Post not being recieved from checkbox form php - php

Question

I'm posting from the HTML code shown in this jsfiddle to the PHP page for which the code is below. The issue is that the array $_POST['selectedpost'] isn't being received. That's the array containing which checkboxes were ticked. In the js fiddle I added in an example row to the table containing the checkboxes as normally these are generated using PHP and SQL.
<?php
include "connect2.php";
if (isset($_POST['selectedpost'])) {
$postschecked = $_POST['selectedpost'];
$length = count($postschecked);
}
else{
returnpage();
}
if (isset($_POST['deleteposts'])) {
foreach($postschecked as $post_id){
$sql = "DELETE FROM posts WHERE post_id='$post_id'";
mysql_query($sql);
}
returnpage();
}
if (isset($_POST['passposts'])) {
foreach($postschecked as $post_id){
$sql = "UPDATE posts SET moderation=1 WHERE post_id='$post_id'";
mysql_query($sql);
}
returnpage();
}
if (isset($_POST['editpost'])) {
if ($lenght==1){
foreach($postschecked as $post_id){
header("location:editpost.php?post_id=$post_id");
}
}
else{
returnpage();
}
}
if (isset($_POST['returnpost'])) {
if (isset($_POST['reasonreturned'])) {
foreach($postschecked as $post_id){
$sql = "SELECT description FROM posts WHERE post_id='$post_id'";
$query = mysql_query($sql);
$array = array();
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($query, MYSQL_NUM)) {
$array[] = $row; }
$description = "".$array[0][0];
$description = $description . "<br/><br/><span style='color:red;font-size:18px;'>" . $_POST['reasonreturned'] . "</span>";
$sql = "UPDATE posts SET description='$description' WHERE post_id='$post_id'";
$query = mysql_query($sql);
}
}
foreach($postschecked as $post_id){
$sql = "UPDATE posts SET moderation=3 WHERE post_id='$post_id'";
$query = mysql_query($sql);
}
returnpage();
}
if ($length){
returnpage();
}
function returnpage(){
//header("location:moderate.php");
}
?>
http://jsfiddle.net/3A6az/2/
Also extra note, I am aware as to how un-efficient my code is in places and I'm also aware to the fact I should drop mysql and move to something like mysqli. Thank's for any help given

Answer 1

If you have more than 1 checkbox you need to use
name='selectedpost[]'
It will then be available to you with $_POST['selectedpost']; as an array.
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

You're using an unbracketed input <input type='checkbox' name='selectedpost' value='404'></input> plus you don't need </input> <(FYI)
If anything you shouldn't be using value='404' unless that's what you want to pass as a "value".
You probably meant to use multiple checkboxes and using name='selectedpost[]'
I.e.:
<input type='checkbox' name='selectedpost[]'>
Using square brackets [] are treated as an array.
Footnotes:
I would like to point out though, that switching to mysqli_* functions would be most beneficial. mysql_* functions are deprecated.
Using mysqli_* functions with prepared statements or PDO would be even better in order to protect yourself from SQL injection.
Here is a guide on how to prevent SQL injection: How can I prevent SQL injection in PHP?
N.B.: I also found a typo which may give you trouble if ($lenght==1){
You have the word $length in your code as well. Change it to if ($length==1){