to search a mysql database by the field surname

[biscuitboy]

Hi all,

Im trying to create a simple script to search a mysql database and search by the surname of the entries. Ufortunatly I have tried this script in the browser and doesnt seem to work.

I have created a connect.php script which I know works and so I know that isnt the problem.

Could someone have a quick look at it as im sure its a simple thing that I have missed but its driving me mad.

Best regards


<?php # Scrtipt 6.6 - Searchbysurname.php


$page_title = 'Search By Surname';

if (isset($_POST['submit'])) { // Handle the form.

$message = NULL;
if (empty($_POST['surname'])) {
$ln = FALSE;
$message .= '<p>You forgot to enter a surname!</p>';
} else {
$ln = $_POST['surname'];
}

if ($ln) { //if everthings is ok.
require_once ('connect.php'); // Connect to the db.
//Make the Query
$query = "SELECT first_name, surname FROM Residents WHERE surname= '$ln'";
$result = mysql_query ($query); // run the query

if ($result) {


echo '<table align="centre"
cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2">
<tr><td align="left"><b>Name</b>
</td></tr>
';
//fetch and print all the records.
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
echo "<tr><td align=\"left\">" .
stripslashes($row[0]) . "</td>
<td align=\"left\">$row[1]</td>
</tr>\n";
}

echo '</table>';
mysql_free_result ($result); //Free up the resources.

} else { // if it did not run ok
echo '<p>There are currently no registered residents.</p>';
}

mysql_close(); // close the database connection
} else {
$message .= '<p>Please try again.</p>';
}

?>
<form action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" method="GET">
<fieldset><legend>Enter a Surname below:</legend>
<p><b>Last Name:</b> <input type="text" name="surname" size="30" maxlength="30" value="<?php if (isset($_POST['surname'])) echo $_POST['surname']; ?>" /></p>
<div align="centre"><input type="submit" name"submit" value="Search" /></div>
</form><!-- end of form -->

 

[jpadie]

what error messages do you get? or if no error messages then add

error_reporting(E_ALL);

and rerun.

if still no error messages, in what way is the script not working?

 

[biscuitboy]

Hiya,

Currently when I run the script nothing appears on the screen?

Andy ideas?

Regards

 

[jpadie]

am assuming you put the error reporting directive at the top of the code?

if so, then the next step is to add in lots of debugging code.

1. add

print_r($_POST);

as the second line of the code
2. add

echo $query;

as the line after you have built the sql code
3. change the query line to

$result = mysql_query ($query) or die (mysql_error()); // run the query

this should give us some output allowing a simpler debug process.