load new content on scroll - php

Question

I am working on an infinite scroll (load data on scroll) plugin for my site.
This is the load.js script:
(function($) {
$.fn.scrollPagination = function(options) {
var settings = {
nop : 10, // The number of posts per scroll to be loaded
offset : 0, // Initial offset, begins at 0 in this case
error : 'No More Posts!', // When the user reaches the end this is the message that is
// displayed. You can change this if you want.
delay : 500, // When you scroll down the posts will load after a delayed amount of time.
// This is mainly for usability concerns. You can alter this as you see fit
scroll : true // The main bit, if set to false posts will not load as the user scrolls.
// but will still load if the user clicks.
}
// Extend the options so they work with the plugin
if(options) {
$.extend(settings, options);
}
// For each so that we keep chainability.
return this.each(function() {
// Some variables
$this = $(this);
$settings = settings;
var offset = $settings.offset;
var busy = false; // Checks if the scroll action is happening
// so we don't run it multiple times
// Custom messages based on settings
if($settings.scroll == true) $initmessage = 'Scroll for more or click here';
else $initmessage = 'Click for more';
// Append custom messages and extra UI
$this.append('<div class="loading-bar">'+$initmessage+'</div>');
function getData() {
// Post data to ajax.php
$.post('ajax.php', {
action : 'scrollpagination',
number : $settings.nop,
offset : offset,
}, function(data) {
// Change loading bar content (it may have been altered)
$this.find('.loading-bar').html($initmessage);
// If there is no data returned, there are no more posts to be shown. Show error
if(data == "") {
$this.find('.loading-bar').html($settings.error);
}
else {
// Offset increases
offset = offset+$settings.nop;
// Append the data to the content div
$this.find('#container123').append(data);
// No longer busy!
busy = false;
}
});
}
getData(); // Run function initially
// If scrolling is enabled
if($settings.scroll == true) {
// .. and the user is scrolling
$(window).scroll(function() {
// Check the user is at the bottom of the element
if($(window).scrollTop() + $(window).height() > $this.height() && !busy) {
// Now we are working, so busy is true
busy = true;
// Tell the user we're loading posts
$this.find('.loading-bar').html('Lade...');
// Run the function to fetch the data inside a delay
// This is useful if you have content in a footer you
// want the user to see.
setTimeout(function() {
getData();
}, $settings.delay);
}
});
}
// Also content can be loaded by clicking the loading bar/
$this.find('.loading-bar').click(function() {
if(busy == false) {
busy = true;
getData();
}
});
});
}
})(jQuery);
This upper script posts data to a php file called ajax.php, which looks like this (shortened):
$sql = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE";
if (!empty($_GET['search'])){
$sql = $sql . " (Name LIKE '%".$_GET['search']."%' OR Description LIKE '%".$_GET['search']."%')";
} else {
$sql = $sql . " Name!=''";
}
$offset = is_numeric($_POST['offset']) ? $_POST['offset'] : die();
$postnumbers = is_numeric($_POST['number']) ? $_POST['number'] : die();
$sql = $sql . " LIMIT ".$postnumbers." OFFSET ".$offset;
$result=mysql_query($sql);
while($row=mysql_fetch_array($result)){
echo 'item';
}
This ajax.php - script, on the other hand, displays the data in my index.php file.
And here's where the problem is:
Please take a look at the upper if (!empty($_GET['search'])) - statement. Obviously, this $_GET-variable cannot be filled, since the corresponding forms (search-form) are located in my index.php - page.
Now my question is: How can I get the if (!empty($_GET['search'])) to work? I am really not good with ajax, and I believe the problem is that the data created in load.js gets posted to ajax.php in the first place.
Just for completion, this is the corresponding markup in index.php
<section id="start" class="...">
<div id="container123" class="...">
</div>
</section>
<!-- search form etc. -->
Thank you very much in advance. I know it is quite a lot of code. (btw, I know, MySQL is outdated and dangerous)

Answer 1

Modify your plugin to accept search term as parameter and code your index.php something like.
<script>
$("#container123" ).scrollPagination ({ q:'<?php echo $_GET['search']; ?>'"}); </script>
<div id="container123"></div>
Now since this code is written in index.php you will get $_GET['search']