Getting a value from a drop down list using php

I usually use both 'id' and 'name'.  JavaScript likes 'id' and the form post to PHP uses 'name'.

Okay, thank you all for helping.
Partially I have managed.

<?php  
echo '<form action="" method="post" name="company_form">';
$rows = db_select("SELECT idcompany, company FROM company order by idcompany;"); 
if($rows === false) {
		    $error = db_error();
			echo "<ul class='error'>";
			echo "<li class='error'>Error : $error </li> ";
			echo "</ul>";			
		}
?><label>Company: &nbsp; </label><?php 
?><select id="id_company" onChange="this.form.submit()" name="Company"> <?php //onChange="location.reload()"
  echo "<option value='0'>Select Company</option>";
	 foreach($rows as $row){
          echo "<option value='" . $row['idcompany'] ."'>" . $row['company'] ."</option>";
	 } 
  echo '</select>';
  echo '</form>';
?> 

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and the other part:

<?php
//include "connect.php";

$id_company = $_POST['Company'];

$rows = db_select("SELECT * FROM notifications_vw where idcompany = $id_company "); 
if($rows === false) {
    $error = db_error();
	echo  $error;
}

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Now, It works, but not perfect yet.
First of all when the page loads there is nothing in the dashboard- as I have to first select the Company. Then the form is submitted and the page gets refresh. I would prefer upon the load automatically select the first company from the list. (default one). So I do not have to select the company after I log in. I have lost that when added the following line before the loop.

 echo "<option value='0'>Select Company</option>";

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I had to to add it as I could not select the first row- each time I change the Company the site refresh and is back on the first row. And that is another problem,

Now I select the Company, the page refreshes, I have the correct results but the Company list returns to back to 'Select Company'- I would like to keep it in the drop down so the user knows what is the Selected Company. and have the ID handy in the memory.

Any ideas?

Thank you in advance.

No points for this please, but if you're new to PHP and want to get a good foundation this article can help you find well-vetted learning resources (and avoid the bad examples that litter the internet).
http://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/11769/And-by-the-way-I-am-New-to-PHP.html

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This works for me, thanks Slick812, Your reply was very helpful.

<?php  
echo '<form action="" method="post" name="company_form">';

?><label>Company: &nbsp; </label><?php  
?><select id="id_company" onChange="this.form.submit()" name="Company"> <?php 

if (! empty($_POST['Company'])) {
 	 
  $id_company = $_POST['Company'];
  $rows = db_select("SELECT idcompany, company FROM company where idcompany = $id_company;"); 
      echo "<option value='" . $row['idcompany'] ."' selected >" . $row['company'] ."</option>"; 
}
 	
$rows = db_select("SELECT idcompany, company FROM company order by idcompany;"); 
if($rows === false) {
		    $error = db_error();
			echo "<ul class='error'>";
			echo "<li class='error'>Error : $error </li> ";
			echo "</ul>";			
		}

	 foreach($rows as $row){
      if ( $row['idcompany'] == $id_company) 
         $seled = "selected"; else $seled = ""; 
      echo "<option value='" . $row['idcompany'] ."' " . $seled .">" . $row['company'] ."</option>";
	 }

  echo '</select>';
  echo '</form>';
?> 

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Thank you all for help, with your help managed to sort it out.

Regards