How to pass the selected value in dropdown (HTML) to PHP

Question

I am building a select option dynamically. I am selecting from the select option, one value. (values for list come from php How can I pass that selected value to PHP?

<select id ="s1" name="swimopt" class="so">
    <?php echo $options; ?>
</select>'

THe $options are coming from a MySQL and populating the dropdown

When I select a value, and try

echo $_POST['swimopt'];

does not show selected value

Please help

 <form id="swimdata"  method="POST" action="save.php">

     <input type="radio" style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: bolder" name="gender" class ="gender" value="boys">BOYS
     <input type="radio" style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: bolder" name="gender" class ="gender"  value="girls">GIRLS

     <table id="meetTable" style="width:auto">


    <tr>
        <th>EVENT:</th>
        <th>NAME:</th>
        <th>LANE:</th>
        <th>TIME:</th>
        <th>PLACE:</th>
        <th>SCORE 1:</th>
        <th>SCORE 2:</th>
        <th>PLACE:</th>
        <th>TIME:</th>
        <th>LANE:</th>
        <th>NAME:</th>

    </tr>

</table>

     <input type="submit" name="formSubmit" value="Submit" />
     <input type="hidden" name="action1" value="addSwimmer" id="action1">

 </form>

This is my PHP getting the $options from mySQL

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    $options= '';
    // output data of each row
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        $options .=  "<tr><td>" . $row["swimmer_id"]. "</td><td>" . $row["first_name"]. " " . $row["last_name"]. " </td><td> "  . $row["school_name"]. "</td></tr>";
    }

} else {
    echo "0 results";
}
echo $options;
$conn->close();

ScreenShots:

Options echoed into select box:

<select id ="s1" name="swimopt" class="so">
    <?php echo $options; ?>
</select>'

PHP file code

$sql = "select  first_name, last_name  from swimming where gender='m'";

$results = mysqli_query($link,$sql);

if ($results->num_rows > 0) {
    $options = '';
    // output data of each row
    while($row = $results->fetch_assoc()) {
        $fname=$row["first_name"];
        $lname=$row["last_name"];

        $options .= "<option value= >" . $row["first_name"] . "  " . $row["last_name"]."</option>";


    }
} else {
    echo "0 results";
}
echo $options;
$link->close();


?>

Show your complete code ;) with form and something around your php section. — René Höhle, Nov 02 '15 at 21:21
I don't see a input with the name 'swimopt'. Have you tried `print_r($_POST)` and seeing what is even being passed? — Robbie, Nov 02 '15 at 21:26
Where in your form does the select reside? And as Robbie said, echo the variables on the PHP side when you submit the form. Either use `print_r($_POST)` or `var_dump($_POST)`. — j08691, Nov 02 '15 at 21:29

Robbie · Answer 1 · 2015-11-02T22:01:14.797

1

I think I see what your problem is. You're not setting a select option. Try this:

<?php
$options = 'John';
?>

<form id="swimdata"  method="POST" action="save.php">

<input type="radio" style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: bolder" name="gender" class ="gender" value="boys">BOYS
<input type="radio" style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: bolder" name="gender" class ="gender"  value="girls">GIRLS

<table id="meetTable" style="width:auto">


<tr>
<th>EVENT:</th>
<th>NAME:</th>
<th>LANE:</th>
<th>TIME:</th>
<th>PLACE:</th>
<th>SCORE 1:</th>
<th>SCORE 2:</th>
<th>PLACE:</th>
<th>TIME:</th>
<th>LANE:</th>
<th>NAME:</th>

</tr>

</table>
<select id ="s1" name="swimopt" class="so" value="">
<?php
for($i=0;$i<10;$i++){
echo '<option value="user '.$i.'" >user '.$i.'</option>';
}
?>
</select> 
<input type="submit" name="formSubmit" value="Submit" />
<input type="hidden" name="action1" value="addSwimmer" id="action1">

</form>

edited Nov 02 '15 at 22:01

answered Nov 02 '15 at 21:35

Robbie

700
2
6
18

Robbie, I am getting the options from a PHP call to myMSQL, I have added the code above – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 21:39
Not the options. The ` – Robbie Nov 02 '15 at 21:40
What data does POST say it's getting? – Robbie Nov 02 '15 at 21:53
array (size=4) 'gender' => string 'M' (length=4) 'swimOpt' => string 'user10' (length=13) 'formSubmit' => string 'Submit' (length=6) 'action1' => string 'addSwimmer' (length=10) – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 21:55
It is working. `'swimOpt' => string 'user10' (length=13)` says that it is receiving the info. – Robbie Nov 02 '15 at 21:56
But that is not the user I selected. – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 21:57
Are you sure you're looping properly then? Check out the modified code above. It sounds like you may be overwriting your values. – Robbie Nov 02 '15 at 22:01
I cant even add that to my html, doesnt like the formatting. urgh!! – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 22:12
It's working fine on my side. What error is it giving you? – Robbie Nov 02 '15 at 22:21
In my IDE, I need to do each line ' ' + or I have to have it all in one line. When I add your snippet, it does not like the ' s – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 22:28

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 02 '15 at 23:30

1

The select option must be wrapped with html tag <option> with a value attribute, which will be posted if it is selected. According to your given code you are not generating options for a select. So try something like this:

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
$options= '';
// output data of each row 
while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
    $options .=  "<option value=\"". $row["swimmer_id"] ."\">" . $row["first_name"]. " " . $row["last_name"]. " - "  . $row["school_name"]. "</option>";
}

} else {
echo "0 results";
}
echo $options;
$conn->close();

Now if you $_POST it you will get the swimmer id

edited Nov 02 '15 at 23:30

Andreas Louv

46,145
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answered Nov 02 '15 at 22:13

MakeLoveNotWar

956
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Still get the incorrect user. Looks like I am getting the last user each time – user5451365 Nov 02 '15 at 22:23
1

Add double quotes for value and escape, and this will do the same as my answer – bmla Nov 02 '15 at 22:24
`$options .= "";` – bmla Nov 02 '15 at 22:26
can you please show us the screenshot for the ``, the screenshot of the DOM tree, where your options are echoed in the ` – MakeLoveNotWar Nov 03 '15 at 07:31
And it will be better if you will wrap the WHOLE ` – MakeLoveNotWar Nov 03 '15 at 07:33
I have added the screenshots in the initial question. Thanks – user5451365 Nov 03 '15 at 15:46
Show me the screenshot of the inspector element, not the select box itsel, i want to see how it's echoed – MakeLoveNotWar Nov 04 '15 at 08:29

How to pass the selected value in dropdown (HTML) to PHP

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