Generalised select query with multiple values

[neil92]

I’m trying to write a select query in MySQL which display all column names with checkboxes in the frontend form and allow the user to choose which of to use in the select query. I am OK with using $_POST to post across the values but I’m not sure how I can put these into my query string correctly as some users may select 1, while others may select 3.

This is what I have so far:

Front end form:

<form action="back.php" method="post">
<input type="checkbox" name="person" value="forename">Forename<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="person" value="surname">Surname<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="person" value="nationality">Nationality<br>
</form>

Back end:

$person=$_POST["person"];

$query = "select" . $person . " from Actor WHERE nationality = British";

Many thanks for your help

[Pepster]

You should use radio buttons if the user can only choose one option. I am unsure what you’re trying to do, maybe someone else does or maybe you can explain more in detail?

[RyanReese]

He basically wants to know how to create his SQL statement to account for any range of entries coming from the checkbox, 1,2 or 3 values.

He cannot use radios for this since users have the option to select up to 3.

This isn’t really a PHP question, but rather a SQL question since he needs help with his SQL. I’m moving the thread accordingly.

[r937]

i disagree, ryan, i think he’s asking a php question –

I’m not sure how I can put these into my query string correctly

[WolfShade]

The first thing you should do is form validation to make sure that at least one checkbox is checked. If you’re using POST, you can check for length of a trimmed value. If it’s 0, then none of the checkboxes are checked.

In POST, if the checkboxes all have the same name, it should create a comma-delimited list of values. If you’re using parameterized queries, you should (theoretically) just pass that value for the SELECT:

SELECT var_name_for_POST_value
FROM tableA
WHERE {conditionals}

But I’m not that familiar with MySQL.

Just my thoughts.

[RyanReese]

@r937

i disagree, ryan, i think he’s asking a php question –

I think he’s asking how to create the query to allow for 3 different values.

He could do this by looping through all array values sent from the checkbox array (use a basic select statement grabbing 1 value at a time), or he can properly build the query to allow all 3 values to be grabbed by the SQL.

That is why I think this is SQL.

[r937]

[quote=“RyanReese, post:6, topic:125710”]
I think he’s asking how to create the query to allow for 3 different values.[/quote]
okay, here’s the SQL for that –

SELECT Forename , Surname , Nationality FROM daTable WHERE ...
i don’t do php, but i think the answer he’s looking for is the explode function to produce comma-delimited names of columns

i.e. a php answer