3 replies to this topic

[thisisrealtome]

I have a form that lets users search members based on gender, age and zipcode but I'm not sure how to go about retrieving the data from my database. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's my form:

<form action="search.php" method="post">

  <br>

Seeking:

<select size="1" name="gender" id="gender">

<option value="males" selected>Males</option>

<option value="females">Females</option>

</select>

Between the ages of:

<select name="age_first" id="age_first">

<option value="18">18</option>

          <option value="19">19</option>

          <option value="20">20</option>

          <option value="21">21</option>

          <option value="22">22</option>

          <option value="23">23</option>

          <option value="24">24</option>

          <option value="25">25</option>

          <option value="26">26</option>

          <option value="27">27</option>

          <option value="28">28</option>

          <option value="29">29</option>

          <option value="30">30</option>

          <option value="31">32</option>

          <option value="33">33</option>

          <option value="34">34</option>

          <option value="35">35</option>

          <option value="36">36</option>

          <option value="37">37</option>

          <option value="38">38</option>

          <option value="39">39</option>

          <option value="40">40</option>

          <option value="41">41</option>

          <option value="42">42</option>

          <option value="43">43</option>

          <option value="44">44</option>

          <option value="45">45</option>

          <option value="46">46</option>

          <option value="47">47</option>

          <option value="48">48</option>

          <option value="49">49</option>

          <option value="50">50</option>

</select>

and 

<select name="age_second" id="age_second">

<option value="18">18</option>

          <option value="19">19</option>

          <option value="20">20</option>

          <option value="21">21</option>

          <option value="22">22</option>

          <option value="23">23</option>

          <option value="24" selected="selected">24</option>

          <option value="25">25</option>

          <option value="26">26</option>

          <option value="27">27</option>

          <option value="28">28</option>

          <option value="29">29</option>

          <option value="30">30</option>

          <option value="31">32</option>

          <option value="33">33</option>

          <option value="34">34</option>

          <option value="35">35</option>

          <option value="36">36</option>

          <option value="37">37</option>

          <option value="38">38</option>

          <option value="39">39</option>

          <option value="40">40</option>

          <option value="41">41</option>

          <option value="42">42</option>

          <option value="43">43</option>

          <option value="44">44</option>

          <option value="45">45</option>

          <option value="46">46</option>

          <option value="47">47</option>

          <option value="48">48</option>

          <option value="49">49</option>

          <option value="50">50</option>

</select>

Near:

<input name="zip" type="text" id="zip" size="15" maxlength="10">

<input type="Submit" value="Submit" name="Submit"> 

</form>

[Alexander]

Your form would generate the following values inside the $_POST in search.php array:

Array
(
    [gender] => males
    [age_first] => 18
    [age_second] => 24
    [zip] =>somezipcode
    [Submit] => Submit
)

For example, you would access their zip code through $_POST['zip'].

You should properly verify your data before you work in the database with it, such as checking if all the forms are filled out such as using isset(), and as well verify if those sets of data are in valid form (i.e. zip contains only numbers, and is five in length)

You can then form a query once all data members are safe,

$sql = "SELECT id, otherdataFROM table WHERE gender = '$gender' AND age BETWEEN $age_first AND $age_second AND (etc.)";

[thisisrealtome]

I understand the sql part but I'm not sure what you mean with the arrays.

[Alexander]

You may benefit from a tutorial on how to access form data in PHP
PHP form tutorial

On your form you have set the data to be sent using the POST method, so PHP will take this data and place it in to an array. This array will be named $_POST.

If you have name="someform" on your HTML form, then it will become $_POST['someform'] in the PHP script for ease of access.

If you are unclear of any thing feel free to ask!