem to make the validation trivial to bypass, unless,
of course, you validate it AGAIN in the page that uses the form data.
What is the purpose of this validation again?
I first tried making the form submit action= field point to the same
file. When the form was correct, I tried loading the next page by using
<META http-equiv refresh>. But that doesn't post the data, so the next
page didn't have access to it.
You can't redirect a POST. And if the data goes through the user's
browser, you can't trust it without validating it again.
Then I tried changing the action= field of the form to an a PHP echo. I
would echo a variable that was set to either "ThisSamePage.P HP" or
"TheNextPage.P HP", depending on whether the validation was correct. The
problem is that the user has to press Submit an extra time once the
form is correct, since the form was still displayed with the action
equal to "TheNextPage.PH P"

I have looked for some way to submit the form directly from PHP code,
but I don't know enough about PHP yet.
PHP can't control the user's browser like that, which is a good
thing. This issue is one reason why Javascript is often Turned Off(tm).
I think I need some way to cause a Post action from PHP code, so I can
get to the next page without redisplaying the form and having the user
click submit again.
It's possible to hit a page directly from the server with CURL, but
I'd advise against this. Do the validation and processing in ONE
hit.
Or is there a better way to structure this type of validation that
avoids this issue?

Validate the input, then process it in the SAME hit. Perhaps use
include(), but make sure the include()d file cannot be hit directly.

Gordon L. Burditt

[planotravel.net]

h7qvnk7q001 wrote:

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

My solution for the recently started project was the following:

Create three .php files

1.php - (to initialize form variables) with a call to an A(2) function
in 2.php with default parameters (0 for error variable, and an array of
form elements)
- 1.php is called when the user enters the form page

2.php - (to print out and control the form) with the A(2) function that
takes those two arguments
- echo "<form action=3.php method=post>";
- for each required field use:
if ($error & n).{ echo "..."; } //where n is an error bit, e.g.,
1,2,4,8,16,32 and so on.
else { echo "..."; }
- for all fields use interpolated array[x] value to , e.g., echo
"<input type=text value=\"{$array["value"]}\">; - to return any
previously entered data after page reload

3.php - with a B() form validation function (checker) that is first
called in 3.php
- create, initialize and fill out the $array of form variables with
user input
- $error = 0; check the form data, assign $error a bit (1,2,4,8 etc.)
if an error is found
- if ($error != 0) { A(2); } else { do smth.,e,g, C(a,b,c); }
- in 1.php and 3.php first do
include '2.php';
PS Go to http://www.planotravel.net, request a quote (yellow image),
randomly fill out the form with errors, submit and see how it works.

Good luck and Regards,

planotravel.net

[Alan Little]

Carved in mystic runes upon the very living rock, the last words of
<h7*********@sn eakemail.com> of comp.lang.php make plain:

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

If you're interested in a pre-packaged solution rather than DIY, check out
Phorm.

--
Alan Little
Phorm PHP Form Processor
http://www.phorm.com/

[Norman Peelman]

"planotravel.ne t" <pl*********@gm ail.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ r2g2000cwb.goog legroups.com...

h7qvnk7q001 wrote:

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

My solution for the recently started project was the following:

Create three .php files

1.php - (to initialize form variables) with a call to an A(2) function
in 2.php with default parameters (0 for error variable, and an array of
form elements)
- 1.php is called when the user enters the form page

2.php - (to print out and control the form) with the A(2) function that
takes those two arguments
- echo "<form action=3.php method=post>";
- for each required field use:
if ($error & n).{ echo "..."; } //where n is an error bit, e.g.,
1,2,4,8,16,32 and so on.
else { echo "..."; }
- for all fields use interpolated array[x] value to , e.g., echo
"<input type=text value=\"{$array["value"]}\">; - to return any
previously entered data after page reload

3.php - with a B() form validation function (checker) that is first
called in 3.php
- create, initialize and fill out the $array of form variables with
user input
- $error = 0; check the form data, assign $error a bit (1,2,4,8 etc.)
if an error is found
- if ($error != 0) { A(2); } else { do smth.,e,g, C(a,b,c); }
- in 1.php and 3.php first do
include '2.php';
PS Go to http://www.planotravel.net, request a quote (yellow image),
randomly fill out the form with errors, submit and see how it works.

Good luck and Regards,

planotravel.net

What people are trying to say is that all three scripts can be combined
into one. First an explanation. This snippet is incomplete in the sense that
I am doing alot more behind the scenes. I am:

1) using a template class to pre-populate the form fields and display the
form which helps in providing clues to the user when fields are wrong
2) requesting that the users click a check box that indicated they have read
and agree to a waiver
3) when the form is completed successfully I write the data to a database
and place the user in an 'unregistered' state
4) sending the user an email with a payment link should they not complete
the payment process immediately
5) updating the user to 'registered' upon completing the payment process.

note-- the payment process (5) is a separate script (paypal)

logfile('Start of request');
$valid = 0; $not_required = 0;
if (isset($_POST) && !empty($_POST))
{
// validate form field here - repeat code as neccessary for your form
fields
// ok - if we're here then the form has been submitted, lets check things
out
if (isset($_POST['pgfirstname']) && !empty($_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// first name - allow letters only (case insensitive, 2 chars min - 25
chars max)
$pattern = "^[A-Za-z ]{2,25}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// required field - update $valid by 1
$valid++;
// logfile() is a custom function
logfile("Parent first name OK: $_POST[pgfirstname]");
}
else
{
// bad characters in field
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' Sorry, you have invalid characters in your
First name.';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name has invalid characters");
}
}
else
{
// field was left empty
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' We really need your First name (between 2 and
25 letters only)';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name not submitted");
}
// variables are assigned correct or not as the form is repopulated so
the user can correct typos
$pgfirstname = $_POST['pgfirstname'];

if (isset($_POST['address_em']) && !empty($_POST['address_em']))
{ // validate e-mail address as best we can...
//$pattern =
"^([A-Za-z0-9]+[._]?){1,}\+[A-Za-z0-9]+\@(([A-Za-z0-9]+[-]?){1,}[A-Za-z0-9]+
\.){1,}[A-Za-z]{2,6}$";
$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+[a-zA-Z]{2,6}\$";
//$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+";
//$pattern .= "([aero|biz|coop|c om|net]";
//$pattern .= "{2,6}[\.]{0,})[ac|ad|ae|af|ag]{0,}\$";

// stop unwanted email hosts here - add as many as needed
$unwanted = array(0 => 'spamhole',
1 => 'mytrashmail',
2 => 'mailexpire',
3 => 'spamgourmet',
4 => 'mailinator',
5 => 'woodyland',
6 => 'spammotel',
7 => 'sneakmail',
8 => 'jetable'
);
foreach($unwant ed as $key => $value)
{ // create regex with $value... ex: spamhole{1}
$value .= '{1}';
if (eregi($value,$ _POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("WARN: email address is one of the unwanted email hosts
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = "Temporary email addresses are not permitted!";
$address_color = "orange";
}
}
if (eregi($pattern ,$_POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("INFO: useremail passed email test -> $_POST[address_em]");
$valid++;
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: Invalid email (useremail) address ->
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = 'Invalid e-mail address! Please re-enter.';
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: email address not submitted.");
$address_em_err or = " We really need your email address.";
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
$address_em = $_POST['address_em'];
}

// validate cell phone - field NOT required for valid form
if (isset($_POST['address_cph']) && !empty($_POST['address_cph']))
{
// cell phone - allow numbers only (case insensitive)
$pattern = "^[0-9\-]{7,12}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['address_cph']))
{
// if required, change this variable to $valid++
// if not required change this variable to $not_required++
$not_required++ ;
}
else
{
// we want valid input whether this field is required or not
$address_cph_er ror = ' Sorry, you have improper characters in your
Cell phone number.';
$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
}
}
else
{
// if required, uncomment lines below
//$address_cph_er ror = ' We really need your Cell phone number
(xxx-xxx-xxxx format)';
//$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
}
$address_cph = $_POST['address_cph'];

if (isset($_POST['waiveragree']) && !empty($_POST['waiveragree']) &&
$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// client has agreed to the waiver
$waiveragree = 'checked';
logfile("Client has agreed to waiver");
}
else
{
$waiveragree = '';
$waiveragree_er ror = "You must agree to the waiver to complete the
registration process.";
$waiveragree_co lor = "orange";
}
// ok we've checked all the fields - count our required and not required
fields to make sure everything is cool
if ($valid == 2 && $not_required == 1 && @$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// do something with user info
logfile("INFO: Form completed correctly and client agreed to waiver");
logfile("End of request");
// you can redirect here...
//header("Locatio n: hxxp://path.to.another .page?var1=$var 1&var2=$var2" );
}

---

--logfile()-- place at top of script
define('LOGFILE ',true); // set to false to turn off logging.
function logfile($txt)
{ // daily logging function - creates/appends a logfile by date
if (LOGFILE)
{
$txt = date("G:i:s - ").$txt.chr(13) ;
$lf = 'drive:\\path\t o\your\logfile_ name_'.date('D M j -
Y').'.logfile';
$fp = fopen($lf,'a');
fwrite($fp,$txt ,1024);
fclose($fp);
} // assign the extension .logfile to WORDPAD or some other text reader
that will format it correcly - just a quick and dirty function
}

....some good examples of logfile usage are:

logfile('MySQL: '.mysql_errno($ dbc).' - '.mysql_error($ dbc));
logfile("INFO: some info here from a $variable");
logfile("$scrip t_name: info here");
etc.

Norm

[Norman Peelman]

"Norman Peelman" <np******@cfl.r r.com> wrote in message
news:HF******** **********@torn ado.tampabay.rr .com...

"planotravel.ne t" <pl*********@gm ail.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ r2g2000cwb.goog legroups.com...

h7qvnk7q001 wrote:

I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is
correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

My solution for the recently started project was the following:

Create three .php files

1.php - (to initialize form variables) with a call to an A(2) function
in 2.php with default parameters (0 for error variable, and an array of
form elements)
- 1.php is called when the user enters the form page

2.php - (to print out and control the form) with the A(2) function that
takes those two arguments
- echo "<form action=3.php method=post>";
- for each required field use:
if ($error & n).{ echo "..."; } //where n is an error bit, e.g.,
1,2,4,8,16,32 and so on.
else { echo "..."; }
- for all fields use interpolated array[x] value to , e.g., echo
"<input type=text value=\"{$array["value"]}\">; - to return any
previously entered data after page reload

3.php - with a B() form validation function (checker) that is first
called in 3.php
- create, initialize and fill out the $array of form variables with
user input
- $error = 0; check the form data, assign $error a bit (1,2,4,8 etc.)
if an error is found
- if ($error != 0) { A(2); } else { do smth.,e,g, C(a,b,c); }
- in 1.php and 3.php first do
include '2.php';
PS Go to http://www.planotravel.net, request a quote (yellow image),
randomly fill out the form with errors, submit and see how it works.

Good luck and Regards,

planotravel.net

What people are trying to say is that all three scripts can be combined
into one. First an explanation. This snippet is incomplete in the sense that
I am doing alot more behind the scenes. I am:

1) using a template class to pre-populate the form fields and display the
form which helps in providing clues to the user when fields are wrong
2) requesting that the users click a check box that indicated they have read
and agree to a waiver
3) when the form is completed successfully I write the data to a database
and place the user in an 'unregistered' state
4) sending the user an email with a payment link should they not complete
the payment process immediately
5) updating the user to 'registered' upon completing the payment process.

note-- the payment process (5) is a separate script (paypal)

logfile('Start of request');
$valid = 0; $not_required = 0;
if (isset($_POST) && !empty($_POST))
{
// validate form field here - repeat code as neccessary for your form
fields
// ok - if we're here then the form has been submitted, lets check things
out
if (isset($_POST['pgfirstname']) && !empty($_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// first name - allow letters only (case insensitive, 2 chars min - 25
chars max)
$pattern = "^[A-Za-z ]{2,25}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// required field - update $valid by 1
$valid++;
// logfile() is a custom function
logfile("Parent first name OK: $_POST[pgfirstname]");
}
else
{
// bad characters in field
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' Sorry, you have invalid characters in your
First name.';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name has invalid characters");
}
}
else
{
// field was left empty
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' We really need your First name (between 2 and
25 letters only)';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name not submitted");
}
// variables are assigned correct or not as the form is repopulated so
the user can correct typos
$pgfirstname = $_POST['pgfirstname'];

if (isset($_POST['address_em']) && !empty($_POST['address_em']))
{ // validate e-mail address as best we can...
//$pattern =
"^([A-Za-z0-9]+[._]?){1,}\+[A-Za-z0-9]+\@(([A-Za-z0-9]+[-]?){1,}[A-Za-z0-9]+
\.){1,}[A-Za-z]{2,6}$";
$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+[a-zA-Z]{2,6}\$";
//$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+";
//$pattern .= "([aero|biz|coop|c om|net]";
//$pattern .= "{2,6}[\.]{0,})[ac|ad|ae|af|ag]{0,}\$";

// stop unwanted email hosts here - add as many as needed
$unwanted = array(0 => 'spamhole',
1 => 'mytrashmail',
2 => 'mailexpire',
3 => 'spamgourmet',
4 => 'mailinator',
5 => 'woodyland',
6 => 'spammotel',
7 => 'sneakmail',
8 => 'jetable'
);
foreach($unwant ed as $key => $value)
{ // create regex with $value... ex: spamhole{1}
$value .= '{1}';
if (eregi($value,$ _POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("WARN: email address is one of the unwanted email hosts
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = "Temporary email addresses are not permitted!";
$address_color = "orange";
}
}
if (eregi($pattern ,$_POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("INFO: useremail passed email test -> $_POST[address_em]");
$valid++;
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: Invalid email (useremail) address ->
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = 'Invalid e-mail address! Please re-enter.';
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: email address not submitted.");
$address_em_err or = " We really need your email address.";
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
$address_em = $_POST['address_em'];
}

// validate cell phone - field NOT required for valid form
if (isset($_POST['address_cph']) && !empty($_POST['address_cph']))
{
// cell phone - allow numbers only (case insensitive)
$pattern = "^[0-9\-]{7,12}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['address_cph']))
{
// if required, change this variable to $valid++
// if not required change this variable to $not_required++
$not_required++ ;
}
else
{
// we want valid input whether this field is required or not
$address_cph_er ror = ' Sorry, you have improper characters in your
Cell phone number.';
$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
}
}
else
{
// if required, uncomment lines below
//$address_cph_er ror = ' We really need your Cell phone number
(xxx-xxx-xxxx format)';
//$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
$not_required++ ;
}
$address_cph = $_POST['address_cph'];

if (isset($_POST['waiveragree']) && !empty($_POST['waiveragree']) &&
$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// client has agreed to the waiver
$waiveragree = 'checked';
logfile("Client has agreed to waiver");
}
else
{
$waiveragree = '';
$waiveragree_er ror = "You must agree to the waiver to complete the
registration process.";
$waiveragree_co lor = "orange";
}
// ok we've checked all the fields - count our required and not required
fields to make sure everything is cool
if ($valid == 2 && $not_required == 1 && @$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// do something with user info
logfile("INFO: Form completed correctly and client agreed to waiver");
logfile("End of request");
// you can redirect here...
//header("Locatio n: hxxp://path.to.another .page?var1=$var 1&var2=$var2" );
}

---

--logfile()-- place at top of script
define('LOGFILE ',true); // set to false to turn off logging.
function logfile($txt)
{ // daily logging function - creates/appends a logfile by date
if (LOGFILE)
{
$txt = date("G:i:s - ").$txt.chr(13) ;
$lf = 'drive:\\path\t o\your\logfile_ name_'.date('D M j -
Y').'.logfile';
$fp = fopen($lf,'a');
fwrite($fp,$txt ,1024);
fclose($fp);
} // assign the extension .logfile to WORDPAD or some other text reader
that will format it correcly - just a quick and dirty function
}

....some good examples of logfile usage are:

logfile('MySQL: '.mysql_errno($ dbc).' - '.mysql_error($ dbc));
logfile("INFO: some info here from a $variable");
logfile("$scrip t_name: info here");
etc.

The *_color variables are used by the CSS/STYLE to colorize the form fields
on error, the *_error variables are self explanatory. And as you can see you
can customize the errors to reflect the true problems.
Norm

[Norman Peelman]

edit near bottom...

--
FREE Avatar hosting at www.easyavatar.com
"Norman Peelman" <np******@cfl.r r.com> wrote in message
news:ad******** ***********@tor nado.tampabay.r r.com...

"Norman Peelman" <np******@cfl.r r.com> wrote in message
news:HF******** **********@torn ado.tampabay.rr .com...

"planotravel.ne t" <pl*********@gm ail.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ r2g2000cwb.goog legroups.com...

h7qvnk7q001 wrote:
> I'm trying to implement a simple server-side form validation (No
> Javascript). If the user submits a form with errors, I want to
> redisplay the same form with the errors highlighted. Once the form is > correct I need to submit to another page that uses the form data.

My solution for the recently started project was the following:

Create three .php files

1.php - (to initialize form variables) with a call to an A(2) function
in 2.php with default parameters (0 for error variable, and an array of form elements)
- 1.php is called when the user enters the form page

2.php - (to print out and control the form) with the A(2) function that takes those two arguments
- echo "<form action=3.php method=post>";
- for each required field use:
if ($error & n).{ echo "..."; } //where n is an error bit, e.g.,
1,2,4,8,16,32 and so on.
else { echo "..."; }
- for all fields use interpolated array[x] value to , e.g., echo
"<input type=text value=\"{$array["value"]}\">; - to return any
previously entered data after page reload

3.php - with a B() form validation function (checker) that is first
called in 3.php
- create, initialize and fill out the $array of form variables with
user input
- $error = 0; check the form data, assign $error a bit (1,2,4,8 etc.)
if an error is found
- if ($error != 0) { A(2); } else { do smth.,e,g, C(a,b,c); }
- in 1.php and 3.php first do
include '2.php';
PS Go to http://www.planotravel.net, request a quote (yellow image),
randomly fill out the form with errors, submit and see how it works.

Good luck and Regards,

planotravel.net

What people are trying to say is that all three scripts can be combined
into one. First an explanation. This snippet is incomplete in the sense that
I am doing alot more behind the scenes. I am:

1) using a template class to pre-populate the form fields and display the
form which helps in providing clues to the user when fields are wrong
2) requesting that the users click a check box that indicated they have read
and agree to a waiver
3) when the form is completed successfully I write the data to a database
and place the user in an 'unregistered' state
4) sending the user an email with a payment link should they not complete
the payment process immediately
5) updating the user to 'registered' upon completing the payment process.

note-- the payment process (5) is a separate script (paypal)

logfile('Start of request');
$valid = 0; $not_required = 0;
if (isset($_POST) && !empty($_POST))
{
// validate form field here - repeat code as neccessary for your form
fields
// ok - if we're here then the form has been submitted, lets check things
out
if (isset($_POST['pgfirstname']) && !empty($_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// first name - allow letters only (case insensitive, 2 chars min - 25
chars max)
$pattern = "^[A-Za-z ]{2,25}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['pgfirstname']))
{
// required field - update $valid by 1
$valid++;
// logfile() is a custom function
logfile("Parent first name OK: $_POST[pgfirstname]");
}
else
{
// bad characters in field
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' Sorry, you have invalid characters in your
First name.';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name has invalid characters");
}
}
else
{
// field was left empty
$pgfirstname_er ror = ' We really need your First name (between 2 and
25 letters only)';
$pgfirstname_co lor = 'orange';
logfile("Parent first name not submitted");
}
// variables are assigned correct or not as the form is repopulated so
the user can correct typos
$pgfirstname = $_POST['pgfirstname'];

if (isset($_POST['address_em']) && !empty($_POST['address_em']))
{ // validate e-mail address as best we can...
//$pattern =
"^([A-Za-z0-9]+[._]?){1,}\+[A-Za-z0-9]+\@(([A-Za-z0-9]+[-]?){1,}[A-Za-z0-9]+
\.){1,}[A-Za-z]{2,6}$";
$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+[a-zA-Z]{2,6}\$";
//$pattern =
"^([-!#\$%&'*+./0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~])+@([-!#\$%&'*+/0-9=?A-Z^_`a-z{|}~]+\\.
)+";
//$pattern .= "([aero|biz|coop|c om|net]";
//$pattern .= "{2,6}[\.]{0,})[ac|ad|ae|af|ag]{0,}\$";

// stop unwanted email hosts here - add as many as needed
$unwanted = array(0 => 'spamhole',
1 => 'mytrashmail',
2 => 'mailexpire',
3 => 'spamgourmet',
4 => 'mailinator',
5 => 'woodyland',
6 => 'spammotel',
7 => 'sneakmail',
8 => 'jetable'
);
foreach($unwant ed as $key => $value)
{ // create regex with $value... ex: spamhole{1}
$value .= '{1}';
if (eregi($value,$ _POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("WARN: email address is one of the unwanted email hosts
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = "Temporary email addresses are not permitted!";
$address_color = "orange";
}
}
if (eregi($pattern ,$_POST['address_em']))
{
logfile("INFO: useremail passed email test -> $_POST[address_em]");
$valid++;
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: Invalid email (useremail) address ->
$_POST[address_em]");
$address_em_err or = 'Invalid e-mail address! Please re-enter.';
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
}
else
{
logfile("INFO: email address not submitted.");
$address_em_err or = " We really need your email address.";
$address_em_col or = "orange";
}
$address_em = $_POST['address_em'];
}

// validate cell phone - field NOT required for valid form
if (isset($_POST['address_cph']) && !empty($_POST['address_cph']))
{
// cell phone - allow numbers only (case insensitive)
$pattern = "^[0-9\-]{7,12}$";
if (ereg($pattern, $_POST['address_cph']))
{
// if required, change this variable to $valid++
// if not required change this variable to $not_required++
$not_required++ ;
}
else
{
// we want valid input whether this field is required or not
$address_cph_er ror = ' Sorry, you have improper characters in your
Cell phone number.';
$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
}
}
else
{
// if required, uncomment lines below
//$address_cph_er ror = ' We really need your Cell phone number
(xxx-xxx-xxxx format)';
//$address_cph_co lor = 'orange';
$not_required++ ;
}
$address_cph = $_POST['address_cph'];

if (isset($_POST['waiveragree']) && !empty($_POST['waiveragree']) &&
$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// client has agreed to the waiver
$waiveragree = 'checked';
logfile("Client has agreed to waiver");
}
else
{
$waiveragree = '';
$waiveragree_er ror = "You must agree to the waiver to complete the
registration process.";
$waiveragree_co lor = "orange";
}
// ok we've checked all the fields - count our required and not required
fields to make sure everything is cool
if ($valid == 2 && $not_required == 1 && @$_POST['waiveragree'] == 'agree')
{
// do something with user info
logfile("INFO: Form completed correctly and client agreed to waiver");
logfile("End of request");
// you can redirect here...
//header("Locatio n: hxxp://path.to.another .page?var1=$var 1&var2=$var2" );
}
}
else
{
display the form
}

---

--logfile()-- place at top of script
define('LOGFILE ',true); // set to false to turn off logging.
function logfile($txt)
{ // daily logging function - creates/appends a logfile by date
if (LOGFILE)
{
$txt = date("G:i:s - ").$txt.chr(13) ;
$lf = 'drive:\\path\t o\your\logfile_ name_'.date('D M j -
Y').'.logfile';
$fp = fopen($lf,'a');
fwrite($fp,$txt ,1024);
fclose($fp);
} // assign the extension .logfile to WORDPAD or some other text reader
that will format it correcly - just a quick and dirty function
}

....some good examples of logfile usage are:

logfile('MySQL: '.mysql_errno($ dbc).' - '.mysql_error($ dbc));
logfile("INFO: some info here from a $variable");
logfile("$scrip t_name: info here");
etc.

The *_color variables are used by the CSS/STYLE to colorize the form fields
on error, the *_error variables are self explanatory. And as you can see you
can customize the errors to reflect the true problems.
Norm