PHP/MYSQL Question.

[Sphinx]

Ok well Im working on a PHP and mysql application and I have hit a wall...hard. I have tried searching but its a very specific question and while Im trying to learn as I go I may have forgotten something along the way.

Basically I query the database, set the output to an array, and filter depending on whats checked. The application works for all check boxes except those with a space in their name. Now I thought I remember that $_POST might not handle spaces in form attributes which would explain my issue, but also means that I cannot name DB entries with spaces (DEFINITELY needed).

Here is my conditional:

if (isset($_POST["$checkArr[$checkCounter]"]))

Any ideas or work around?

[Greg]

What happens when you run this code?

print $checkCounter
print $checkArr[$checkCounter]
print $_POST["$checkArr[$checkCounter]"]
print isset($_POST["$checkArr[$checkCounter]"]))

I wouldn't be surprised if $_POST didn't support spaces, either. I seem to remember having that sort of issue a few years ago when I was working on some PHP websites.

I take it the name is the $_POST variable? You might want to try adding a unique auto-increment field to the database and reference than rather than a name. If you need the name again just query the database with the unique numeric ID.

[Sphinx]

The first two print fine outside of the conditional I set (all array elements and the count as expected). The last two break the page. The array is fine, rather its the $_POST with spaces I think. As for using something else, I cannot. The check boxes are to choose and select database entries as a filter (e.g. project A, project B, etc).

[Greg]

Encode the string as HTML and put that into the database (that should involve the use of non-breaking spaces or HTML encoded spaces). Pretty sure those characters are "& nbsp ;" (remove spaces) and "%20". Make sure you sanitize your inputs if you're going to do that though (really applies regardless). Does that work?

[Sphinx]

Encode the string as HTML and put that into the database (that should involve the use of non-breaking spaces or HTML encoded spaces). Pretty sure those characters are "& nbsp ;" (remove spaces) and "%20". Make sure you sanitize your inputs if you're going to do that though (really applies regardless). Does that work?

Ill look into it when the wife gets home. Right now Im on baby duty. Thanks for the tips!

[Sphinx]

SOLUTION!!!!

Pre conditional:

$checkArr[$checkCounter] = str_replace(" ", "_", $checkArr[$checkCounter]);

Post conditional:

$stringTotal[$finalCounter] = str_replace("_", " ", $checkArr[$checkCounter]);

Talked to my brother in law thinking he wasnt dabbling in PHP and he mentioned that POST converts spaces in its array to "_" and 2 lines later I had my problem solved.

[Greg]

Nice find. That had better be a documented feature with POST or heads might roll in the future if/when that behavior breaks. Don't get me started with relying on undocumented features for functionality .

[Sphinx]

Yeah that will become yet another bug Ill spend hours trying to figure out. Honestly I looked at PHP.net and I didnt see anything about how they convert spaces in the array or else a str_replace would have been implemented loooooong ago. All in all its fixed....for now so Im happy.

[Greg]

I'd still document that in the comments. One of those bugs you'll spend another few hours on if you ever have to revisit it and forget.

[invisible]

I'd still document that in the comments. One of those bugs you'll spend another few hours on if you ever have to revisit it and forget.

The joys of debugging code. I don't miss it.