I have a pull down menu in an HTML form. I want to populate that pull down with names from a database. I have it working pullin just the frist name, but I need it to pul both First and Last name from the database, and they are two different fields. here is what I have so far...

PHP Code:

<?php 
echo '<select name= "First_Name" , "Last_Name">';
while( $array = mysql_fetch_assoc($result) ) {
     echo "<option value=\"{$array['value']}\">{$array['First_Name']}</option>\n";
}
echo '</select>';?>

This is working and pulling only the First Name into the pull down. I need it to pull the last name too, but I do not know how to code it to display both.

Please help.

$text_for_select = $array["First_Name"] . " " . $array["Last_Name"];

Originally Posted by PaulW

$text_for_select = $array["First_Name"] . " " . $array["Last_Name"];

Nope. When I add what yo suggested:

PHP Code:

<?php 
echo '<select name= "First_Name" , "Last_Name">';
while( $array = mysql_fetch_assoc($result) ) {
     echo "<option value=\"{$array['value']}\">{$array['First_Name'] . " " . $array['Last_Name']}</option>\n";
}
echo '</select>';?>

</p>

It gives me this error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '.', expecting '}' in /home5/windfal2/public_html/ledge/wp-content/themes/arras/letter.php on line 72

This being line 72:

PHP Code:

     echo "<option value=\"{$array['value']}\">{$array['First_Name'] . " " . $array['Last_Name']}</option>\n"; 


Check private messages

Originally Posted by PaulW

Check private messages

Uh... I'm confused. Can you provide an example?

Odd things going on when I type code Do the assignment inside the loop and follow it with the echo for the option line but use the variable $str in value and option display text -- no array references.

Originally Posted by PaulW

Odd things going on when I type code Do the assignment inside the loop and follow it with the echo for the option line but use the variable $str in value and option display text -- no array references.

I am not exactly sure what you want me to do. Currently this is working:

PHP Code:

<?php 
echo '<select name= "First_Name" , "Last_Name">';
while( $array = mysql_fetch_assoc($result) ) {
    
     echo "<option value=\"{$array['value']}\">{$array['First_Name']}</option>\n";
}
echo '</select>';?>

Except for the fact that I can't get it to pull the last name. All I need is to be able to pull multiple fields into the select menu. Just First and Last Name. I am not sure what you are asking me to do or where. I am fairly new to PHP, I'm sorry.

My fault: I can't type code in here at the moment -- have a look at http://www.mredding.co.uk/pw2.html

Aha!!!! Thank you so much!! That did the trick. Sorry I was so confused. I understand your previous posts now.

Now. I have one more thing I am wanting to do. When someone selects the name from the drop-down, i want the form to send to the address related to the selection. The emails are already in the Database. Any I idea how to send that address to the $to variable after the drop-down selection is made?

Is there a unique id for each record?

Originally Posted by PaulW

Is there a unique id for each record?

Currently there is not. I created the database from a Excel Spreadsheet. Should I add one?

Yes, (and pretty much always for a db table). Having done that, add the id to your initial db query and look at the link I sent before -- I've added some more below the first bit I gave.

Originally Posted by PaulW

Yes, (and pretty much always for a db table). Having done that, add the id to your initial db query and look at the link I sent before -- I've added some more below the first bit I gave.

When I do that, it creates two entries for each name in the database. Plus, I am not sure what you mean with the explode. how exactly does that work. And do I put that in the form?

Re two entries: not sure what you're doing. (The problem if you don't have that primary key is that duplicate names can't be handled. ) When the form is submitted and you're doing whatever, put the explode in there, get the email from the database and send your email. (ie it isn't part of the form presentation, it's part of the form submission processing).

Ok, so here is what I have so far. No longer pulling duplicates. (That was my fault)

PHP Code:

<?php 
echo '<select name= "First_Name" , "Last_Name">';
while( $array = mysql_fetch_assoc($result) ) {
    $text_for_select = $array["First_Name"] . " " . $array["Last_Name"]. " " . $array["District"];
$value_for_select = $array["First_Name"] . " " . $array["Last_Name"] . "_" . $array["id"];
echo "<option></option>\n";
echo "<option value=\"$value_for_select\">$text_for_select</option>\n"; 
}
echo '</select>';?>

Seems to be working just fine.


Now here is what my submission code looks like:

PHP Code:

<?php 
    if($_POST){
    $to = $email;
    $subject = "WHAT SHOULD THIS BE";    
    $message  =  "Date: $date\n\r".
                 "Dear $First_Name, $Last_Name,\n\r".
                 "Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah.Blah Blah BLah..\n\r".
                
                "Sincerely,\n".
                "$name \n".
                "$street \n".
                "$city, $zip \n".
                "$email \\n".
    $headers = "From: $email";
    mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers);
    // SUCCESS!
    echo '<p class="notice">'.
        'Thank you for your submission.  '.
          '</p>';
    // clear out the variables for good-housekeeping
    unset($date,$legislator,$bill,$name,$street,$city,$zip,$email);
    $_POST = array();
}
?>

Where would I place the explode code? And also what would I have the $to field equal to?

I need more Lemsip. In your original form, put the name attribute of the SELECT to something like "lazer_select", not what you currently have. Put the explode line at the start of the submission processing but where I've put value_for_select in the _POST reference, put lazer_select. Then you do the db lookup to get the email and name that goes with the id. Okay, I'm off to bed to feel fluey Good luck.

Hmm... anyone else have any ideas?