Retaining form values in PHP

[Steve Poe]

Configuration:

PHP 4.3.9
Apache 2.0.52

Hello PHP group,

I am a novice to PHP. I have searched through the newsgroup on my
issue but I am not sure I know what I am missing.

I am creating an application to help the veterinarians at the animal
hospital I work at.

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory
and the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal
from the list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything
else in memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've
heard this is normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but
this value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

I've read I can use Javascript to get around this, but I want to learn
the PHP way.

Thanks for your time and help.

Steve Poe

[Benjamin Esham]

Steve Poe wrote:

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory and
the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal from the
list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything else in
memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've heard this is
normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but this
value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

The "normal" way to do this, AFAIK, is to use hidden form values:

<form ...>
<input type="hidden" name="account_number" value="12345" />
<!-- all of your normal form stuff goes here -->
</form>

Then your $_POST will include a value for account_number.

HTH,
--
Benjamin D. Esham
bd*****@gmail.com | AIM: bdesham128 | Jabber: same as e-mail
Vrei să pleci dar nu mă, nu mă iei,
nu mă, nu mă iei, nu mă, nu mă, nu mă iei.
Chipul tău şi dragostea din tei, / mi-amintesc de ochii tăi.

[Jerry Stuckle]

Steve Poe wrote:

Configuration:

PHP 4.3.9
Apache 2.0.52

Hello PHP group,

I am a novice to PHP. I have searched through the newsgroup on my
issue but I am not sure I know what I am missing.

I am creating an application to help the veterinarians at the animal
hospital I work at.

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory
and the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal
from the list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything
else in memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've
heard this is normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but
this value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

I've read I can use Javascript to get around this, but I want to learn
the PHP way.

Thanks for your time and help.

Steve Poe

Without seeing your code it's impossible to tell.

However, if you're submitting a form, remember that each page has it's
own variables. PHP doesn't remember data from one page to the next.
The only ways to pass data from one page to the next is either with the
$_SESSION or hidden fields in your form.

As to the $_SESSION data disappearing - it shouldn't. Are you calling
session_start() at the beginning of EVERY page (before ANY data is
output) where you use session data?

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

[Steve Poe]

Benjamin,

Thanks for your advice. I'll look into the hidden values.

Steve
Benjamin Esham wrote:

Steve Poe wrote:

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory and
the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal from the
list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything else in
memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've heard this is
normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but this
value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

The "normal" way to do this, AFAIK, is to use hidden form values:

<form ...>
<input type="hidden" name="account_number" value="12345" />
<!-- all of your normal form stuff goes here -->
</form>

Then your $_POST will include a value for account_number.

HTH,
--
Benjamin D. Esham
bd*****@gmail.com | AIM: bdesham128 | Jabber: same as e-mail
Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma, nu ma iei,
nu ma, nu ma iei, nu ma, nu ma, nu ma iei.
Chipul tau si dragostea din tei, / mi-amintesc de ochii tai.

[Steve Poe]

Jerry,

Thanks for replying. I understand it's hard to see the problem in
context without seeing the code. I'll try the feedback offered by most
then post if I get stuck.

>PHP doesn't remember data from one page to the next.
The only ways to pass data from one page to the next is either with the
$_SESSION or hidden fields in your form.

I have the my inputs/forms in separate php pages. It seemed the input
of a client account number passed back to the main php fine

As to the $_SESSION data disappearing - it shouldn't. Are you calling
session_start() at the beginning of EVERY page (before ANY data is
output) where you use session data?

No, session_start() is not on EVERY page. I have tried it on the two
pages I have separately but not both of them together.

Steve
Jerry Stuckle wrote:

Steve Poe wrote:

Configuration:

PHP 4.3.9
Apache 2.0.52

Hello PHP group,

I am a novice to PHP. I have searched through the newsgroup on my
issue but I am not sure I know what I am missing.

I am creating an application to help the veterinarians at the animal
hospital I work at.

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory
and the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal
from the list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything
else in memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've
heard this is normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but
this value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

I've read I can use Javascript to get around this, but I want to learn
the PHP way.

Thanks for your time and help.

Steve Poe

Without seeing your code it's impossible to tell.

However, if you're submitting a form, remember that each page has it's
own variables. PHP doesn't remember data from one page to the next.
The only ways to pass data from one page to the next is either with the
$_SESSION or hidden fields in your form.

As to the $_SESSION data disappearing - it shouldn't. Are you calling
session_start() at the beginning of EVERY page (before ANY data is
output) where you use session data?

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

[Jerry Stuckle]

Steve Poe wrote:

Jerry,

Thanks for replying. I understand it's hard to see the problem in
context without seeing the code. I'll try the feedback offered by most
then post if I get stuck.

>>PHP doesn't remember data from one page to the next.
The only ways to pass data from one page to the next is either with the
$_SESSION or hidden fields in your form.

I have the my inputs/forms in separate php pages. It seemed the input
of a client account number passed back to the main php fine

In order for it to be passed back to the main php, you must have it in
the $_SESSION or an input field of some type (hidden or not).

>

>>As to the $_SESSION data disappearing - it shouldn't. Are you calling
session_start() at the beginning of EVERY page (before ANY data is
output) where you use session data?

No, session_start() is not on EVERY page. I have tried it on the two
pages I have separately but not both of them together.

Steve

It needs to be on EVERY PAGE which uses sessions. Otherwise the
$_SESSION array will not be usable on that page. You can save data to
$_SESSION, but it won't be saved in the session.

>
Jerry Stuckle wrote:

>>Steve Poe wrote:

>>>Configuration:

PHP 4.3.9
Apache 2.0.52

Hello PHP group,

I am a novice to PHP. I have searched through the newsgroup on my
issue but I am not sure I know what I am missing.

I am creating an application to help the veterinarians at the animal
hospital I work at.

I have a form which present a select list of animals (from a database
query) which belong to a client. I can see the animal names in memory
and the client account number. When I select the appropriate animal
from the list, I see the selected animal name ("spot") but everything
else in memory I need (client account number) has disappeared. I've
heard this is normal.

I've tried storing the client account number is a session
($_SESSION['account_number"] before the submit, and I can see it, but
this value too seems to be eliminated once the form is submitted.

I've read I can use Javascript to get around this, but I want to learn
the PHP way.

Thanks for your time and help.

Steve Poe

Without seeing your code it's impossible to tell.

However, if you're submitting a form, remember that each page has it's
own variables. PHP doesn't remember data from one page to the next.
The only ways to pass data from one page to the next is either with the
$_SESSION or hidden fields in your form.

As to the $_SESSION data disappearing - it shouldn't. Are you calling
session_start() at the beginning of EVERY page (before ANY data is
output) where you use session data?

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

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

[Steve Poe]

I must more clueless than I thought. I added 'session_start();' to the
begining of each PHP I am using and I still do not see the client
account after I submit it. I see it in the _SESSION *before* I hit
submit.

Steve

It needs to be on EVERY PAGE which uses sessions. Otherwise the
$_SESSION array will not be usable on that page. You can save data to
$_SESSION, but it won't be saved in the session.

[Steve Poe]

Jerry (and felllow PHP gang),

Well, I still could not get sessions to work past a submitted form, but
I had a breakthrough. Using the hidden input fields like:
'<input type="hidden" name="client_account" value="<? echo
str_pad($_POST["account_number"], 6, " ", STR_PAD_LEFT)?>">' I was
able to see the variable with the value in it.

Until I figure out why sessions do not work, I can at least add hidden
input fields to transfer needed values.

Thanks.

Steve
Steve Poe wrote:

I must more clueless than I thought. I added 'session_start();' to the
begining of each PHP I am using and I still do not see the client
account after I submit it. I see it in the _SESSION *before* I hit
submit.

Steve

It needs to be on EVERY PAGE which uses sessions. Otherwise the
$_SESSION array will not be usable on that page. You can save data to
$_SESSION, but it won't be saved in the session.

[Jerry Stuckle]

Steve Poe wrote:

Jerry (and felllow PHP gang),

Well, I still could not get sessions to work past a submitted form, but
I had a breakthrough. Using the hidden input fields like:
'<input type="hidden" name="client_account" value="<? echo
str_pad($_POST["account_number"], 6, " ", STR_PAD_LEFT)?>">' I was
able to see the variable with the value in it.

Until I figure out why sessions do not work, I can at least add hidden
input fields to transfer needed values.

Thanks.

Steve
Steve Poe wrote:

>>I must more clueless than I thought. I added 'session_start();' to the
begining of each PHP I am using and I still do not see the client
account after I submit it. I see it in the _SESSION *before* I hit
submit.

Steve

>>>It needs to be on EVERY PAGE which uses sessions. Otherwise the
$_SESSION array will not be usable on that page. You can save data to
$_SESSION, but it won't be saved in the session.

Steve,

Ensure all of your errors are enabled (E_ALL) and you're displaying the
errors.

Chances are you're sending something to the client (even a single white
space character) before calling session-start().

session_start() MUST be called before ANY output is sent to the client.
Enabling all errors will display a warning to that effect if you are
doing it.

And your sessions won't work.

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

[william.clarke]

Try the PHP Manual, there is a quite clear example:

http://au2.php.net/manual/en/function.session-start.php

Hope this helps.

William
Jerry Stuckle wrote:

Steve Poe wrote:

Jerry (and felllow PHP gang),

Well, I still could not get sessions to work past a submitted form, but
I had a breakthrough. Using the hidden input fields like:
'<input type="hidden" name="client_account" value="<? echo
str_pad($_POST["account_number"], 6, " ", STR_PAD_LEFT)?>">' I was
able to see the variable with the value in it.

Until I figure out why sessions do not work, I can at least add hidden
input fields to transfer needed values.

Thanks.

Steve
Steve Poe wrote:

>I must more clueless than I thought. I added 'session_start();' to the
begining of each PHP I am using and I still do not see the client
account after I submit it. I see it in the _SESSION *before* I hit
submit.

Steve
It needs to be on EVERY PAGE which uses sessions. Otherwise the
$_SESSION array will not be usable on that page. You can save data to
$_SESSION, but it won't be saved in the session.

Steve,

Ensure all of your errors are enabled (E_ALL) and you're displaying the
errors.

Chances are you're sending something to the client (even a single white
space character) before calling session-start().

session_start() MUST be called before ANY output is sent to the client.
Enabling all errors will display a warning to that effect if you are
doing it.

And your sessions won't work.

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