Question

I am trying to insert data into two different tables in the same database, if I try to insert it into one database, it works, however, once I insert the second query into my code ($desc_query) it won’t update any table.

Here is my code:

    $name= strip_tags($_POST['name']);
    $l_name= strip_tags($_POST['last_name']);

    $c_id = strip_tags($_POST['company_id']);
    $a_d = strip_tags($_POST['add_description']);
    $d_t = strip_tags($_POST['desc_text']);

$connect = mysql_connect('localhost','id','pass') or die ("couldn't connect!"); 

mysql_select_db('database_db') or die('could not connect to database!');   

//inserting names

$job_query=mysql_query("INSERT INTO names VALUES ('', '$name', '$l_name')");

    //inserting a new description if needed. (this is the part that ruins everything)
if($a_d == 'true'){
    $desc_query=mysql_query("INSERT INTO descriptions VALUES ('','$c_id','$d_t')");
}

Answer 1

You might be having an issue where some characters (like ‘ and “) are breaking the SQL query (not to mention opening your application up for SQL injection attacks).

I would recommend sanitizing all user provided data like so:

$name = mysql_real_escape_string(strip_tags($_POST['name']), $connect);
$l_name = mysql_real_escape_string(strip_tags($_POST['last_name']), $connect);
...
$d_t = mysql_real_escape_string(strip_tags($_POST['desc_text']), $connect);

Always operate under the assumption that the user is going to enter something outlandish or malicious that may (or may not) break your SQL.