Using the select



Do you like fruit?
Yes No

Why do we get an error if we select just one item from the list? Let's look at the code...


SOURCE CODE:

<html>
<head><title>Form Collection with a select</title></head>
<body>
<h1>Using the select</h1>
<form method="post" name="frmD" action="282ln08DropDownList.php">
<select size="5" name="fruits[]" multiple>
    <option value="apple"> Apples</option>
    <option value="pear"> Pears</option>
    <option value="peach"> Peaches</option>
    <option value="watermelon"> Watermelon </option>
    <option value="grape"> Grapes </option>
</select> <br>  
<br>Do you like fruit?<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="chkName1" value=yes checked>Yes
<input type= "checkbox" name="chkName1" value=no>No
<br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" name="btnSubmit"> Why do we get an error? 
Let's look at the code...</form>
<?
// With PHP, we'll get an error if nothing is posted to form without this code in BLUE
if ((isset($_POST['fruits'])) && (isset($_POST['chkName1']))) {
  $fruits=$_POST['fruits'];
  $chkName1=$_POST['chkName1'];
} else {
  $fruits="";
  $chkName1="";
}
?>

<? if (($fruits != "") && ($chkName1 != "")) { ?>
   <b>Your choice of fruits:</b><br>
   <? echo $fruits[0] ?> <br>
   <? echo $fruits[1] ?> <br> NOTE: This is line 33
   <b>Your answer to do you like fruit?</b><br>
   <? echo $chkName1 ?>
<? } else { ?>
<? } ?><br><br>
 <br>
</body></html>
ERROR: We get an "Warning: Undefined offset: 1 in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Web\282\282ln08DropDownList.php on line 33 " if we do not select at least two fruits. Note that this code attempts to write two elements (0 & 1) of the FRUITS selection list. If we only pick one, it attempts to write the second element of the array, which does not exist. We can fix it with a FOR...NEXT loop. Also, note that if we pick more than two, only the first two elements are displayed.

Let's fix it with a FOR...NEXT loop HERE.