PHP, MySQL and the Submit Button

[larryhyman]

Today I strated using the script because of the file upload features..

Very Nice Script !!!

Now I need to do this in a form:

a) read count_field from mysql database table
(when the form is opened)

b) include count_field as hidden in form
(This form has been filled out this number of times: count_field)

c) when user hits "submit" on the form (only when they hit submit),
add 1 to the count_field and write it back to database table

so the loop can start over the next time the form is filled out, and the updated data is included in the email generated by the form

Thank for any help or direction anybody can give me !

[jzieba]

It would be easier to use formmail's nextnum feature. Keep in mind that nothing you do is going to be 100% accurate due to user errors in filling out the form. Otherwise, what you are asking for is a php programming exercise.

nextnum
This function returns a number which increments on each form submission. You can use this value as a unique number or a sequence number. Note that it's possible for there to be gaps in the values (you can't rely on the numbers being sequential) due to user or other errors. 
To enable this function, you must create a file on your server in which FormMail will store the next number to be returned. For instructions on how to do this, see the NEXT_NUM_FILE configuration setting. 
You can also specify an optional padding amount and an optional base or radix for the number returned. The format is: 
nextnum(pad;base) 
Both pad and base are optional, but if you want to use base, you must also specify pad. The padding value ensures you get no less than that many digits padded on the left with zeroes. 
<input type="hidden" name="derive_fields" value="
  order_num=%nextnum%,
  file_num=%nextnum(6)%,
  secret_code=%nextnum(8,16)%" />

[larryhyman]

Thank You, I got it working:

realname: Larry Hyman
city: Montreal
province: Quebec
postal_code: H1P 1L6
how_to_contact: contact_by_email
comments: test
amount_of_times_this_form_filled_in: 1

But the only problem I see with this is that I will only be able to track one form, what if I wanted to track ten forms?

Thanks

[larryhyman]

ohhhh... I should copy formmail.php to -> formmail2.php with a new nextnum file name and use each different formmailX.php for each form..

Is this the easy way of doing it?

Thanks

[jzieba]

Yes, you would need a separate formmail.php for each form.

[crabtree]

or u could ask tectite to implement a next_num_file concept so ur html could specify which file to use

then u would have one formmail that would work with many forms