Dynamic Select Dropdown Menu

Question

I have a menu with 3 options, that in the simplest form looks like:

<form action="samePageAction" form="post">
  <select>
    <option>Yes</option>
    <option>No</option>
    <option>Maybe</option>
  </select>
</form>

It isn't really "dynamic", its just based on a user's setting in the database, I'm choosing what "option" to display by default:

    <form action="samePageAction" form="post">
      <select>
<?    
      if(!$personUndecided && $personHasAgreed){
?>   
        <option>Yes</option>
        <option>No</option>
        <option>Maybe</option> 
<?    
      } else if(!$personUndecided && !$personHasAgreed){
?> 
        <option>No</option>
        <option>Yes</option>
        <option>Maybe</option>
      </select>
<?
      else {
?>
        <option>Maybe</option>
        <option>Yes</option>
        <option>No</option>
     </select>
<? } ?>
    </form>

The "first" option in each case is important, because when the form is disabled, that is the option the user will see. I feel gross when I look at this, but a better solution isn't coming to me. How can I optimize this menu?

Question: How can I prevent repeating myself this much. Or does this code look perfectly normal?

What you actually looking for ? Question Is Unclear, My Dear — Nana Partykar
– Nana Partykar, Commented Feb 12, 2016 at 17:08
@bruh please note that the elsestatement will never be executed — fusion3k
– fusion3k, Commented Feb 12, 2016 at 17:22

fusion3k · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-12 17:19:28Z

1

You can short your code in this way, i.e.:

<?php
   if( $personHasAgreed )      $choices = array ( 'Yes',  'No',  'Maybe' );
   elseif( !$personHasAgreed ) $choices = array ( 'No',   'Yes', 'Maybe' );
   else                        $choices = array ( 'Maybe','Yes', 'No' );

   foreach( $choices as $choice ):
?>
       <option><?php echo $choice; ?></option>
<?php endforeach; ?>

In this way you assign first the various choice values depending on $personHasAgreed setting, then perform one foreach loop to output each option.

Edit: please note that I think the else statement will never be executed...

edited Feb 12, 2016 at 17:19

answered Feb 12, 2016 at 17:17

fusion3k

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1 Comment

bruh Over a year ago

About the else block, there is another condition (I didn't mention) for example $personUndecided = true && $personHasAgreed .... will only hit the 3rd case, as the first 2 would be false. Thanks for pointing that out though!

RomanPerekhrest · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-12 17:22:24Z

1

Simple solution with explode function:

<form action="samePageAction" form="post">
    <select>
<?php
    $personHasAgreed = "";
    $valueString = ($personHasAgreed === 1)? "Yes,No,Maybe" : (($personHasAgreed === 0)? "No,Yes,Maybe" : "Maybe,Yes,No" );
    $valueString = explode(",", $valueString); 
    foreach($valueString as $word){
        echo "<option>". $word ."<option>";
    }
?>     
      </select>
  </form>

answered Feb 12, 2016 at 17:22

RomanPerekhrest

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Comments

Morad · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-12 17:42:43Z

0

Something like this ?

<form action="samePageAction" method="post">
    <select>
<?php
$possAnswer = array(
    "1" => "<option>Yes</option>", 
    "0" => "<option>No</option>", 
    "2" => "<option>Maybe</option>"
    );
if($personHasAgreed) {
    echo $possAnswer[1] . $possAnswer[0] . $possAnswer[2];
} else if(!$personHasAgreed ){
    echo $possAnswer[0] . $possAnswer[1] . $possAnswer[2];
} else {
    echo $possAnswer[2] . $possAnswer[1] . $possAnswer[0];
}
?> 
    </select>
</form>

`

answered Feb 12, 2016 at 17:42

Morad

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