asked on

Validating form data with Multiple input fields

I have code at the moment where is a user input multiple items into a text input separated by a comma, this gets submitted to php backend and using explode, I can retrieve the correct values and process them back through jquery.

Here is my problem. I need to find a way to validate input using several input boxes. The maximum would be 8 and I am struggling to find a way to do this, using my existing code. Firebug states the the POST is 2 separate box_add posts. I cannot use [] because that will interfere with validator. I would be grateful if someone could show me the correct way to code this. Thanks

HTML relevant code

<a href="#" id="INTKAddMoreFileBox" class="btn btn-info">Add More Box Fields</a>
	<div id="INTKInputsWrapper">
	   <div><input name="box_add" type="text" id="box_add" />
              <a href="#" class="removeclass">&times;</a><a style="margin-left: 14px;" href="javascript:void(0)" title="Just an example" class="tooltip">Help</a>
           </div>
       </div>

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PHP code

<?php
	session_start();
	
	$connect = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "") or die ('{"opp":"error","box":"mysql_connect FAILED"}');
	
	$db = mysql_select_db("sample");


	// test vars from jquery form
	$status = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['status']);
	$company = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['company']);
	$requested = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['requested']);
	$activity = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['activity']);
	$address = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['address1']);
	$service = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['service']);
	$destroyDate = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['datepicker']);
	$date = explode('/', $_POST['datepicker']);
	$newdate = $date[2].'-'.$date[1].'-'.$date[0];
	//$box = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['box_add']); // never used
	$authorised = mysql_real_escape_string($_SESSION['kt_name_usr']);
	$dept = mysql_real_escape_string($_REQUEST['dept']);
	$boxerrortext = 'Error';

	// Split the box if multiples
	$array = explode(',', $_REQUEST['box_add']);
	
	$outString = ''; 
	
	foreach ($array as $box) {
		$box = mysql_real_escape_string($box);
		$sql = "SELECT item FROM act WHERE item = '$box'";
		$result = mysql_query($sql) or die ('{"opp":"error","box":"' . mysql_error() . '"}');

		// If there are dupe entries, send message to jquery
		if (mysql_num_rows($result) > 0) {
		
			$outString .= $box . ' ';		
	} 	
	}
	if ($outString) {
		$error = array('opp' => "error", 'box' => $outString); 
	
		$output = json_encode($error);
		echo $output;
		exit();
	}

	foreach ($array as $box) {
		$outString .= "<br />company:  $company <br /> address: $address <br />service: $service <br />Destroy Date: $destroyDate <br />box: $box <br />";

		$box = mysql_real_escape_string($box);
		$sql = "INSERT INTO `temp` (service, activity, department, company, address, user, destroydate, date, item, new)";
		$sql .= "VALUES ('$service', '$activity', '$dept', '$company', '$address', '$requested', '$newdate', NOW(), '$box', 1)";
		$result = mysql_query($sql) or die ('{"opp":"error","box":"' . mysql_error() . '"}');
	}

	$json = array('opp' => 'insert', 'box' => $outString);
	$result = json_encode($json);
	echo $result;
?>

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Script to add inputs

<script type="text/javascript">
$(function() {

var MaxInputs       = 8; //maximum input boxes allowed
var InputsWrapper   = $("#INTKInputsWrapper"); //Input boxes wrapper ID
var AddButton       = $("#INTKAddMoreFileBox"); //Add button ID

var x = InputsWrapper.length; //initlal text box count
var FieldCount=1; //to keep track of text box added

$(AddButton).click(function (e)  //on add input button click
{
        if(x <= MaxInputs) //max input box allowed
        {
            FieldCount++; //text box added increment
            //add input box
            $(InputsWrapper).append('<div><input type="text" name="box_add" id="box_add" /><a href="#" class="removeclass">&times;</a></div>');
            x++; //text box increment
        }
return false;
});

$("body").on("click",".removeclass", function(e){ //user click on remove text
        if( x > 1 ) {
                $(this).parent('div').remove(); //remove text box
                x--; //decrement textbox
        }
return false;
}) 

});
</script>

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Gary

You would have to get the raw querystring and strip it down manually, as the last value in a querystring will overwrite any previous values
e.g.

$pairs=explode('&',$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
foreach($pairs as $item){
	$items=explode("=",$item);
	if($items[0]=="my-named-pair"){
		echo $items[1];
	}
}

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Ray Paseur

It's hard to eat an elephant all in one sitting. It's hard to write a complete web app all at once, too!

I think you might want to deconstruct the problem a little bit. Set the jQuery part aside and just concentrate on getting the HTML form right, and seeing what it looks like in PHP by using var_dump()to visualize the data. Once you're satisfied that you can get the data the way you want, add the data base queries into the script. And once all of this is working correctly from the browser address bar, then integrate the jQuery part of things.

At least, that is how I would do it.

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Member_2_248744

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peter-cooper

ASKER

Hi Slick
Thanks very much. Works like a charm with slight modification:

 name="box_add[]'+FieldCount+'"

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Many thanks

peter-cooper

ASKER

Thanks once again.

Member_2_248744

glad it works, suggestion 4 u, If you ask about javascript, as you do here, you need to put this question in the javascript, and jquery EE zones FIRST, the experts there can see what u got and what u need, , faster than the PHP , "Miscellaneous Web Development" zones.

a note to consider, you do not seem to have the experience in JS or PHP to see what to do in a Two Computer (server, browser) separate code dependence, needed for successful Ajax. Take time to try to do things with Ajax NOT related to building your current Form submit page here in dis question. You must take time to learn the basics and use, for JS (jquery) AND PHP in Ajax exchange, you can't get to where you want to go in Ajax with just some blind, no-knowledge, copy-paste code work, I do not tell you this just for "You", as I have seen too many others in questions here at EE about Ajax, that think it is simple and an ignorant anyone can do it. Copy-paste is one thing, but getting a good Ajax page requires much more than that.