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.

[DirtySnipe]

Here is a export of the mysql table so you can see for yourself I have only set one option to 1.

CREATE TABLE `hesk_involved` (
  `id` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
  `name` varchar(20) collate latin1_general_ci NOT NULL default '',
  `isDefault` tinyint(4) NOT NULL default '0',
  PRIMARY KEY  (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1 COLLATE=latin1_general_ci AUTO_INCREMENT=33 ;
 
-- 
-- Dumping data for table `hesk_involved`
-- 
 
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (1, 'None', 1);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (25, 'Staff', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (26, 'Student', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (27, 'Staff (agency)', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (28, 'Staff (Bank)', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (29, 'Visitor', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (30, 'Parent', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (31, 'Sibling', 0);
INSERT INTO `hesk_involved` VALUES (32, 'Contractor', 0);

[nathj]

Hi,

Thanks for sending the data sump across, that was really helpful. I amust admit I am now baffled by this.

I'm trying to think of the best way to go forward on this and get this working for you.
[php]
<?php

$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);

while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo $row[name] . " " . $row[isDefault] . "<br />";
}
?>
[/php]
Try this code to see what the php page is pulling out of the database.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

here you go.

[HTML]<td width="286" height="22"><b> Person Involved:</b></td>
<td align="left" width="365" height="24">

Contractor 0<br />None 1<br />Parent 0<br />Sibling 0<br />Staff 0<br />Staff (agency) 0<br />Staff (Bank) 0<br />Student 0<br />Visitor 0<br />

</td>
</tr>[/HTML]

[nathj]

Hi,

To summarise then we have ruled out data and we have ruled out data hanlding. This means the problem must be in the processing side of things.

Here's a new code sample, it looks pretty much like the other ones but there are som subtle differences that may help.
[php]
<?php

$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);

echo "<select name='person_in volved'>";
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo "<option value=" .$row[name] . " "; // final space is vital
if($row[isDefault]);
{
echo "selected='sele cted' " ;
}
echo ">" . $row[name] . "</option>";

}

echo "</select>";
?>
[/php]
Try that, the IF condition has been altered slightly. I think the trouble is that something was forcing the code to hit the lines inside the IF every time.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

[HTML]<td width="286" height="22"><b> Person Involved:</b></td>
<td align="left" width="365" height="24">

<select name='person_in volved'><option value=Contracto r selected='selec ted' >Contractor</option><option value=None selected='selec ted' >None</option><option value=Parent selected='selec ted' >Parent</option><option value=Sibling selected='selec ted' >Sibling</option><option value=Staff selected='selec ted' >Staff</option><option value=Staff (agency) selected='selec ted' >Staff (agency)</option><option value=Staff (Bank) selected='selec ted' >Staff (Bank)</option><option value=Student selected='selec ted' >Student</option><option value=Visitor selected='selec ted' >Visitor</option></select>

</td>[/HTML]

[nathj]

[HTML]<td width="286" height="22"><b> Person Involved:</b></td>
<td align="left" width="365" height="24">

<select name='person_in volved'><option value=Contracto r selected='selec ted' >Contractor</option><option value=None selected='selec ted' >None</option><option value=Parent selected='selec ted' >Parent</option><option value=Sibling selected='selec ted' >Sibling</option><option value=Staff selected='selec ted' >Staff</option><option value=Staff (agency) selected='selec ted' >Staff (agency)</option><option value=Staff (Bank) selected='selec ted' >Staff (Bank)</option><option value=Student selected='selec ted' >Student</option><option value=Visitor selected='selec ted' >Visitor</option></select>

</td>[/HTML]

Hi DirtySnipe,

I'm totally stumped. I cannot see any reason for this code not to work for you. What appears to be happening is that the IF is not affecting the code flow. I can't see why based on the data you have shown.

At present I'm out of answers but I'll keep thinking over it and if anything comes to me I'll post back.

One 'cheats' solution would be to order by isDefault desc (I think) then do nothing with selected and the default item should be the first in the list. The downside is that the list is then not alphabetical, perhaps a combination of order by clauses would do it for you?

Cheers
Nathan

[DirtySnipe]

Is there anyone else here that can solve this problem I have??

[nathj]

Hi DirtySnipe,

I was thinking about this problem today, as I said I would and i thought about changing the if. It currently stands as:
[php]
if($row[isDefault]);
{
echo &quot;selected= 'selected' &quot; ;
}
[/php]
Try changing it to:
[php]
if($row[isDefault]==1);
{
echo &quot;selected= 'selected' &quot; ;
}
else
{
echo &quot; &quot; ; // the space is important
}
[/php]

I've had to do something just like this today. It's working a treat now with this sort of structure.

Cheers
nathj

[DirtySnipe]

Now i don't even get a page display.


[PHP]<?php

$sql = "SELECT * FROM `hesk_involved` ORDER BY `name` ASC";
$result = hesk_dbQuery($s ql);

echo "<select name='person_in volved'>";
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
echo "<option value=" .$row[name] . " "; // final space is vital
if($row[isDefault]==1);
{
echo "selected='sele cted' " ;
}
else
{
echo " " ; // the space is important
}
echo "</select>";



?>[/PHP]

[Yardgnome]

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.

Try this:
[PHP]<?
while ($row=hesk_dbFe tchAssoc($resul t))
{
$sel = $row['isDefault'] == true ? "selected='sele cted'" : "";
?>
<option <?=$sel?> value="<?=$row['name']?>"><?=$row['name']?></option>
<?
}
?>[/PHP]