Dynamic Form

[Jerim79]

I need to create a form that takes a number that the user enters, and
duplicates a question the number of times the user entered. For
instance, if the customer enters 5 on the first page, when they press
next the form generates "How old are you?" 5 times on the page. The
customer will answer all 5 questions then press next. Finally, all the
local variables get dynamically created and written to a database.

I have already taken care of dynamically creating the question five
times. Using a simple WHILE clause, this generates the correct number
of questions. What I am having an issue with at this point, is how to
dynamically create the local variables.For instance, for the question
"How old are you?" I would need a unique variable for each instance;
using something like $Age(n). So that for five times, it would
automatically created variables $Age1 through $Age5. I have carried
over the number to the submit page by creating the variable $Number
and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

[Tyno Gendo]

Jerim79 wrote:

and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

Firstly, I'd get rid of the single quotes at they come out as
Age'1', but you probably want Age1

For an unknown number of ages you could do:

$ages=array();
foreach( $POST as $key=>$value ) {
if (substr($key,0, 3)=="Age") {
$ages[$key]=$_POST[$key];
}
}

If there were 5 ages you would end up with

$ages["Age1"] = <age_entered1 >;
$ages["Age2"] = <age_entered2 >;
$ages["Age3"] = <age_entered3 >;
$ages["Age4"] = <age_entered4 >;
$ages["Age5"] = <age_entered4 >;

If you don't want an array, you can do:

foreach( $POST as $key=>$value ) {
if (substr($key,0, 3)=="Age") {
${$key}=$_POST[$key];
}
}

The ${$key} would make your variables $Age1, $Age2 etc.
Hope that helps, untested, let me know.

[Jerim79]

On Apr 4, 7:47 am, Tyno Gendo <you@localhostw rote:

Jerim79 wrote:

and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

Firstly, I'd get rid of the single quotes at they come out as
Age'1', but you probably want Age1

For an unknown number of ages you could do:

$ages=array();
foreach( $POST as $key=>$value ) {
if (substr($key,0, 3)=="Age") {
$ages[$key]=$_POST[$key];
}
}

If there were 5 ages you would end up with

$ages["Age1"] = <age_entered1 >;
$ages["Age2"] = <age_entered2 >;
$ages["Age3"] = <age_entered3 >;
$ages["Age4"] = <age_entered4 >;
$ages["Age5"] = <age_entered4 >;

If you don't want an array, you can do:

foreach( $POST as $key=>$value ) {
if (substr($key,0, 3)=="Age") {
${$key}=$_POST[$key];
}
}

The ${$key} would make your variables $Age1, $Age2 etc.

Hope that helps, untested, let me know.

Thank you so much. It is nice to finally see someone answer my
question right off the bat. Usually when I post these types of
question, I get about 5 "Why are you doing it that way?" type posts,
along with 3 completely off topic responses and at least one "Let me
see your UML." If I am lucky, after about 15 posts, I might get one
half answer such as "Why don't you use an array?" Honestly, thank you
for answering the question. I wish there was a point system so I could
give you some points. I will try either of the suggestions and let you
know.

[larry]

On Apr 4, 5:27 am, "Jerim79" <m...@hotmail.c omwrote:

I need to create a form that takes a number that the user enters, and
duplicates a question the number of times the user entered. For
instance, if the customer enters 5 on the first page, when they press
next the form generates "How old are you?" 5 times on the page. The
customer will answer all 5 questions then press next. Finally, all the
local variables get dynamically created and written to a database.

I have already taken care of dynamically creating the question five
times. Using a simple WHILE clause, this generates the correct number
of questions. What I am having an issue with at this point, is how to
dynamically create the local variables.For instance, for the question
"How old are you?" I would need a unique variable for each instance;
using something like $Age(n). So that for five times, it would
automatically created variables $Age1 through $Age5. I have carried
over the number to the submit page by creating the variable $Number
and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

What I do is make a form with a large number of blanks (order form,
children stats), and then in validation determine which ones are
filled in.

Now if you want to edit it, you bring the data back in a session array
(to determine change) and an array for the POST form. When validation
is good you compare the POSTed data to the session data and do what
changes are necessary.

This process bypasses the (enter number here) thing as well as the
confusion in trying to add more child elements at a later time.

[Jerry Stuckle]

Jerim79 wrote:

I need to create a form that takes a number that the user enters, and
duplicates a question the number of times the user entered. For
instance, if the customer enters 5 on the first page, when they press
next the form generates "How old are you?" 5 times on the page. The
customer will answer all 5 questions then press next. Finally, all the
local variables get dynamically created and written to a database.

I have already taken care of dynamically creating the question five
times. Using a simple WHILE clause, this generates the correct number
of questions. What I am having an issue with at this point, is how to
dynamically create the local variables.For instance, for the question
"How old are you?" I would need a unique variable for each instance;
using something like $Age(n). So that for five times, it would
automatically created variables $Age1 through $Age5. I have carried
over the number to the submit page by creating the variable $Number
and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

A much easier way would be to just use an array:

<input name="age[]" ...>

Then your answers will be in the array $_POST['age'] or $_GET['age'],
depending on how you submit the form.

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
js*******@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Tyno Gendo]

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

A much easier way would be to just use an array:

<input name="age[]" ...>

Then your answers will be in the array $_POST['age'] or $_GET['age'],
depending on how you submit the form.

That's a very good point.. I've used this once before also, top tip.

[Tyno Gendo]

Tyno Gendo wrote:

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

>A much easier way would be to just use an array:

<input name="age[]" ...>

Then your answers will be in the array $_POST['age'] or $_GET['age'],
depending on how you submit the form.

That's a very good point.. I've used this once before also, top tip.

I was just checking because I thought there was a reason I avoided the
age[] type method once, like perhaps it only sent form values that had
been filled in and were not blank, but this is not the case and it does
send all values, so as I went to the extent of testing it, here's the
code in case anyone needs it ;-)

<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD "] == "POST") {
$age = $_POST["age"];
if ( is_array($age) ) {
echo "There are " . count($age) . " elements in this
array.";
for ($counter=0;$co unter<count($ag e);$counter++) {
echo "<p>Age $counter is $age[$counter]</p>";
}
} else {
echo "age is not an Array";
}
}
?>
<form action="<?php echo $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"]?>" method="post">
Age1<input type="text" name="age[]" value="10" /><br />
Age2<input type="text" name="age[]" value="20" /><br />
Age3<input type="text" name="age[]" value="30" /><br />
Age4<input type="text" name="age[]" value="40" /><br />
Age5<input type="text" name="age[]" value="50" /><br />
<input type="submit" />
</form>

[Jerim79]

On Apr 4, 8:51 am, l...@portcommod ore.com wrote:

On Apr 4, 5:27 am, "Jerim79" <m...@hotmail.c omwrote:

I need to create a form that takes a number that the user enters, and
duplicates a question the number of times the user entered. For
instance, if the customer enters 5 on the first page, when they press
next the form generates "How old are you?" 5 times on the page. The
customer will answer all 5 questions then press next. Finally, all the
local variables get dynamically created and written to a database.

I have already taken care of dynamically creating the question five
times. Using a simple WHILE clause, this generates the correct number
of questions. What I am having an issue with at this point, is how to
dynamically create the local variables.For instance, for the question
"How old are you?" I would need a unique variable for each instance;
using something like $Age(n). So that for five times, it would
automatically created variables $Age1 through $Age5. I have carried
over the number to the submit page by creating the variable $Number
and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

What I do is make a form with a large number of blanks (order form,
children stats), and then in validation determine which ones are
filled in.

Now if you want to edit it, you bring the data back in a session array
(to determine change) and an array for the POST form. When validation
is good you compare the POSTed data to the session data and do what
changes are necessary.

This process bypasses the (enter number here) thing as well as the
confusion in trying to add more child elements at a later time.

That is a very good idea as well. I am just thinking from a user
standpoint. Some users may want only 1 or 2. Some may want 10 or more.
I am just concerned about a user getting confused by having this long
form to fill out. I hate to say it, but users get confused very
easily. As long as I can, I would like to stick with the dynamic
system. That way, if a user only wants 3, then they won't be confused
by 7 extra "mini-forms." What I am attempting to do, is ask 6
questions for each number they type in. So if they type in 5 for the
number, it will ask them 6*5 questions which is 30.

For example, let's say my first page asks "How many concerts have you
been to in the last year?" A user types in 5, and then presses
Continue. The next screen that comes up, asks the user the same 6
questions for each concert they say they have attended, all on one
form. I would hate for the customer to only need to fill out one set
of questions, but get confused by all the rest of the sets on their
and eventually get give up.

[Jerim79]

On Apr 4, 10:06 am, Tyno Gendo <you@localhostw rote:

Tyno Gendo wrote:

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

A much easier way would be to just use an array:

<input name="age[]" ...>

Then your answers will be in the array $_POST['age'] or $_GET['age'],
depending on how you submit the form.

That's a very good point.. I've used this once before also, top tip.

I was just checking because I thought there was a reason I avoided the
age[] type method once, like perhaps it only sent form values that had
been filled in and were not blank, but this is not the case and it does
send all values, so as I went to the extent of testing it, here's the
code in case anyone needs it ;-)

<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD "] == "POST") {
$age = $_POST["age"];
if ( is_array($age) ) {
echo "There are " . count($age) . " elements in this
array.";
for ($counter=0;$co unter<count($ag e);$counter++) {
echo "<p>Age $counter is $age[$counter]</p>";
}
} else {
echo "age is not an Array";
}
}
?>
<form action="<?php echo $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"]?>" method="post">
Age1<input type="text" name="age[]" value="10" /><br />
Age2<input type="text" name="age[]" value="20" /><br />
Age3<input type="text" name="age[]" value="30" /><br />
Age4<input type="text" name="age[]" value="40" /><br />
Age5<input type="text" name="age[]" value="50" /><br />
<input type="submit" />
</form>

You have all given me some very wonderful and useful ideas. Thank you
all very much. (I just noticed the "Rate this post" ability.)

[Jerim79]

On Apr 4, 7:27 am, "Jerim79" <m...@hotmail.c omwrote:

I need to create a form that takes a number that the user enters, and
duplicates a question the number of times the user entered. For
instance, if the customer enters 5 on the first page, when they press
next the form generates "How old are you?" 5 times on the page. The
customer will answer all 5 questions then press next. Finally, all the
local variables get dynamically created and written to a database.

I have already taken care of dynamically creating the question five
times. Using a simple WHILE clause, this generates the correct number
of questions. What I am having an issue with at this point, is how to
dynamically create the local variables.For instance, for the question
"How old are you?" I would need a unique variable for each instance;
using something like $Age(n). So that for five times, it would
automatically created variables $Age1 through $Age5. I have carried
over the number to the submit page by creating the variable

$Number

and passing it along as hidden button on the form. $Age'$Number'
seemed to work for creating the variable, but $_post["Age'$Numbe r'"]
doesn't work for referencing the global variable. I would need some
way of looping through and dynamically creating the variables.

I am willing to rethink my approach to the whole problem, so the door
is wide open to suggestions.

I have been playing around with the various suggestions here. I
haven't gotten anything to work yet. I have read the PHP manual pages.
Maybe I need to give a little bit better detail about what I am trying
to do. The first page of my form is a simple screen that just asks for
a number. Such as this:

INDEX.HTML
<html>
<body>
<form action="survey. php" method="POST">
How many people are in your family? <input type="text"
name="Number" value="" />
<input type="Submit" name="Submit" value="Submit" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

After clicking on Submit, a second screen pops up. This is the PHP
script, with a while loop that displays the same question for the
amount of times the user entered on the last page:

SURVEY.PHP
<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD "] == "POST") {
$Number=$_POST['Number'];
$Number2=$Numbe r;

?>
<form action="submit. php" method="POST">
while ($Number!=0){
echo "How old is person number $Number? " ?

>

<input type="text" name="Age[]"value="" />
<?php
echo Age[$Number];
$Number--;
}
?>
<input type="hidden" name="Number" value="<? echo
$Number; ?>">
<input type="Submit" name="Submit" value="Submit">
</form <?php

}

else{
echo "You don't have permission to access this page directly.";
}

Okay, so now we have asked the user for the ages of all of the family
members the user told us they had. Now we must write this to the
database, or at least get it over to the form to write it to the
database. So:

SUBMIT.PHP
<?php

if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD "] == "POST") {
$Number=$_POST['Number'];
$Number2=$_POST['Number'];

$Age[]=$_POST['Age'];

while ($Number>-1){
$query="INSERT INTO table()
VALUES('$Age[$Number]')";
$result = mysql_query($qu ery) or die('Query failed: ' .
mysql_error());
$Number--;

}
mysql_close($co nnection);
}

else{
echo "You don't have permission to access this page directly.";
}

Forgetting any other issues, such as why I break out of PHP to do HTML
stuff, the fact that when I read the numbers into the table they will
be in reverse order or that this may not reflect the way you would do
it, what else do I need to do to make this code work correctly? I
understand some may have an issue with why I use three forms, when I
could use just one. That issue aside for the moment, I am trying to
learn the easiest way to do this. It is broken out so I can better
understand the process. Once it is working correctly and I understand
how it works, then I will be happy to consolidate as much as I can. My
main problem right now is between the SURVEY.PHP script and the
SUBMIT.PHP script. I can't seem to get any of the Ages[] over to the
SUBMIT.PHP. I have even tried echoing the values manually such as echo
$Age[0], with no luck.

I haven't tried the second way that was posted here, mostly because I
am know what to put in the SUBMIT.PHP form as far as <input /fields.
One other way I have tried is that in the SURVEY.PHP form I used
<input type="text" name="Age[<? echo $Number; ?>]" ?>" value"" />
inside of the while loop. I could probably also do name="<? echo
$Age[$Number]; ?>" and let PHP handle the array. Don't even know if
that will work.