SQL database insert with select - php

Question

I understand that there is a way to insert a constant from select statement which i found the source from here such as:
INSERT INTO MyTable(ColA,ColB,ColC)
SELECT 1,colBB,colCC FROM MyTable2
But is it possible to add an user input values (using php) instead of a constant value as well? If possible provide with example. Thanks in advance.
UPDATED:
I tried to create a simple web page however there are some syntax error that i have no idea to solve it:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '' (T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE), expecting identifier (T_STRING) or variable (T_VARIABLE) or number (T_NUM_STRING) in C:\xampp\htdocs\webservice\result.php on line 10
Below are my codes:
<?php
//start a session
require("config.inc.php");
$username = $_SESSION["username"];
if(!empty($_POST)){
//check if user choose non-required drop down list
if(empty($_POST['subcategory'])){
if(empty($_POST['yearofstudy'])) {
$query = "INSERT INTO comments ( username, title, message, tousername )
SELECT :username, :title, :message, username
FROM utarstudents WHERE faculty = :faculty";
$query_params = array(
':faculty' => $_POST['category'],
':username' =>$username,
':title' =>$_POST['title'],
'message' =>$_POST['message']
);
}
else {
$query = "INSERT INTO comments ( username, title, message, tousername )
SELECT :username, :title, :message, username
FROM utarstudents WHERE faculty = :faculty AND year_of_study = :yearofstudy";
$query_params = array(
':faculty' => $_POST['category'],
'yearofstudy' => $_POST['yearofstudy'],
':username' =>$username,
':title' =>$_POST['title'],
'message' =>$_POST['message']
);
}
}
else {
if(empty($_POST['yearofstudy'])) {
$query = "INSERT INTO comments ( username, title, message, tousername )
SELECT :username, :title, :message, username
FROM utarstudents WHERE faculty = :faculty AND course = :course";
$query_params = array(
':faculty' => $_POST['category'],
':course' => $_POST['subcategory'],
':username' =>$username,
':title' =>$_POST['title'],
'message' =>$_POST['message']
);
}
else {
$query = "INSERT INTO comments ( username, title, message, tousername )
SELECT :username, :title, :message, username
FROM utarstudents WHERE faculty = :faculty AND year_of_study = :yearofstudy AND course = :course";
$query_params = array(
':faculty' => $_POST['category'],
'yearofstudy' => $_POST['yearofstudy'],
':course' => $_POST['subcetagory'],
':username' =>$username,
':title' =>$_POST['title'],
'message' =>$_POST['message']
);
}
}
try {
$stmt = $db->prepare($query);
$result = $stmt->execute($query_params);
}
catch (PDOException $ex) {
die("Failed to run query: " . $ex->getMessage());
}
}

Answer 1

Here is an edited code snippet of mine that accomplishes what you are trying to. So in my form file I have something like this for contributing to a project:
<form name="contribute" method="post" action="contribute-dbquery.php" onsubmit="return validateForm()">
First Name:
<input name="nameValue" type="text" size="40" maxlength="12" required/>
<input name="Submit" type="submit" value="Add"/>
</form>
So what it says is when Add is goto Tcontribute-dbquery.php with the value of nameValue. Then in my contribute-dbquery.php I assign nameValue from the form to $name and then assign inset it into my database. I assigned it to a variable because I used it on that page as well. You can inset it right into the database if you want.
$name = $_POST['nameValue'];
$insert_sql = "INSERT INTO mastertable (name) VALUES (' " . $name . " ')";
If this helps mark it as answered. Let me know if you need any help.