Checkbox forms, php & mysql

[elyob]

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

[Rik]

elyob wrote:

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.

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

[Jerry Stuckle]

elyob wrote:

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

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.
js*******@attglobal.net
==================

[Jason Herald]

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.