write jsp /php form so user can control ho many input fields

Hi,

I currently have an html form with which I gather the same information
for 5 items, and then post all the data for processing to a jsp file. I
would like to make a form (using jsp or php) that allows the user to
choose how many items they would like to compare (1 through 5) , and
then have the form change to list the appropriate set(s) of form entry
fields, with each field's variable appropriately named uniquely (e.g.
at present I have Color1, Color2, Color3, Color4, Color5 all as
variables submitted via my form, I would like this naming convention to
continue).

In other words, if the user chooses to only compare 3 items, I would
like for only 3 sets of entry fields to be presented, for each of which
the field names would be fieldname1, fieldname2, fieldname3.

To accomodate the java class file I am sending the data to for
processing, I would also like the code to pass zero values for the
fields not chosen. In other words, if only 3 items are chosen, the
values that would have been submitted for items 4 and 5 are submitted
as zeros.

Any help that can be provided would be greatly appreicated. A
solutionin either jsp or php would be fine.

Best wishes,

George Hadley
ghadley...@yahoo.com

[snip]

Try something like this:

<?php
$number = $_REQUEST['number']; //Number of items to compare
$the_rest = 5 - $number;
?>
<form action="url_to_send_to.html" method="post">
<?php
$i = 1;
while($i <= $number) {
echo "Item " . $i . "<input type='text' name='fieldname" . $i . "'>";
$i++;
}
if($the_rest > 0) {
$x = 1;
while($x <= $the_rest) {
echo "<input type='hidden' name='fieldname" . $i . "' value='0'>";
$x++;
$i++;
}
}
?>

Zilla.

I forgot to end the form... Put this at the end:

<input type="submit" value="Whatever">
</form>

Zilla

ghadley_00@yahoo.com wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I currently have an html form with which I gather the same information
> for 5 items, and then post all the data for processing to a jsp file. I
> would like to make a form (using jsp or php) that allows the user to
> choose how many items they would like to compare (1 through 5) , and
> then have the form change to list the appropriate set(s) of form entry
> fields, with each field's variable appropriately named uniquely (e.g.
> at present I have Color1, Color2, Color3, Color4, Color5 all as
> variables submitted via my form, I would like this naming convention to
> continue).
>

Why not do it in javascript - that way you don't need to submit between
changing the number of rows.

C.

Thanks to all who replied. The php version looks great, but I would
like the option to not have to resubmit to change the number of rows -
would you mind showing / pointing to a code sample that could do this?

Thanks,

George