Select box, setting session variables for default selection

[newphpbie]

Hi, I have a select box for the usr to select which criteria they wish to search by. Once a user has selected an option and pushed serach, I would like to set the option as a session varaible so that when the page reloads, it will have the option they chose as the default value.

I've written the code for the select box but I just don't know how to set the default value as the option the user just choose.

echo '<select name=&quot;searchby&quot;>';
echo '<option value=&quot;first&quot;>First Name</option>';
echo '<option value=&quot;last&quot;>Last Name</option>';
echo '<option value=&quot;extnum&quot;>Ext Num</option>';
echo '<option value=&quot;outlet&quot;>Outlet Ref</option>';
echo '</select><br><br>';

I know all I need to do to set a default value is to add 'SELECTED' to it, but I want this value to be set depending on what the user selects.

Could someone give me an idea of how to get this started?

I know I need a session var, and I need to set it everytime the serach button is pushed. But I dont know how I encorporate it into the select box code.

Please help..

Cheers, Tony

 

[Westbury]

Start by starting (or continueing the session

session_start();

I would put the search values into an array

$search_values = array("first", "last", "extnum", "outlet");
$search_labels = array("First Name", "Last Name", "Ext Num", "Outlet Ref");

then check if the session variable has been set

// set the session varible to the value of $searchby
$_SESSION('search') = $searchby;
echo '<select name=&quot;searchby&quot;>';
// loop through the array outputing the select options
for($i=0; $i<count($search_values); $i++)
{
if ($_SESSION('search') == $search_values[$i])
{
// if this option is what is set in the session variable then make it selected
echo '<option value=\&quot;$search_values[$i]\&quot; SELECTED>$search_labels[$i]</option>\n';
} else {
// else output an ordinary option
echo '<option value=\&quot;$search_values[$i]\&quot;>$search_labels[$i]</option>\n';
}
}

I think that'll work, but I have never used sessions before and I haven't tested this code.... it should help at least.

 

[newphpbie]

ok, That's helped a little... but it doesn't work and I can't get my head round why...

Any clearer ideas?

 

[Westbury]

Ok, well for one thing I used round bracket instead of square bracets for the $_SESSION varibles. Change $_SESSION('blah') to $_SESSION['blah']. My mistake, sorry.