Populate dropdown with fields from database with no duplicates?

Question

I have the following code:

<li>
<label>Manufacturer</label>
<select name="brand">
<?php 
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT CarMake FROM cars");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){
  echo "<option value=\"owner1\">" . $row['CarMake'] . "</option>";
}
?>
</select>

My only issue is the CarMake field has manufacturers listed more than once i.e. BMW is listed more than once so what is happening is obviously BMW is displayed more than once in the dropdown. Is there any way to get the manufacturers to display in alphabetical order and only once each?

Is there a way to add in an Any option to the dropdown so that the user can choose to search by any make rather than a specific one or can this not be done?

@MKhalidJunaid Is there a way to add in an Any option to the dropdown so that the user can choose to search by any make rather than a specific one? Also the issue I'm having is that when selecting options from the dropdown box and clicking Search, it's POSTing owner1as the value rather than the actual manufacturer name chosen from the dropdown. How do I resolve this? — user3554442
– user3554442, Commented Apr 24, 2014 at 14:27

M Khalid Junaid · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-22 16:13:14Z

2

$sql = mysql_query("SELECT DISTINCT CarMake FROM cars ORDER BY CarMake ASC");

edited Apr 22, 2014 at 16:13

M Khalid Junaid

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answered Apr 22, 2014 at 16:08

user3554382

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1 Comment

user3554442 Over a year ago

Is there a way to add in an Any option to the dropdown so that the user can choose to search by any make rather than a specific one?

Dimitri · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-22 16:09:39Z

1

<li>
<label>Manufacturer</label>
<select name="brand">
<?php 
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT distinct CarMake FROM cars order by CarMake");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){
echo "<option value=\"owner1\">" . $row['CarMake'] . "</option>";
}
?>
</select>

answered Apr 22, 2014 at 16:09

Dimitri

4533 silver badges11 bronze badges

2 Comments

user3554442 Over a year ago

Is there a way to add in an Any option to the dropdown so that the user can choose to search by any make rather than a specific one?

Dimitri Over a year ago

In order to add 'any' option to drop down you will have to put <option value="any">ANY</option>"; right after your <select name="brand">. Then in your code before doing the query, do an if statement that will check the value, and if it is any, it will run select * query, instead it will run your customized one.

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