passing an array via a form then validating

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June 24th, 2004, 12:53 PM

dan22k

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Join Date: Jun 2004

Posts: 32

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passing an array via a form then validating

Hi,

I'm using php, javascript, and mysql. I have a text input type that is generated inside a for loop and it's name is an array. Depending on what is in the database is how many inputs there will be. My problem is getting the javascript to recognize the array in order to validate it.

Code:

<script language="JavaScript">
function validate_form ( )
{
        valid = true;

        var num = document.order_form.numresults.value ;
        
        for(var i=1; i <= num; i++) { 

        	 if (document.order_form.order[i].value == "")

	        	{
	                alert ( "Please fill in all of the order # boxes.  Make sure no numbers are repeated." );
	                valid = false;
	        	} 
        }  


    return valid;
}
</script>	
</head>
<body>
	
<?php	
		      
	$query = 'SELECT * '
        . ' FROM `MainGroup` '
        . ' ORDER BY List ASC ';
	$result = mysql_query($query) or die (mysql_error()."<br />Couldn't execute query: $query");
	$num_results = mysql_num_rows($result);

	echo "The number of rows are $num_results";
?>
	<table width=100% border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2>
    <form onSubmit="return validate_form ( );" name="order_form" action="grouporder.php" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
		<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="numresults" VALUE="<?php echo $num_results ?>">
		<tr>
			<td width=50>Order #</td>
			<td><b>GroupName</b></td>
			<td><b>GroupID</b></td>
		</tr>
<?php 
		for ($i=1; $i <= $num_results; $i++)
		  {
		     $row = mysql_fetch_array($result);
		     echo '<tr><td width=50>';
?>
		     	 <input type=text name="<?php echo "order[$i]"; ?>" value="<?php echo $row['List']; ?>" size="3" maxlength="3">
<?php
		     echo '</td>';
		     echo '<td>';
		     echo $row['GroupName'];
		     echo '</td>';
		     echo '<td>';
		     echo stripslashes($row['GroupID']);
		     echo '</td></tr>';
		  }
		
?>
			<tr>
				<td colspan=3 align=left><input type="submit" value="Submit"><INPUT TYPE=button  VALUE="Click here to display form values" ONCLICK="validate_form ( )"></td>
			</tr>
	</form>
	</table>
		
</body>
</html>

The error given is: 'document.order_form.order' is null or not an object

I've tried a few different ways to have the javascript recognize the order[] array, but have been unsuccessful.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,

dan

June 24th, 2004, 02:52 PM

jacktasia

Contributing User

Dev Shed Intermediate (1500 - 1999 posts)

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Location: Lawrence, Kansas [KU]

Posts: 1,559

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does it have to be an array? it would be easier to do on the javascript side if you just have them like order1,order2,order3,order4,etc...and assigned them ids instead of names and then you could just do something like:

Code:

for (var i;i<=AmountOf;i++) {
if (document.getElementById('order'+i).value=="") {
//some code
}
}

so in your php code you just do the same kind of except use the 'order'.$i ...concat method to make each object in the loop...

does that makes sense? or will that mess too much with how you are receiving the info back?

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June 24th, 2004, 04:18 PM

dan22k

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It's definately a good idea, but I think it will mess too much with the way I get the info back. It doesn't have to be an array, but the information is dynamic and i'm using the information to update a table in my database. So at any given time, order$i can be as low as order2 or as high as order75. Plus, it's one thing to concatanate strings, but then I would have to put together the variables up to a given number on the receiving side, which I don't think is possible to my knowledge. It could be possible, but I don't know how to do it. Is there a way to or any other way to solve the original issue?

thanks,

dan

June 24th, 2004, 04:34 PM

jacktasia

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dan22k

i hate to dwell on my first idea, but as far as getting your info back from the user..couldn't you do something like this:

PHP Code:


		
			
 1. numresults has total amount of textboxes

2. for loop all the way through numresults

3. body of for loop something like $order[$i] = _POST['order'+$i];

4. then you will have your array to use with the database

5. wouldn't that work?

June 25th, 2004, 02:49 PM

dan22k

Contributing User

Join Date: Jun 2004

Posts: 32

Time spent in forums: 4 h 26 m 30 sec
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The JavaScript issues are completed, that works. However, I keep getting a parse error on the line

$order[$i] = _POST['order'+$i];

I've tried a few combinations, but i'm having trouble finding something that works. Basically, in a for loop I need $order[1] = _POST['order1'];, $order[2] = _POST['order2']; , upto n for $i.

Any ideas? I know this is more php than javascript, but i thought someone looking on this whole thread may have an idea.

Thanks.