Adding a drop down list to a table, that is linked to a SQL database

Question

I have an insert script and an update script, both separate. The script submits the data to the database, and adds or updates the database. The scripts work within a table.

Part of the code:

<form method="post" action="<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>">
<table width="750" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5">

<tr>
    <td width="100">Staff ID</td>
    <td><input name="staff_id" type="text" id="staff_id">
               <th>
 Enter Desired ID
               </th>
    </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td>
<input name="update" type="submit" id="update" value="Update">
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>

I want to add some options to the table, like a drop down menu. How would I go about that?

You first should learn how to run the SQL query and research PDO or MySQLi (the two recommended APIs in PHP). Secondly <?php $_PHP_SELF ?> won't do anything. First off what is $_PHP_SELF and secondly you aren't echoing it. — Devon Bessemer
– Devon Bessemer, Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 17:57

Brock Amhurst · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-21 18:03:54Z

1

Use the select tag, like so:

<select name="myselect">
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
  <option value="mercedes">Mercedes</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>

Source: W3 Schools Select tag

The value selected will be available to your PHP script as $_POST['myselect'] or whatever name you choose for the select tag.

Also, as Devon mentioned in his comment, make sure your form is implemented properly and following PHP rules. If you're posting the form to the same page the form is on, you need to ensure its in a PHP file and not an HTML file. Also, change the "<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>" part to "<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" and ensure all the HTML in your file is either echoed or outside the <?php ?> tags

edited Jan 21, 2015 at 18:03

answered Jan 21, 2015 at 17:58

Brock Amhurst

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1 Comment

Devon Bessemer Over a year ago

Brock, there is also the short hand echo useful for templating: <?= $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] ?>. This is equivalent to <?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>.

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