PHP: How to carry over session variables between 3 pages? - php

Question

So as of now, i can successfully get the results to move from page one to page two using post and get, but no matter what im doing it will not move the info to the 3rd page. Im trying to switch it over to sessions after reading its made exactly for this but for some reason im doing something wrong and after hours of searching i cant for the life of me figure out what it is. I've followed guides, followed videos, and other post related to the topic on this website. I have now come to the conclusion that it is just me and i need some assistance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Page 1 (Index Page | Input Your Variables):
<?php session_start();
$_GET['q'] = $q;
$_GET['s'] = $s;
?>
<form action="search.php" method="get">
<input name="q" maxlength="8" type="text" placeholder="License Plate" id="textbox" required />
<select name="s" id="s" required aria-required="true">
<option value="" disabled selected>CHOOSE STATE</option>
<option value="AL">ALABAMA</option>
<option value="AK">ALASKA</option>
<option value="AZ">ARIZONA</option>
<option value="AR">ARKANSAS</option>
<option value="CA">CALIFORNIA</option>
<option value="CO">COLORADO</option>
<option value="CT">CONNECTICUT</option>
etc...
</select>
<input type="submit" value="SEARCH" id="submitbtn"></form>
Page 2 (Search.php that will take you directly to page specified if its already been created):
<?php session_start();
$q = $_POST['q'];
$s = $_POST['s'];
?>
<?php
$dir = 'states';
$s = (isset($_GET['s']))? strtolower($_POST['s']) : '';
$q = (isset($_GET['q']))? strtoupper($_POST['q']) : '';
$res = opendir($dir);
while(false!== ($file = readdir($res))) {
if(strpos(strtoupper($file),$q)!== false &&!in_array($file)) {
echo "<a href='$dir/$s/$q.htm'>$file</a>";
}
}
closedir($res);
?>
<?php
echo $htmlHeader;
while($stuff){
echo $stuff;
}
echo "<script>window.location =
'http://www.somesite.com/$dir/$s/$q.htm'</script>";
?>
Page 3 (404 page for catch all that are not in the system):
<?php session_start();
?>
<form action="" method="" name="FormChoice">
<input name="q" maxlength="8" type="text" value="<?php echo $_POST['q']; ?>" id="q" required>
<select name="s" id="s" required aria-required="true">
<option value="" disabled>CHOOSE STATE</option>
<option value="AL" <?php if($_POST['s'] == al) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>ALABAMA</option>
<option value="AK" <?php if($_POST['s'] == ak) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>ALASKA</option>
<option value="AZ" <?php if($_POST['s'] == az) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>ARIZONA</option>
<option value="AR" <?php if($_POST['s'] == ar) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>ARKANSAS</option>
<option value="CA" <?php if($_POST['s'] == ca) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>CALIFORNIA</option>
<option value="CO" <?php if($_POST['s'] == co) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>COLORADO</option>
<option value="CT" <?php if($_POST['s'] == ct) {echo ' selected="selected"';} ?>>CONNECTICUT</option>
</select>
<input type="submit" id="submitbtn2" value="SEARCH" name="submit" OnClick="search()" />
<span id="or">OR</span>
<input type="submit" id="addbtn" value="ADD" name="submit" OnClick="add()" />
</form>

Answer 1

page1
<?php
session_start();
// next 2 lines do NOTHING remove them
// as you have not yet loaded any values into $q and $s
//$_GET['q'] = $q;
//$_GET['s'] = $s;
?>
<form action="search.php" method="get">
<input name="q" maxlength="8" type="text" placeholder="License Plate" id="textbox" required />
<select name="s" id="s" required aria-required="true">
<option value="" disabled selected>CHOOSE STATE</option>
<option value="AL">ALABAMA</option>
<option value="AK">ALASKA</option>
<option value="AZ">ARIZONA</option>
<option value="AR">ARKANSAS</option>
<option value="CA">CALIFORNIA</option>
<option value="CO">COLORADO</option>
<option value="CT">CONNECTICUT</option>
etc...
</select>
<input type="submit" value="SEARCH" id="submitbtn"></form>
Page 2 - Search - receives data from previous form
- Contains lots of unecessary <?php...?>
- Previous form uses method="get" so data will arrive in the $_GET array not the $_POST array
<?php
session_start();
//$q = $_POST['q'];
//$s = $_POST['s'];
// But this is silly as you have not yet tested these values exist
// but you do that in the next lines
//$q = $_GET['q'];
//$s = $_GET['s'];
$dir = 'states';
$s = (isset($_GET['s']))? strtolower($_POST['s']) : '';
$q = (isset($_GET['q']))? strtoupper($_POST['q']) : '';
$res = opendir($dir);
// Now if you want to pass the values of `q` and `s` on to the next form
// they now need to be added to the session
$_SESSION['q'] = $q;
$_SESSION['s'] = $s;
while(false!== ($file = readdir($res))) {
if(strpos(strtoupper($file),$q)!== false &&!in_array($file)) {
echo "<a href='$dir/$s/$q.htm'>$file</a>";
}
}
closedir($res);
echo $htmlHeader;
while($stuff){
echo $stuff;
}
echo "<script>
window.location = 'http://www.somesite.com/$dir/$s/$q.htm';
</script>";
// added missing semi colon ^
?>
Page 3 (404 page for catch all that are not in the system):
Now the data will be available in the SESSION, when you get to this page.