How to keep url data when going to another page - php

Question

I have url variables that was submitted from a form from the previous page. So my url looks something like site.com/submitted.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye.
Now I am using a link to keep my submitted variables while I go to my second page
<a href="secondPage.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye>pageLink</a>
On this second page, it's basically a drop-down using the select tag with a submit button that generates a table from mysql server which then links back into the same page. It looks like:
<FORM ACTION="secondPage.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye" METHOD="GET">
<select name='selectedOption' >
<option value="op1">option1</option>
<option value="op2">option2</option>
<option value="op3">option3</option>
</select>
<INPUT TYPE="SUBMIT" VALUE = "Search">
</FORM>
But lets say I choose option1 and submit, my url does not keep the variables first_name and last_name but it just replaces it :
secondPage.php?selectedOption=op1
instead of:
secondPage.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye&selectedOption=op1
Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm not sure how you want to pass data around but here is a suggestion to get the values you want with php.
Change this:
<FORM ACTION="secondPage.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye" METHOD="GET>
to this:
<form action="secondPage.php" METHOD="post">
Your code for secondPage.php coud look something like this:
// the 'if' statements aren't necessary. just an idea for simple server-side
// validation
if(isset($_REQUEST['selectedOption']) && $_REQUEST['selectedOption'] != ''){
$option = $_REQUEST['selectedOption'];
}
if(isset($_REQUEST['first_name']) && $_REQUEST['first_name'] != ''){
$fname = $_REQUEST['first_name'];
}
if(isset($_REQUEST['last_name']) && $_REQUEST['last_name'] != ''){
$lname = $_REQUEST['last_name'];
}
All the values you need to do whatever with are now in $option, $fname, and $lname
You say your new to php, welcome :), and don't ever trust user input. You should take some time and read about SQL Injection.
Hope some of this helps and good luck.

Answer 2

ON THE SECOND PAGE. In form make two hidden fields <input type="hidden" value="<?php echo $_REQUEST['first_name'] ?>" name="first_name"/> and
<input type="hidden" value=""<?php echo $_REQUEST['last_name'] ?>"" name="last_name"/>
my suggestion use post method

Answer 3

Basically, I've been working myself with something exactly like that, but I've found a great solution and a great approach in my own opinion.. let me give you some bit and piece of code as an example if you don't mind ^_^..
to be organised and clear what you did is : -
##**FIRST PAGE** : -
the url: - secondPage.php?first_name=hello&last_name=bye <--- this was the result..
Then you travelled to the 2nd page: - <-- result was still associated
##**SECOND PAGE** : -
$firstname = $_GET['first_name'];
$lastname= $_GET['last_name'];
<FORM ACTION="secondPage.php?first_name=<?php echo $firstname; ?>&last_name=<?php echo $lastname ?>" METHOD="POST">
<select name='selectedOption' >
<option value="op1">option1</option>
<option value="op2">option2</option>
<option value="op3">option3</option>
</select>
<INPUT TYPE="SUBMIT" name ="submit" VALUE = "Search">
</FORM>
##**THIRD PAGE** The page that the form is going to go to: -
$option = $_GET ['selectedOption'];
// you can also get the other data on this page through same method i've done on page two..