PHP HTML Multi-step Page with sessions

Question

I'm making a project to add information into database Mysql. Here is the deal we have to make 3 forms with sessions and provide a registration of and user by STEPS, and this sessions to keep the records and if I'm on step 2 I can roll back and edit something in step 1 or step 3. This should be done with sessions. I had make something and I want your help to advice me how can I continue. I will post my code to the moment.

I know the code is Lame, but I'm learning now. Thank you! This is the first step of my registration. How could I continue?

<?php
session_start();
// $_SESSION
$fname = '';
if (isset($_SESSION['user_fname']) && !empty($_SESSION['user_fname'])) {
  $fname = $_SESSION['user_fname'];
}
$connection = mysql_connect("localhost","root","");
if (!$connection) {
      die('Mysql Could not been established ' . mysql_error());
  }
  else{ 
        $db_name = "phplab_course_project";
        mysql_select_db($db_name, $connection);
        if(isset($_POST['submit'])){
            if($_POST['user_fname']!="" && $_POST['user_mname']!="" && $_POST['user_lname']!="" && $_POST['user_login']!="" && $_POST['user_email']!="" && $_POST['user_phone']!=""){
                $sql = "insert into users(user_fname, user_mname, user_lname, user_login, user_email, user_phone )
                values('".$_POST['user_fname']."', '".$_POST['user_mname']."', '".$_POST['user_lname']."', '".$_POST['user_login']."', '".$_POST['user_email']."', '".$_POST['user_phone']."');";
                mysql_query($sql, $connection);
                printf("The data is inserted id %d\n", mysql_insert_id());
            }
        }
  }
?> 
<html>
    <body>
        <form action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" method="post">
            <table>
                <tr>
                Лични данни<br>
                    <br><td>Firstname*</td>
                    <td>
                        <input type="text" name="user_fname" value="<?php echo $fname;?>" required />
                    </td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Surname </td>
                    <td><input type="text" name="user_mname" /></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Lastname* </td>
                    <td><input type="text" name="user_lname" required /></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Username (login)* </td>
                    <td><input type="text" name="user_login" required /></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Mail* </td>
                    <td><input type="text" name="user_email" required /></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Phone </td>
                    <td><input type="text" name="user_phone" /></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td></td>
                    <td><input type="submit" name='submit' value="Save"/></td>
                    <td></td>
                </tr>
            </table>        

        </form>
    </body>
</html>

Can you use JavaScript? That will allow you to make 3 steps reg form easily, without the need of passing step information between pages in a PHP session, which is not very solution anyway. — deb0rian
– deb0rian, Commented Nov 22, 2013 at 15:37
Yes you are right. But in school they want to do it with sessions and at the buggy way. Thanks anyway. :) — Gary Weber
– Gary Weber, Commented Nov 22, 2013 at 15:51
Your school should also be teaching you that TABLES are not for layouts. See: stackoverflow.com/questions/17158611/… — Diodeus - James MacFarlane
– Diodeus - James MacFarlane, Commented Nov 22, 2013 at 16:04

NorthBridge · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-22 16:14:57Z

Here are a few tips:

Make a separate function or class method to process each stage separately. Have some way of tracking which stage data is being sent to you - for example, you could use a hidden input with value stage1, stage2, stage3 in each form. This way you'll be able to send the input to the corresponding function or class method.
Store the information between the stages in the session only, and only insert in the database after all stages are complete and all fields have valid values
Illustration of the upper two:

form1 -> php script 1 -> save values in session -> redirect to form 2 -> php script 2 -> save to session -> redirect to form 3 -> php script 3 -> save to session -> save to database and show success message
Put a check on all fields if they exist in the session like this:

<input type="text" name="item" <?php if (isset($_SESSION['item']) echo 'value="' . htmlspecialchars($_SESSION['item'], ENT_QUOTES) . '"'; ?>/>

If you go back (hit the browser back button), the field values are saved by default, but if you go back by following a link or redirect, with this code PHP will take care of not losing the values.

You can use flags to see in PHP which stage has been completed (i.e. if ([stage fields are filled and valid]) { $_SESSION['stage1'] = 'completed'; }, and if a stage isn't completed, you can redirect them back.
If you've ever done online shopping, you can borrow some ideas of the way they handle the order processing (username/email -> address -> credit card info -> checkout). You could also go to Magento online demo store, order something and see exactly what's being done, although it's implemented with JavaScript (it's a demo, orders are not processed)

Hope any of these helps.

Cheers.

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