How can I save the selected item from an HTML select in a PHP variable?

Question

I have an HTML select where the drop down list is created from a SQL query.

I'm wondering how I can then save the item that the user selects into a PHP variable that I can pass on to other PHP pages.

Thanks.

<tr>
  <td>DRM Staff List</td><span class="required">*</span>:<br />
    <td>
      <select name="unit">
          <?php 
              $conn = oci_connect("username", "password", "url");
              $sql = 'select distinct "DRM Primary" from GIS_DATA_LOAD where "DRM Primary" is not null order by "DRM Primary" asc' ;
              $stid = oci_parse($conn, $sql);
              $success = oci_execute($stid);
              echo $success;
              while ($row = oci_fetch_array($stid, OCI_RETURN_NULLS+OCI_ASSOC))
              {
                  echo "<option value=\"unit1\">" . $row['DRM Primary'] . "</option>";
              }
          ?>
      </select>
    </td>
</tr>

the 'standard' form method ?

user557846
– user557846

2013-09-23 21:05:46 +00:00
Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 21:05 — user557846
– user557846, Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 21:05
After submitting the form ?

The Alpha
– The Alpha

2013-09-23 21:06:40 +00:00
Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 21:06 — The Alpha
– The Alpha, Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 21:06

Dev Utkarsh · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-23 21:31:44Z

1

Add you code inside the form tag as below and make a form submit action ($_POST or $_GET) using javascipt as onselect. Since the code is on client side so you have to for sure submit it to the server to save the selected option in a php variable.

    <tr>
    <td>DRM Staff List</td><span class="required">*</span>:<br />
    <td>
      <form action="" method="POST" name="myform">
      <select name="unit" onchange="this.form.submit()>
          <?php 
              $conn = oci_connect("username", "password", "url");
              $sql = 'select distinct "DRM Primary" from GIS_DATA_LOAD where "DRM Primary" is not null order by "DRM Primary" asc' ;
              $stid = oci_parse($conn, $sql);
              $success = oci_execute($stid);
              echo $success;
              while ($row = oci_fetch_array($stid, OCI_RETURN_NULLS+OCI_ASSOC))
              {
                  echo "<option value=\"unit1\">" . $row['DRM Primary'] . "</option>";
              }
          ?>
      </select>
      </form>
    </td>
</tr>

// now to save the submitted form as value in a php we will use the following code

<?php
if(isset($_POST['myform']))
$selected_unit=$_POST['unit'];
?>

you can also use onselect() function ... not sure about that.. Hope it helps..thanks :)

answered Sep 23, 2013 at 21:31

Dev Utkarsh

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1 Comment

Dev Utkarsh Over a year ago

Store variable in Session variable for ease of navigating between the pages.

vInsert · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-23 21:11:09Z

0

You might want to set a unique value for each option,
else there's no telling which option was actually selected.

answered Sep 23, 2013 at 21:11

vInsert

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Comments

AlexP · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-23 21:12:50Z

0

When you submit the form PHP will internally generate a super global array. This, as it sounds, is global and can be accessed anywhere within the script execution via variables:

$_POST
$_GET

So after submitting your form, if it is a HTTP post request then you should find your value like this:

echo $_POST['unit']; // Unit 1 etc

There are other 'superglobals'. See the documentation for more information.

answered Sep 23, 2013 at 21:12

AlexP

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1 Comment

UndefinedReference Over a year ago

So, there is no way to do it without submitting the form?

Dev Utkarsh · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-23 21:37:43Z

0

Its not possible to set a variable from client side. Using AJAX to submit the form may help. It won't require the page reload.

answered Sep 23, 2013 at 21:37

Dev Utkarsh

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