How to send parameters via the URL to PHP from Flex HttpService - php

Question

Forgive me if this has already been answered/ is extremely basic/ the question is worded incorrectly, I am very new to this and struggling.
Basically I have back end PHP which generates XML, the flash builder then inherits the data. Where I'm stuck is understanding how the flash builder can send a parameter to the PHP through an HttpService e.g
This is what it currently interprets:
http://..../file.php?action=getitems
What I would like the flash builder to send is
&class=fruit (<- the class would be dependant on what is selected from the drop down in the application)
to overall create this string
http://..../file.php?action=getitems&class=fruit
Thank you and apologies if this is nonsense. I'm using Flash Builder 4.

Answer 1

This is actually rather simple in Flex...
var service : HTTPService = new HTTPService();
service.url = "http://localhost/getData.php";
service.method = "POST";
var parameters:Object = new Object();
parameters["action"] = "getitems";
parameters["class"] = "fruit";
service.send(parameters);
... done!

Answer 2

Overall I would use the push method instead of passing a variable, lessens the chance of getting hacked from the middle.
My AS3 Code for the http call:
public function someRequest() : void
{
var service : HTTPService = new HTTPService();
service.url = "http://localhost/getData.php";
service.useProxy = false;
service.method = "POST";
service.contentType = "application/xml"; // Pass XML data.
service.request = "<ID>somevalue</ID>"; // The XML data.
service.resultFormat = "xml"; // Recieve XML data.
service.addEventListener(ResultEvent.RESULT, createFields);
service.addEventListener(FaultEvent.FAULT, handleFault);
service.send();
}
private function createFields(event : ResultEvent) : void
{
var result : String = event.result.toString();
returnData = XML(result);
}
private function handleFault(event : FaultEvent) : void
{
var faultstring : String = event.fault.faultString;
Alert.show(faultstring);
}
As you see toward the middle, there is an XML space for entering a variable. I use this approach to pass data back and forth from the PHP to the AS3.
The PHP is:
<?php
define("DATABASE_SERVER", "localhost");
define("DATABASE_USERNAME", "root");
define("DATABASE_PASSWORD", "**");
define("DATABASE_NAME", "dbName");
//connect to the database.
$mysql = mysql_connect(DATABASE_SERVER, DATABASE_USERNAME, DATABASE_PASSWORD);
mysql_select_db(DATABASE_NAME);
$Query = "SELECT * from data WHERE employeeID = '" . ($_POST['ID']) . "'";
$Result = mysql_query($Query);
$Return = "<data>";
while ($User = mysql_fetch_object($Result))
{
$Return .= "<user><userid>" . $User->userid . "</userid><username>" . $User->username . "</username><emailaddress>" . $User->emailaddress . "</emailaddress></user>";
}
$Return .= "</data>";
mysql_free_result($Result);
print ($Return)
?>
Hope that helps you on your way.

Answer 3

I generally handle this through [POST] instead of [GET]
In your actionscript function:
private function sendRequest():void {
var obj:Object = new Object();
obj.action="getitems";
obj.class="fruit";
myService.send(obj);
Your httpService
<s:HTTPService id='myService' url='urlToYourPHP' method='POST' result='yourResultHandler' fault='yourFaultHandler' resultFormat='XML'/>
As powelljf3 said, POST is more secure then GET though it can still be gotten to.