Re: [Phplib-users] How to make a multipage data submition... ?

[Michael C. <mdc...@mi...>]

On Tue, Oct 29, 2002 at 01:52:29PM +0100, Benjamin Hoft wrote:
> Hi 
> my problem is, that i have to make a page
> on which i can go to serveral other pages and submit each entered data to the next page which is insertet on the dbase on the last page.
> 
> But how can i do this ??
> any suggestions or Ideas ?
> 
> 
> The pages eg. must look like this
> 
> 1. page 
>    addressdata input fields
> 2. page 
>   firm selection 
> 3. page 
>   other stuff selection
> 4. page 
>   enter the given data into dbase

The reasonable way to do it is to store the data in the session,
probably best in an array or object.  Put all the pages into a single
.php file, and keep track of which "page" the user is on.  At the bottom
of the page, put a "Next" and a "Previous" button.

Your program logic looks like this:

if (is_numeric($_REQUEST['page'])) $page=$_REQUEST['page'];
if (!$page) $page=0;

{ store form values in session }

if ($_REQUEST['submit']=='Previous' && $page>1) {
	$page--;
} elseif ($page<$last_page) {
	{ validate form values }
	$page++;
}

if ($page==1) {
	# show page 1
} elseif ($page==2) {
	# show page 2
etc.

Your last page might post to another file for the final submission.
Given how users are, you should put your "Previous" button at the top,
also.  Obviously, the code is a bit more complex than this, but I think
you can get the general flow of it.

This way, they'll get to move back and forth without causing trouble.
They can always force it to skip pages, but you can always set flags to
make sure each page's data base been validated and don't allow the final
page if all pages haven't been validated.

I did an application like this earlier this year, and if I ever get
around to writing the advanced PHP book this will probably be a chapter.

Michael
-- 
Michael Darrin Chaney
mdc...@mi...
http://www.michaelchaney.com/