Multiple records inserting into MySql from PHP form - php

Question

I think I've got a tiny mistake in my code so when I try to add two records to MySQL database it adds them both, but at the moment its only adding the second row that should be inputted. SO for example I have two RefTitle fields, two RefSurname fields and so on!
Some PHP Code:
<?php
if(empty($err)) {
for($i = 0; $i < 2; $i++)
{
$RefTitle = $_POST['RefTitle'][$i];
$RefSurname = $_POST['RefSurname'][$i];
$RefForenames = $_POST['RefForenames'][$i];
$RefInstitute = $_POST['RefInstitute'][$i];
$RefEmail = $_POST['RefEmail'][$i];
$RefTelephone = $_POST['RefTelephone'][$i];
$EmailOK = $_POST['EmailOK'][$i];
$sql_insert = "INSERT into `referees`
(`RefTitle`,`RefSurname`,`RefForenames`,`RefInstitute`, `RefEmail`,
`RefTelephone`,`EmailOK`)
VALUES
('$RefTitle','$RefSurname','$RefForenames','$RefInstitute','$RefEmail',
'$RefTelephone','$EmailOK'
)
"; ?>
I have the [] after each name field in my html form.
Thanks

Answer 1

Here's what I think is happening.
In the loop, you're adding the current query to a string, overwriting the previous query. After the loop ends, you run mysql_query but this will only run on the last query generated by the loop.
You have two ways to fix this:
Execute the query within the loop on every iteration. Pseudo code:
for ($i = 1 to 100)
{
$query = //build your query;
mysql_query($query);
}
Alternatively, (and the better way) is to use a value list in your insert statement.
An insert with a list of values looks like this
INSERT INTO table VALUES (1,2,3), (4,5,6), (7,8,9)
So, (pseudo code again)
$query = "INSERT INTO table VALUES ";
for ($i = 1 to 100)
{
$query .= " (";
$query .= "" //comma seperate the values of the current iteration
$query .= "),";
}
//after loop ends, remove the trailing extraneous comma
// execute the entire query at once
mysql_query($query);