DaniWeb Forum Index > Web Development > PHP

form validation

Please support our PHP advertiser: PostgreSQL or MySQL? Compare and contrast the two most popular open source databases

Thread Solved

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

form validation

-1

Sep 21st, 2009

OK, I am making a Form that will have about 65 check boxes, this data will be pulled from database.
I need to validate form to be sure that 7 (no more no less) are checked.
Can some one post a quick code snippet of the code validation for this?

I have searched and have found some greater than examples but to specific number.

Thanx.

•

Join Date: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,026

Reputation: ardav will become famous soon enough

Solved Threads: 131

ardav

Offline

Veteran Poster

Re: form validation

Sep 21st, 2009

I would suggest that you have both client-side and server-side validation. The client-side should prevent users from choosing = 7 options or notify the user that they have chosen = 7 options and refused to submit the form.

A simple version would be:
1) The html should set the state of each checkbox in the array and the initial count set up as a js variable. If total <> 7 , disable the submit button.
2) A click will ascribe a +1 or -1 to the total (depending if the chkbox has been checked or unchecked). Check total, disable or enable submit button.

The server should valso validate, e.g.

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
$count = count($_POST['chk_option']);
$count = count($_POST['chk_option']);

If this is <> 7, refuse the data and send the user back to the form with an error message. Remember to store the info ($_SESSION/$_COOKIE/querystring and $_GET) from the $_POST variables to replenish the form fields.

Last edited by ardav; Sep 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm.

Happy Humbugging Christmas

•

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 55

Reputation: wilch is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 9

wilch

Offline

Junior Poster in Training

Re: form validation

Sep 21st, 2009

Here's the idea, though i have not tested the code, the logic is correct.

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<?php
 
$sql = "SELECT * FROM options LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);
 
echo "<form name='frmChk' action='mypage.php' method='post'>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['option_name'];
  echo "<input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label <br>";
}
echo "<input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></form>";
 
echo 
"<script language='javascript'>
  function checkCount(){
   var count=0;
   var inputs=document.frmChk.getElementsByTagName('input');
   for(var i=0; i<inputs.length-1; i++){
     if(inputs[i].type == 'checkbox' && inputs[i].checked == true)
        count++;
   }
    if(count != 7){
        alert('You must select exactly 7 checkboxes');
        return false;
     }
     return true; 
 }
</script>";
?>
<?php

$sql = "SELECT * FROM options LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);

echo "<form name='frmChk' action='mypage.php' method='post'>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['option_name'];
  echo "<input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label <br>";
}
echo "<input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></form>";

echo 
"<script language='javascript'>
  function checkCount(){
   var count=0;
   var inputs=document.frmChk.getElementsByTagName('input');
   for(var i=0; i<inputs.length-1; i++){
     if(inputs[i].type == 'checkbox' && inputs[i].checked == true)
        count++;
   }
    if(count != 7){
        alert('You must select exactly 7 checkboxes');
        return false;
     }
     return true; 
 }
</script>";
?>

Last edited by wilch; Sep 21st, 2009 at 1:10 pm.

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

Re: form validation

Sep 22nd, 2009

Thanx very much, I will work with this so far.

I am very much in over my head lol, but I could not find what I was lookin for, so will have to make my own haha.

Think after a few pages I will be ok though.

Thanx again, and I am sure I will be back many times yet.

•

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 55

Reputation: wilch is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 9

wilch

Offline

Junior Poster in Training

Re: form validation

Sep 22nd, 2009

No problem !

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

Re: form validation

Oct 1st, 2009

Well 8 days later lol, finally got the first step done.
What I am finding the mosst difficult is integrating into my current site which uses .php & .tpl

Ok, so now my page goes to db, gets the drivers and validates that user has picked 7 exactly,
Now how do I do next step?
I now need to enter the user (also give user a unique ID) and their seven drivers into the db in a table called userdriver10

Here is my page so far

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<?php
 
	$tpl = new template;
	$tpl -> Load("!theme/{$GLOBALS["THEME"]}/templates/fantasy/fselteam.tpl");
	$tpl -> GetObjects();
 
 
if (isset($_SESSION["id"])) $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "user");
 
		else $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "guest");
 
	if (isset($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"])) {
		if ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.password") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.password"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.user") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.username"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.bruteforce") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.bruteforce"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.active") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.active"];
	}
 
	$tpl -> AssignArray(array(
		"login.failMessage" => (isset($loginError)?$loginError:NULL)
	));
	// Report all PHP errors (see changelog)
// error_reporting(E_ALL);
include_once('db_conn.php');
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `nascar_standings` ORDER BY driver ASC LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);
$user = "frank";
$i = 0;
$sel_text = "";
$column = "</tr><tr>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['driver'];
  $sel_text .= "<td><input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label </td>";
    if (++$i % 4 == 0)
    {
        $sel_text .= $column;
    }
}
$sel_text .= "</tr><tr><td colspan =4 valign = center><input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></td></tr></table></form>";
 
$sel_text .= "<script type='text/javascript'>
 
	function checkCount(){
		var mincheck = 7;
		var testform = document.getElementById('frmChk');
		var items = testform.getElementsByTagName('input');
		var count = 0;
 
		for (var i=0; i < items.length-1; i++)
		{
			if (items[i].type == 'checkbox' && items[i].checked)
			{
				count++;
			}
		}
 
		if(count != mincheck)
		{
			alert('You must select ' + mincheck + ' Drivers');
			return false;
		}
		return true; 
	}
 
</script>";
$tpl -> AssignArray(array('selteam' => $sel_text));		
$tpl -> Flush();
 
?>
<?php

	$tpl = new template;
	$tpl -> Load("!theme/{$GLOBALS["THEME"]}/templates/fantasy/fselteam.tpl");
	$tpl -> GetObjects();


if (isset($_SESSION["id"])) $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "user");

		else $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "guest");

	if (isset($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"])) {
		if ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.password") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.password"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.user") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.username"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.bruteforce") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.bruteforce"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.active") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.active"];
	}
	
	$tpl -> AssignArray(array(
		"login.failMessage" => (isset($loginError)?$loginError:NULL)
	));
	// Report all PHP errors (see changelog)
// error_reporting(E_ALL);
include_once('db_conn.php');
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `nascar_standings` ORDER BY driver ASC LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);
$user = "frank";
$i = 0;
$sel_text = "";
$column = "</tr><tr>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['driver'];
  $sel_text .= "<td><input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label </td>";
    if (++$i % 4 == 0)
    {
        $sel_text .= $column;
    }
}
$sel_text .= "</tr><tr><td colspan =4 valign = center><input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></td></tr></table></form>";

$sel_text .= "<script type='text/javascript'>
		
	function checkCount(){
		var mincheck = 7;
		var testform = document.getElementById('frmChk');
		var items = testform.getElementsByTagName('input');
		var count = 0;
		
		for (var i=0; i < items.length-1; i++)
		{
			if (items[i].type == 'checkbox' && items[i].checked)
			{
				count++;
			}
		}
		
		if(count != mincheck)
		{
			alert('You must select ' + mincheck + ' Drivers');
			return false;
		}
		return true; 
	}
	
</script>";
$tpl -> AssignArray(array('selteam' => $sel_text));		
$tpl -> Flush();

?>

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

Re: form validation

Oct 1st, 2009

ooops,
and on the .tpl side I have

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<form id='frmChk' action='testsel1.php' method='post' onsubmit='if (!checkCount()) return false;'>
<form id='frmChk' action='testsel1.php' method='post' onsubmit='if (!checkCount()) return false;'>

I have action='testsel1.php' there just to test, but I imagine that is where I will need to input back into db?

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

Re: form validation

Oct 2nd, 2009

Anyone?

I think once I get this next step figured out, the rest of the pages I need to make should go alot smoother lol.

Thanx.

•

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 55

Reputation: wilch is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 9

wilch

Offline

Junior Poster in Training

Re: form validation

Oct 2nd, 2009

Hi there !
Ok in the file testsel1.php, you need to do the following:
- revalidate the count of checked drivers, and ensure there are 7 (or less ??)
- generate the random id.
- save both drivers and random id

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<?php
 
if(! isset($_POST['submit'])) header("another_page.php");
 
if(isset($_POST['chks']) && count($_POST['chks']) == 7){
   $drivers = $_POST['chks'];
 
  //generate random id
  $randID = substr(md5(microtime(), -7)) //generates a random string of 7 characters
 
  //note the sql has an ellipsis(...) where you need to fill in the rest
   $sql = "INSERT INTO user_drivers(user_id, driver1, driver2, ..., driver7) VALUES('$randID', '".$drivers[0]."','".$drivers[1]."','...', '".$drivers[6]."')"
 
   mysql_query($sql);
 
}
else{
  //output invalid number of drivers specified
}
 
?>
<?php

if(! isset($_POST['submit'])) header("another_page.php");

if(isset($_POST['chks']) && count($_POST['chks']) == 7){
   $drivers = $_POST['chks'];

  //generate random id
  $randID = substr(md5(microtime(), -7)) //generates a random string of 7 characters

  //note the sql has an ellipsis(...) where you need to fill in the rest
   $sql = "INSERT INTO user_drivers(user_id, driver1, driver2, ..., driver7) VALUES('$randID', '".$drivers[0]."','".$drivers[1]."','...', '".$drivers[6]."')"

   mysql_query($sql);
   
}
else{
  //output invalid number of drivers specified
}

?>

Last edited by wilch; Oct 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm.

umm.. by the way how do you do it ?

•

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 21

Reputation: planethax is an unknown quantity at this point

Solved Threads: 0

planethax

Offline

Newbie Poster

Re: form validation

#10

Oct 4th, 2009

I am trying to put info into the database, have 3 issues (no errors though)
1, The userid username are empty
2, The drivers name are just "on" (need to assign drivers names to checks? )
3, Page echos query, but DB is still empty.

Result page is

•

INSERT INTO user_drivers(userid, username, driver1, driver2, driver3, driver4, driver5, driver6, driver7) VALUES('','','on','on',''on', 'on', 'on', 'on', 'on')

DB table structure is

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
CREATE TABLE `user_drivers` (
  `userid` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `username` varchar(32) character set utf8 collate utf8_unicode_ci NOT NULL,
  `driver1` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver2` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver3` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver4` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver5` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver6` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver7` text character set latin1 NOT NULL
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;
CREATE TABLE `user_drivers` (
  `userid` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `username` varchar(32) character set utf8 collate utf8_unicode_ci NOT NULL,
  `driver1` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver2` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver3` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver4` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver5` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver6` text character set latin1 NOT NULL,
  `driver7` text character set latin1 NOT NULL
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;

Form page is

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<?php
 
	$tpl = new template;
	$tpl -> Load("!theme/{$GLOBALS["THEME"]}/templates/fantasy/fselteam.tpl");
	$tpl -> GetObjects();
 
 
if (isset($_SESSION["id"])) $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "user");
 
		else $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "guest");
 
	if (isset($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"])) {
		if ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.password") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.password"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.user") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.username"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.bruteforce") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.bruteforce"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.active") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.active"];
	}
 
	$tpl -> AssignArray(array(
		"login.failMessage" => (isset($loginError)?$loginError:NULL)
	));
	// Report all PHP errors (see changelog)
// error_reporting(E_ALL);
include_once('db_conn.php');
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `nascar_standings` ORDER BY driver ASC LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);
$username = me('username');
$userid = me('id');
$i = 0;
$sel_text = "";
$column = "</tr><tr>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['driver'];
  $sel_text .= "<td><input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label </td>";
    if (++$i % 4 == 0)
    {
        $sel_text .= $column;
    }
}
$sel_text .= "</tr><tr><td colspan =4 valign = center><input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></td></tr></table></form>";
 
$sel_text .= "<script type='text/javascript'>
 
	function checkCount(){
		var mincheck = 7;
		var testform = document.getElementById('frmChk');
		var items = testform.getElementsByTagName('input');
		var count = 0;
 
		for (var i=0; i < items.length-1; i++)
		{
			if (items[i].type == 'checkbox' && items[i].checked)
			{
				count++;
			}
		}
 
		if(count != mincheck)
		{
			alert('You must select ' + mincheck + ' Drivers');
			return false;
		}
		return true; 
	}
 
</script>";
$tpl -> AssignArray(array('selteam' => $sel_text));		
$tpl -> Flush();
 
?>
<?php

	$tpl = new template;
	$tpl -> Load("!theme/{$GLOBALS["THEME"]}/templates/fantasy/fselteam.tpl");
	$tpl -> GetObjects();


if (isset($_SESSION["id"])) $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "user");

		else $tpl->Zone("userStatus", "guest");

	if (isset($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"])) {
		if ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.password") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.password"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.user") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.username"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.bruteforce") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.bruteforce"];
		elseif ($GLOBALS["LOGIN_FAIL_TYPE"] == "e.active") $loginError = $GLOBALS["OBJ"]["loginError.active"];
	}
	
	$tpl -> AssignArray(array(
		"login.failMessage" => (isset($loginError)?$loginError:NULL)
	));
	// Report all PHP errors (see changelog)
// error_reporting(E_ALL);
include_once('db_conn.php');
$sql = "SELECT * FROM `nascar_standings` ORDER BY driver ASC LIMIT 65";
$rs = mysql_query($sql);
$username = me('username');
$userid = me('id');
$i = 0;
$sel_text = "";
$column = "</tr><tr>";
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($rs)){
  $label = $row['driver'];
  $sel_text .= "<td><input type='checkbox' name='chks[]'> $label </td>";
    if (++$i % 4 == 0)
    {
        $sel_text .= $column;
    }
}
$sel_text .= "</tr><tr><td colspan =4 valign = center><input type='submit' value='Validate & Submit' name='validate' onclick='if(!checkCount()) return false;'></td></tr></table></form>";

$sel_text .= "<script type='text/javascript'>
		
	function checkCount(){
		var mincheck = 7;
		var testform = document.getElementById('frmChk');
		var items = testform.getElementsByTagName('input');
		var count = 0;
		
		for (var i=0; i < items.length-1; i++)
		{
			if (items[i].type == 'checkbox' && items[i].checked)
			{
				count++;
			}
		}
		
		if(count != mincheck)
		{
			alert('You must select ' + mincheck + ' Drivers');
			return false;
		}
		return true; 
	}
	
</script>";
$tpl -> AssignArray(array('selteam' => $sel_text));		
$tpl -> Flush();

?>

The insert page is

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<?php
 
if(! isset($_POST['submit'])) header("fhome.php");
 
if(isset($_POST['chks']) && count($_POST['chks']) == 7){
   $drivers = $_POST['chks'];
 
include_once('db_conn.php');
 
  //note the sql has an ellipsis(...) where you need to fill in the rest
   $sql = "INSERT INTO user_drivers(userid, username, driver1, driver2, driver3, driver4, driver5, driver6, driver7) VALUES('".$userid."','".$username."','".$drivers[0]."','".$drivers[1]."',''".$drivers[2]."', '".$drivers[3]."', '".$drivers[4]."', '".$drivers[5]."', '".$drivers[6]."')";
 
   mysql_query($sql);
 
}
else{
  //output invalid number of drivers specified
}
echo $sql;
?>
<?php

if(! isset($_POST['submit'])) header("fhome.php");

if(isset($_POST['chks']) && count($_POST['chks']) == 7){
   $drivers = $_POST['chks'];

include_once('db_conn.php');

  //note the sql has an ellipsis(...) where you need to fill in the rest
   $sql = "INSERT INTO user_drivers(userid, username, driver1, driver2, driver3, driver4, driver5, driver6, driver7) VALUES('".$userid."','".$username."','".$drivers[0]."','".$drivers[1]."',''".$drivers[2]."', '".$drivers[3]."', '".$drivers[4]."', '".$drivers[5]."', '".$drivers[6]."')";

   mysql_query($sql);
   
}
else{
  //output invalid number of drivers specified
}
echo $sql;
?>