Using value in drop down menu to search sql database - php

Question

I'm new with php and want to ask about this code.. I have one dropdown menu and one button..
I want to search in sql database what I choose in those drop down menu..
What is the sql syntax for search item in sql database by using drop down menu..
By default, I write --> SELECT * FROM helpline.
It should be --> SELECT * FROM helpline WHERE MISC = %**item in drop down menu**%.
This is my database = helpdesk
Table = helpline
NAME | DATE | MISC |
John | 02/01/2011 | Item 1 |
Mark | 03/01/2011 | Item 2 |
This is my code
<form id="form1" name="form1" method="post" action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" >
<label for="namelist"></label>
<select name="namelist" id="namelist">
<option selected="selected" disabled="disabled">PLEASE CHOOSE ONE ITEM:-</option>
<option>Item 1</option>
<option>Item 2</option>
</select>
<input type="submit" name="show" id="show" value="Submit" />
<?php
mysql_select_db("helpdesk",mysql_connect("localhost","root",""))or die (mysql_error());
$query = "SELECT * FROM helpline"; */ This line should select what I choose in drop down menu /*
$result = mysql_query($query);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6" class="curve">
<thead>
<tr>
<th> <div align="right"><span class="font">NAME</span></div></th>
<th> <div align="right"><span class="font">DATE</span></div></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th><div align="left"><span class="font"><?php echo $row['name']; ?></span></div></th>
<td><div align="left"><span class="font"><?php echo $row['date']; ?></strong></span></div></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<?php
}
?>
</table>
</form>
So, it should display all items in sql database according to what I choose in drop down menu when I click the button..

Answer 1

You can access your posted form data through the php $_POST[] associative array as described in PHP's Online Manual. From this you can select namelist and pass the value to your SQL.
$query = "SELECT * FROM helpline";
if(isset($_POST['namelist'])){
$dropdown_val = $_POST['namelist'];
$query .= " WHERE MISC = '$dropdown_val'";
}
But you should really be using ajax for this and jQuery would be a great javascript framework to help you accomplish this. Also, mysql_* functions are deprecated as of PHP 5.5.0, and will be removed in the future. Instead, the MySQLi or PDO_MySQL extension should be used.

Answer 2

Without Page Refresh You can do it like this
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("#namelist").change(function(){
var data = $(this).val();
$.ajax({
type:'POST',
data:'search_value='+data,
url:'search_process.php',
success:function(data){
$("#result").html(data);
}
});
});
});
</script>
The HTML part
<select name="namelist" id="namelist">
<option selected="selected" disabled="disabled">PLEASE CHOOSE ONE ITEM:-</option>
<option>Item 1</option>
<option>Item 2</option>
</select>
<input type="button" name="show" id="show" value="Submit" />
<div id="result"></div>
The search_process.php Page
<?php
// DATABASE CONNECTIVITY
if(isset($_POST['search_value'])) {
$val = $_POST['search_value'];
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM helpline WHERE MISC LIKE %$val%");
// NOW RUN YOUR QUERY
$result = '<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6" class="curve">';
$result .= '<thead>';
$result .= '<tr>';
$result .= '<th> <div align="right"><span class="font">NAME</span></div></th>';
$result .= '<th> <div align="right"><span class="font">DATE</span></div></th>';
$result .= '</tr>';
$result .= '</thead>';
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query)){
$result .= '<tr>';
$result .= '<th><div align="left"><span class="font">'.$row['name'].'</span></div></th>';
$result .= '<td><div align="left"><span class="font">'.$row['date'].'</strong></span></div></td>';
$result .= '</tr>';
}
$result .= '</table>';
echo $result;
}
?>
Hope this gives an Idea

Answer 3

your select options not have value attribute
your dropdown
<select name="namelist" id="namelist">
<option selected="selected" disabled="disabled">PLEASE CHOOSE ONE ITEM:-</option>
<option>Item 1</option>
<option>Item 2</option>
</select>
change it :
<select name="namelist" id="namelist">
<option selected="selected" disabled="disabled" value="">PLEASE CHOOSE ONE ITEM:-</option>
<option value="Item 1">Item 1</option>
<option value="Item 2">Item 2</option>
</select>
after submit get value from $_post["namelist"]