http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=26443

Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Let's say that a user has to insert records into a table everyday, 10 records at at time.

Instead of making a form for a single record and have the user click on submit many times, wouldn't it be nice if the user was presented with 10 rows of input boxes and have him click on submit only once?

Originally posted as a Categorized Question.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How can I allow the user to enter multiple rows of data?
by Russ (Deacon) on Aug 06, 2000 at 23:44 UTC
    Yes, it would.

    In the "output" side of your web script:

    # Give each row a unique value (1, 2, 3...) for (1..10){ # Name each field, adding the unique value in $_ (A1, B1, C1...) print qq{ <tr> <td><input type="text" name="A$_"></td> <td><input type="text" name="B$_"></td> <td><input type="text" name="C$_"></td> <td><input type="text" name="D$_"></td> </tr> }; }
    In the "processing" side:
    for (1..10){ my ($A, $B, $C, $D) = (CGI::param("A$_"), CGI::param("B$_"), CGI::param("C$_"), CGI::pa +ram("D$_")); # This line confirms that the user entered something in at least one + field next unless grep {defined $_} ($A, $B, $C, $D); # Now that we know we got user input, do an insert into the database }
    This is not the most efficient way to do things, but I'm trying to demonstrate the technique, not give cut-and-paste-ready code.

    Good luck.

    Russ

      I thought I would offer a little more cleaned up version. Cuz I have had to do this before.
      for (1..10){ # using one var and letting CGI handle it print qq{ <tr> <td><input type="text" name="stuff"></td> </tr> }; } # In your script that receives the POST use CGI; my $cgi = new CGI; my @stuff = $cgi->param('stuff'); foreach my $thing (@stuff){ "INSERT INTO STUFF_HOLDER VALUES('$thing')"; }
      BTW. The only other way I know how to INSERT more than one row into a table with a single SQL statement is by complimenting the INSERT with a SELECT. For example: INSERT INTO new_table SELECT * FROM old_table
Re: How can I allow the user to enter multiple rows of data?
by rodry (Beadle) on Aug 07, 2000 at 01:39 UTC
    Russ's solution seems to accomplish this by having the MySQL insert the records one at a time. I know MySQL has a feature that let's you do an Insert of multiple rows with one statement.

    How do you accomplish that.

      I didn't find any way to insert multiple rows at once, other than the LOAD DATA INFILE syntax.

      Note: I am running an archaic version of MySQL, just like the old 5.005_57 version of Perl, because I am too lazy to keep it up-to-date. If there is a newer, better way in the recent versions, feel free to post it. I'd love to know about it. :-)

      Russ
      Brainbench 'Most Valuable Professional' for Perl

Re: How can I allow the user to enter multiple rows of data?
by merlyn (Sage) on Aug 07, 2000 at 05:00 UTC
    If the param names were sequential, they'd be easier to loop. :)
    use CGI ":all"; # of course # ... # generate HTML: print p("Field $_:"), textfield("input$_"), br for 1..10; # ... # get params: $data[$_] = param("input$_") for 1..10;