Question

I need to create a form that has many of the same fields, that have to be inserted into a database, but the problem I have is that if a user only fills in one or two of the rows, the form will still submit the blank data of the empty fields along with the one or two fields the user has filled in.

How can I check for the rows that have not been filled in and leave them out of the query?
or check for those that have been filled in and add them to the query. . .

The thank_you.php file will capture the $_POST variables and add them to the database.

<form method="post" action="thank_you.php">
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name1" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email1" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name2" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email2" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name3" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email3" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name4" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email4" />

            <input type="image" src="images/btn_s.jpg" />
</form>

I am assuming that I could use javascript or jQuery to accomplish this, how would I go about doing this?

Thanx in advance for the help.

Answer 1

As others have said, it’s bad practise to rely on javascript as your only form of validation. Look to javascript as a way to help your users submit valid data – but you should always validate on the server side. With that in mind, here’s my suggestion:

<form method="post" action="thank_you.php">
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name1" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email1" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name2" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email2" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name3" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email3" />
            <br />
         Name: <input type="text" size="28" name="name4" />
            E-mail: <input type="text" size="28" name="email4" />

            <input type="image" src="images/btn_s.jpg" />
</form>

<?php

$num = 4; //Number of times the field is repeated

for($i = 1; $i <= $num; $i++){
   if($_POST['name'.$i] != '' && $_POST['email'.$i] !=''){ //Only process if name and email are not blank
      $thisname = $_POST['name'.$i];
      $thisemail = $_POST['email'.$i];
      //Your code here
   }
}

?>