Quick PHP / MYSQL drop down question

[stealthbristol]

Hi,

I've created a drop down menu that gets it's values (ID and SCHOOL) from a MYSQL database. I've created a variable for the ID value, but can't figure out how to do this for the SCHOOL value.

The code ...
[php]<?php
$sql = "SELECT ID, SCHOOL FROM SCHOOL ORDER BY ID";
$users = mysql_query($sql,$conn);
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($users))
{
echo ("<option value=\"$row[ID]\" " . ($schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "") . ">$row[SCHOOL]</option>"); }
?>[/php]
I'm sure it's something simple, but I've been looking at it for so long I just can't see it - any ideas ?

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[ronverdonk]

Welcome to The Scripts!

When you mean by 'add a variab'le' to add an option to the select list, then the following will suffice. I cannot fill in the variable you use to check the checked attribute, so it is named $variable.[php]<?php
$sql = "SELECT ID, SCHOOL FROM SCHOOL ORDER BY ID";
$users = mysql_query($sql,$conn);
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($users))
{
echo ("<option value=\"$row[ID]\" " . ($schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "") . ">$row[SCHOOL]</option>");
echo ("<option value=\"$row[SCHOOL]\" " . ($value == $row["SCHOOL"] ? " selected" : "") . ">$row[SCHOOL]</option>");
}
?>[/php]If you mean something else, then please explain a bit further.

Ronald

[stealthbristol]

Whoops - sorry Mods, will remember in future !

@ Ronald: Thanks for the welcome, I'll explain a bit further ...

The variable $schooladd contains the row ID on the value list selection and I need a variable to contain the actual text displayed based on the value list selection (called $schoolname for example)

Unfortunately your solution creates a duplicate in the drop down list.

[ronverdonk]

Does not make it any clearer. Let me see if I understand correctly. You want the value in $row['SCHOOL'], which is displayed in your drop down list text, to be stored from the POST array into a variable after the form has been submitted. Correct?

Ronald

[stealthbristol]

Does not make it any clearer. Let me see if I understand correctly. You want the value in $row['SCHOOL'], which is displayed in your drop down list text, to be stored from the POST array into a variable after the form has been submitted. Correct?

Ronald

Yup, that sounds about right !

This is where the school ID appears a bit further down the script:

<?php echo "School id = $school "; ?>

I've realised in my stupidity that I've forgot to mention that a piece of Javascript 'auto-submits' the form (and populates the variable) when the drop down menu is used. So all I need is another variable (for the school name) added somewhere in the piece of code in a similar way to the $school variable shown in my first post .. if possible ?

[ronverdonk]

There are 2 ways of doing this: the easy and the hard way.
The easy way is to concat, with a separator such as underscore ()_), the $row[SCHOOL] value to the $orw[ID] value in the option. Like[php]echo ("<option value=\"$row[ID]_$row[SCHOOL]\" " . ($schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "") . ">$row[SCHOOL]</option>");[/php]In the POST you can easily take that out, using[php]$str=explode('_', $_POST[select_name]);
// $str[0] = the ID
// $str[1] = the school name[/php]
The hard way is to use JavaScript to get the text from the selected drop down button and insert it into the value of a hidden field in the form before submitting it.

Ronald

[stealthbristol]

There are 2 ways of doing this: the easy and the hard way.
The easy way is to concat, with a separator such as underscore ()_), the $row[SCHOOL] value to the $orw[ID] value in the option. Like[php]echo ("<option value=\"$row[ID]_$row[SCHOOL]\" " . ($schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "") . ">$row[SCHOOL]</option>");[/php]In the POST you can easily take that out, using[php]$str=explode('_', $_POST[select_name]);
// $str[0] = the ID
// $str[1] = the school name[/php]
The hard way is to use JavaScript to get the text from the selected drop down button and insert it into the value of a hidden field in the form before submitting it.

Ronald

Aaah ok, I think I'll try the easier option then !

I was actually hoping that I could add a $schoolname == $row["SCHOOL"] somewhere in the code similar to where it says $schooladd == $row["ID"] - I assume this isn't possible for some reason ?

No worries though, at least it CAN be done - thanks for all your help mate.

Nath

[ronverdonk]

Aaah ok, I think I'll try the easier option then !
I was actually hoping that I could add a $schoolname == $row["SCHOOL"] somewhere in the code similar to where it says $schooladd == $row["ID"] - I assume this isn't possible for some reason ?
No worries though, at least it CAN be done - thanks for all your help mate.

Nath

[php]$schooladd == $row["ID"] [/php] is NOT an assignment, it is a comparison. And you use it with a ternary function, i.e.[php]$schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "")[/php]meaning: if $schooladd equals $row['ID'] then set attribute 'selected 'in option statement, otherwise set '' in option statement. Nothing to do with assignment to a variable!

Ronald

[stealthbristol]

[php]$schooladd == $row["ID"] [/php] is NOT an assignment, it is a comparison. And you use it with a ternary function, i.e.[php]$schooladd == $row["ID"] ? " selected" : "")[/php]meaning: if $schooladd equals $row['ID'] then set attribute 'selected 'in option statement, otherwise set '' in option statement. Nothing to do with assignment to a variable!

Ronald

That would explain your confusion earlier !

Sorry, but I'm still finding my feet with PHP / MYSQL and we all gotta start somewhere right ?

So, in conclusion, apart from what you suggested earlier I cannot assign a variable with the 'text' part of a drop down menu selection ?

(Last question then I'll leave you alone)

[ronverdonk]

There are 2 ways: see post no 6

Ronald