PHP: Saving multiple checkbox values in SQL

Question

I'm trying to make a form that writes away multiple checkbox values in a single SQL record I have some code so far, but i have no idea what i'm doing wrong.

Here's what i have: (my table that contains the checkboxes)

<table> 
  <tr>
    <td><input id="vlaams-brabant" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Vlaams-Brabant"/> Vlaams-Brabant</td>
    <td><input id="waals-brabant" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Waals-Brabant"/> Waals-Brabant </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>    
    <td><input id="oost-vlaanderen" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Oost-Vlaanderen"/> Oost-Vlaanderen </td>
    <td><input id="west-vlaanderen" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="West-Vlaanderen"/> West-Vlaanderen </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><input id="Limburg" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Limburg"/> Limburg </td>
    <td><input id="Antwerpen" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Antwerpen"/> Antwerpen</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><input id="Luik" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Luik"/> Luik </td>
    <td><input id="Henegouwen" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Henegouwen"/> Henegouwen </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><input id="Luxemburg" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Luxemburg"/> Luxemburg </td>
    <td><input id="Namen" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Namen"/> Namen </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><input id="België" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Heel België"/> Heel België </td>
    <td><input id="Internationaal" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Internationaal"/> Internationaal </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><input id="Brussel" type="checkbox" name="Regio[]" value="Brussel Hoofdstedelijk Gewest"/> Brussel Hoofdstedelijk Gewest </td>
  </tr>
</table>

Here's my PHP-code (keep in mind, this is just part of a bigger code, i have other textfields etc.. already functioning):

$adds['nameCom'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['nameCom']);
    $adds['name'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['name']);
    $adds['number'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['number']);
    $adds['email'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['email']);
    $adds['activiteit'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['activiteit']);
    $adds['Regio'] = $conn->real_escape_string($_POST['Regio']);

    // query voor INSERT INTO
    $sql = "INSERT INTO `data` (`nameCom`, `name`, `number`, `email`, `activiteit`, `Regio`) 
    VALUES ('". $adds['nameCom']. "', '". $adds['name']. "', '". $adds['number']. "', '". $adds['email']. "', '". $adds['activiteit']. "', '" . implode(',', $adds['Regio']) ."')"; 

    // Performs the $sql query on the server to insert the values
    if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
      echo 'Uw gegevens werden opgeslagen, bedankt!';

The implode gives the following error: Warning: implode() [function.implode]: Invalid arguments passed in C:\xampplite\htdocs\LPtest\insert.php on line 38

IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME ON WHAT I'M DOING WRONG HERE, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thank you in advance!

what is the result of real_escape_string over Regio array? I think, it is defined only for strings.... and it returns string, which is not an array which can be imploded... — V-X, Mar 27 '13 at 09:08

Mihai Matei · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-27T09:46:32.973

2

As the function name says real_escape_string only works for strings. So you must call this function for each value of $_POST['Regio'] array:

$Regio = array();
$adds['Regio'] = "";

if(count($_POST['Regio']) > 0) {
  foreach($_POST['Regio'] as $key=>$value)
    $Regio[] = $conn->real_escape_string($value);
}

$adds['Regio'] = implode(',', $Regio);

This should work.

edited Mar 27 '13 at 09:46

answered Mar 27 '13 at 09:13

Mihai Matei

24,166
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50

best practice is to `$adds['Regio']=array();` before the loop – Waygood Mar 27 '13 at 09:16
+1 You could also do it in one line `$adds['Regio'] =$conn->real_escape_string(implode(',', $_POST['Regio']));` BUT your code shows the processing involved – Waygood Mar 27 '13 at 09:17
I see whatr you're getting at, however: what should my code be in the insert statement if i use Matei Mihai's code? `$sql = "INSERT INTO `data` (`nameCom`, `name`, `number`, `email`, `activiteit`, `Regio`) VALUES ('". $adds['nameCom']. "', '". $adds['name']. "', '". $adds['number']. "', '". $adds['email']. "', '". $adds['activiteit']. "', '". $my_implode['Regio'] ."')"; ` Like this? – CodeSigns Mar 27 '13 at 09:38
If you're using exactly my code.. you have to add just `$adds['Regio']` in your insert statement – Mihai Matei Mar 27 '13 at 09:39
i'm still getting an error in your foreach statement: **Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in C:\xampplite\htdocs\LPtest\insert.php on line 37** i do appreciate your help though, i'm several steps further in my mission! – CodeSigns Mar 27 '13 at 09:44
That's because you didn't select any checkbox.. To prevent this you should verify if your array contains any value. See my new edited answer! – Mihai Matei Mar 27 '13 at 09:47
That's not the case, i already edited the code with a count-function. same error still occurs. I've asked for some external help and i'm going to solve my problem by using dropdownboxes, but i thank you for your time, you have been most helpful, thank you! – CodeSigns Mar 27 '13 at 10:05

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 27 '13 at 09:09

1

$_POST['regio'] is a multi-dimensional array. You should use foreach to get the individual values out of it.

answered Mar 27 '13 at 09:09

CaptainCarl

3,411
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 27 '13 at 09:16

You should use foreach..

HTML code :

<input id="id1" type="checkbox" name="Regio[id1]"/>
<input id="id2" type="checkbox" name="Regio[id2]"/>
<input id="id3" type="checkbox" name="Regio[id3]"/>

PHP code :

$chkBoxes = $_POST['Regio'];
foreach ($chkBoxes as $key => $val) {
     // you code here
}

PHP: Saving multiple checkbox values in SQL

3 Answers3