How to create a dynamic drop down box

[DirtySnipe]

I have created a php form with dynamic drop down boxes in it which pull the options from a database. The boxes work fine and the data gets submitted fine but im having a problem getting the box to default to a record of my choice from the database. (record 1 = None).
Here is the code to what i have done.

<input maxLength="40" size="30" name="name"></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="286" height="22"><b>Person Involved:</b></td>
      <td align="left" width="365" height="24"><select name="person_involved">
 
        <?php
 

hesk_dbConnect();
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($sql);
while ($row=hesk_dbFetchAssoc($result))
{
    echo "
    <option value=\"$row[name]\">$row[name]</option>
    ";
}
 

?>
      </select></td>
    </tr>
 

Hope you guys can help me out as im pulling my hair out now.

[nathj]

I have created a php form with dynamic drop down boxes in it which pull the options from a database. The boxes work fine and the data gets submitted fine but im having a problem getting the box to default to a record of my choice from the database. (record 1 = None).
Here is the code to what i have done.
[php]
<input maxLength="40" size="30" name="name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="286" height="22"><b> Person Involved:</b></td>
<td align="left" width="365" height="24"><se lect name="person_in volved">

<?php

hesk_dbConnect( );
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo "
<option value=\"$row[name]\">$row[name]</option>
";
}

?>
</select></td>
</tr>
[/php]

Hope you guys can help me out as im pulling my hair out now.

Hi DirtySnipe,

Welcome to TSDN!

I had to do something similar recently and the way I decided to do it was to add a colum to the data source - isDefault as a tinyInt. then select this out in the SQL and during the processing of the data you can check for the value of this field and if it's set to 1 you can set selected="selec ted" in the processing code.

Here's an example from my database, this selects out countries from an ISO list and Sets United Kingdom as the default.

[php]
// get the data
$lcSelectStr =
"SELECT
a.ID, a.countryName as description, a.isDefault
FROM countrycode a
ORDER BY a.countryName ASC";

$laResults = $loDB->queryGetData($ lcSelectStr); // my data object

// build the drop down
echo "<select name=" . "'" . "list" . $lnGetType . "'" . "id=" . "'" . "list" . $lnGetType . "'" . ">";
foreach($laResu lts as $lcDataLine)
{
echo "<option value=" . $lcDataLine['ID'] . " ";
if($lcDataLine['isDefault'])
{
echo "selected='sele cted'";
}
echo ">" . $lcDataLine['description'] ."</option>";
}
echo "</select>";

[/php]
I hope that helps.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

Thanks for the welcome.

Im sorry but this is going straight over my head. <--(day 1 n00b to php mysql)

what i made was cobbled from bits of code i found on the net and a good old cut and paste session.

Can you please help me on how to get it working with what i got atm??

I know im a cheaky git... alot to learn and im tryin.

[nathj]

Hi,

I'll do my best to help you out, and if anything needs any further explanation then just shout.

I notice from your code that you have a table 'hesk_involved' so the first step, under my solution is to add a new field to this:
Name: isDefault
Type: TINYINT
Default:0

Once you have added the field simply decide which value is to be the default and set the isDefault to 1 for this record.

Alter your code to the following:
[php]
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);
echo "<select name='testSelec t'>"; //name is up to you
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo "<option value=\"$row[name]\">$row[name]";
if($row['isDefault']);
{
echo "selected='sele cted'";
}
echo ">" . $row['description']. "</option>"; // NOTE: $description is a column in the table that holds what will appear in the drop down list for the user.
echo "</option>";

}
[/php]

What is happening in this code, and apologies if this a bit obvious, is that the data is being selected first. Once the data has been selected a drop down is built. the wrapper tags for this are listed first and then the options within the select item are defined based on the data. One of the data items determines the default value for the drop down. For this value the HTML code of stating selected as selected is applied to ensure that it appears first in the list when the page loads.

I hope that explains the code and gives you nice solution. If you need any further help just shout here or PM me I don't mind.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

Thank you very much, this has helped loads...

Ive been stuck on this problem for a few weeks now and it was by luck that I stumbled along this cool site. I hope one day i can return the favour and give you a hand.

Once again tnxs alot.

[DirtySnipe]

I've added that code and also added into the mysql database the details you said but i get this appear in the drop down box.

Contractorselec ted='selected'>

[DirtySnipe]

 <tr>
      <td width="286" height="22"><b>Person Involved:</b></td>
      <td align="left" width="365" height="24">
 
        <?php
 
 
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($sql);
echo "<select name='person_involved'>"; //name is up to you
while ($row=hesk_dbFetchAssoc($result))
{
    echo "<option value=\"$row[name]\">$row[name]";
    if($row['isDefault']);
    {
     echo "selected='selected'";
    }
    echo ">" . $row['name']. "</option>"; // NOTE: $description is a column in the table that holds what will appear in the drop down list for the user.
    echo "</option>";
 
}
 
 
?>
      </select></td>
    </tr>

[nathj]

Hi DirtySnipe,


The solution is simple, I had this myself, I should have mentioned it. simply ensure there is a space before and after the word selected:

[php]
// snippet
echo " selected='selec ted' " ;
[/php]
These spaces force the browser to recognise that is handling new information about the control you wish to display.

Sorry for the cofusion.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

Its still doing it.

Contractor selected='selec ted' >Contractor

The funny thing is also i havn't selected Contractor as default.

Doesn't this need to = 1 or something??

[PHP]if($row['isDefault']);[/PHP]

Also why are you telling it to display the word selected='selec ted'???

[PHP] echo " selected='selec ted' " ;[/PHP]

[nathj]

Doesn't this need to = 1 or something??

[PHP]if($row['isDefault']);[/PHP]

Hi,
If the data type is tinyint this is behaves in a way that is the same as logical type. However, it won't hurt set to '=1' if you prefer.

Also why are you telling it to display the word selected='selec ted'???

[PHP] echo " selected='selec ted' " ;[/PHP]

What this does, and here is where the problem lies, is is says that the selected property of the option within the select input type is set to be selected - that's the syntax. In the code snippet I supplied before there is a bit of a copy and past error:
[php]
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);
echo "<select name='testSelec t'>"; //name is up to you
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo "<option value=\"$row[name]\">$row[name]";
if($row['isDefault']);
{
echo "selected='sele cted'";
}
echo ">" . $row['description']. "</option>"; // NOTE: $description is a column in the table that holds what will appear in the drop down list for the user.
echo "</option>";

}
[/php]
If you remove >$row[name] then I think all should be well as the code will then set the property within the element tag. That's my fault for some sloppy copy and paste work.

This should now work for you.
Cheers
nathj