PHP - Error And Success Messages Stored In Session

How is it possible, in PHP, to display an error message next to a form input text field if a user is attempting to submit a form with empty fields? Moreover, how is it possible to remove the same error message when the user fills in the input field with the required data and/or refreshes the page?

I have 2 files that I am working with: application.php and process.php.

application.php mainly has the HTML of the form.
process.php has the PHP for processing and validating the form.

I am very new to learning PHP (I started learning it last week) and I have been searching for hours for a clear answer. I have already tried different methods for generating the error message including: using empty(), !isset, $_POST["name"] = "", etc, and have tried using session_start();, $row, echo, print, and other variables to try and display error message on the page, and I have tried using unset();, and = null, to try and remove the error message once the input field has been filled but all to no avail. Either the method I try only half works, or nothing works, and I cannot pinpoint which is the part that is not working.

I only have 2 files to work with, and as an example of what I want to do is:

1. If the first name field is empty when the user clicks submit, an error message should appear next to the input.
2. If the user fills in the input and clicks submit, the form should be processed and added to the database.
3. When the user returns to the application to page to fill in another application form, the error message should not appear.

Is this possible with PHP?

I have a PHP page that offers various information from a single text file. This text file is

encrypted on the server HD.

Upon initial entry into the page, the user enters an encryption/decryption KEY and the

encrypted file is decrypted to clear text and it is available for viewing.

I have some parameters that I store in PHP session variables. I do this since various

subsequent actions by the user will require these parameters. The code is written and the whole process seems to

work well.

Since the info in these session variables is sensitive, I need to understand WHERE they are

stored. I know that it is a file on the HD, but after hours of reading the PHP Manual on

sessions, I am not finding where (HD directory) that storage is.

I have a typical shared hosting account for my web site. Mostly I want to discover is, are

the session variables in y User/file hierarchy, or are they stored in a system area where

the PHP is installed.

Whew. Sorry this was so long.

Thank you,
xphp

Hello,

Here's my system. Once a user is successfully logged in, a new instance of a User class is created. The constructor of this class grabs the details of the logged-in user from a database and stores them inside properties in the User class.

The problem is, obviously I'd want to access these properties from any page I require them to be able to display user data, so I looked into storing the User object in a Session.

When I tried implementing this, I ran into a bunch of errors and I couldn't figure it out.

Here's an example:

After a user has logged in, I had the following code:
Code: [Select]
$_SESSION['user'] = new User($this->username);
I was under the impression that this assigns a user object to a session. But it's not working as I receive this error:

Quote

Notice: Undefined index: user in ../v2/admin/index.php on line 18



Then on the page I want to display the name of the current user logged-in, I had this code:
Code: [Select]
$_SESSION['user']->get_Name();
But then I get this error:
Quote

Fatal error: Call to a member function get_IP() on a non-object in ../v2/admin/index.php on line 18



Can tell me what I have to do, to make this work?


Thanks.

Hi, I found a tutorial online for a form which used PHP/MySQL and JQuery to submit data. I am making some modifications and the form no-longer submits the data. The problem I have is no errors display so I am not sure where the problem lies. I need to be able to display a success or failure message on the form itself, but this is either not there or not working. The code is below.

Code: [Select]
<form id="ContactForm" action="">
                <p>
                    <label>First Name</label>
                    <input id="FirstName" name="FirstName" class="inplaceError" maxlength="120" type="text" autocomplete="off"/>
<span class="error" style="display:none;"></span>
                </p>
                <p>
                    <label>Last Name</label>
                    <input id="LastName" name="LastName" class="inplaceError" maxlength="120" type="text" autocomplete="off"/>
<span class="error" style="display:none;"></span>
                </p>
                <p>
                    <label>User Name</label>
                    <input id="UserName" name="UserName" class="inplaceError" maxlength="120" type="text" autocomplete="off"/>
<span class="error" style="display:none;"></span>
                </p>
                <p>
                    <label>Email</label>
                    <input id="email" name="email" class="inplaceError" maxlength="120" type="text" autocomplete="off"/>
<span class="error" style="display:none;"></span>
                </p>
                <p>
                    <label>Website<span>(optional)</span></label>
                    <input id="website" name="website" class="inplaceError" maxlength="120" type="text" autocomplete="off"/>
                </p>
                <p>
                    <label>Your message<br /> <span>300 characters allowed</span></label>
                    <textarea id="message" name="message" class="inplaceError" cols="6" rows="5" autocomplete="off"></textarea>
<span class="error" style="display:none;"></span>
                </p>
                <p class="submit">
                    <input id="send" type="button" value="Submit"/>
                    <span id="loader" class="loader" style="display:none;"></span>
<span id="success_message" class="success"></span>
                </p>
<input id="newcontact" name="newcontact" type="hidden" value="1"></input>
            </form>


<?php
require_once("config.php"); /* Configuration File */

class DB{

private $link;

public function __construct(){
$this->link = mysqli_connect(DB_SERVER, DB_USER, DB_PASS,DB_NAME);
if (mysqli_connect_errno())
    exit();
}

public function __destruct() {
mysqli_close($this->link);
}

public function dbNewMessage($email,$FirstName,$LastName,$website,$message){
$email    = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$email);
$FirstName  = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$FirstName);
$LastName  = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$LastName);
$UserName  = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$UserName);
$website  = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$website);
$message  = mysqli_real_escape_string($this->link,$message);

mysqli_autocommit($this->link,FALSE);

$query = "INSERT INTO contact_me(pk_contact,FirstName,LastName,UserName,email,website,message) 
  VALUES('NULL','$FirstName','$LastName','$UserName','$email','$website','$message')";
mysqli_query($this->link,$query);

if(mysqli_errno($this->link))
return -1;
else{
mysqli_commit($this->link);
return 1;
}
}   
};
?>





<?php
require_once("db.php"); /* Database Class */
require_once('utils/is_email.php'); /* Email Validation Script */

/* Handle Ajax Request */
if(isset($_POST['newcontact'])){
$contact = new Contact();
unset($contact);
}
else{
header('Location: /');
}

/* Class Contact */
class Contact{

private $db;  /* the database obj */

private $errors  = array();  /* holds error messages */
private $num_errors;    /* number of errors in submitted form */

public function __construct(){
$this->db = new DB();
if(isset($_POST['newcontact']))
$this->processNewMessage();
else
header("Location: /");
}

public function processNewMessage(){

$email = $_POST['email'];
$FirstName = $_POST['FirstName'];
$LastName = $_POST['LastName'];
$UserName = $_POST['UserName'];
$website = $_POST['website'];
$message = $_POST['message'];

/* Server Side Data Validation */

/* Email Validation */
if(!$email || mb_strlen($email = trim($email)) == 0)
$this->setError('email','required field');
else{
if(!is_email($email))
$this->setError('email', 'invalid email');
else if(mb_strlen($email) > 120)
$this->setError('email', 'too long! 120');
}

/* FirstName Validation */
if(!$FirstName || mb_strlen($FirstName = trim($FirstName)) == 0)
$this->setError('FirstName', 'required field');
else if(mb_strlen(trim($FirstName)) > 120)
$this->setError('FirstName', 'too long! 120 characters');

/* LastName Validation */
if(!$LastName || mb_strlen($LastName = trim($LastName)) == 0)
$this->setError('LastName', 'required field');
else if(mb_strlen(trim($LastName)) > 120)
$this->setError('LastName', 'too long! 120 characters');

/* UserName Validation */
if(!$UserName || mb_strlen($UserName = trim($UserName)) == 0)
$this->setError('UserName', 'required field');
else if(mb_strlen(trim($UserName)) > 120)
$this->setError('UserName', 'too long! 120 characters');

/* Website Validation */
if(!mb_eregi("^[a-zA-Z0-9-#_.+!*'(),/&:;=?@]*$", $website))
$this->setError('website', 'invalid website');
elseif(mb_strlen(trim($website)) > 120)
$this->setError('website', 'too long! 120 characters');

/* Message Validation */
$message = trim($message);
if(!$message || mb_strlen($message = trim($message)) == 0)
$this->setError('message','required field');
elseif(mb_strlen($message) > 300)
$this->setError('message', 'too long! 300 characters');

/* Errors exist */
if($this->countErrors() > 0){
$json = array(
'result' => -1, 
'errors' => array(
array('name' => 'email' ,'value' => $this->error_value('email')),
array('name' => 'FirstName' ,'value' => $this->error_value('FirstName')),
array('name' => 'LastName' ,'value' => $this->error_value('LastName')),
array('name' => 'UserName' ,'value' => $this->error_value('UserName')),
array('name' => 'website' ,'value' => $this->error_value('website')),
array('name' => 'message' ,'value' => $this->error_value('message'))
)
);
$encoded = json_encode($json);
echo $encoded;
unset($encoded);
}
/* No errors, insert in db*/
else{
if(($ret = $this->db->dbNewMessage($email, $FirstName, $LastName,$UserName, $website, $message)) > 0){
$json = array('result'  => 1); 
if(SEND_EMAIL)
$this->sendEmail($email,$name,$website,$message);
}
else
$json = array('result'  => -2); /* something went wrong in database insertion  */
$encoded = json_encode($json);
echo $encoded;
unset($encoded);
}
}

public function sendEmail($email,$name,$website,$message){
/* Just format the email text the way you want ... */
$message_body = "Hi, ".$name."(".$email." - ".$website.") sent you a message from yoursite.com\n"
."email: ".$email."\n"
."message: "."\n"
.$message; 
$headers = "From: ".EMAIL_FROM_NAME." <".EMAIL_FROM_ADDR.">";

return mail(EMAIL_TO,MESSAGE_SUBJECT,$message_body,$headers);
}

public function setError($field, $errmsg){
$this->errors[$field]  = $errmsg;
$this->num_errors  = count($this->errors);
}

public function error_value($field){
if(array_key_exists($field,$this->errors))
return $this->errors[$field];
else
return '';
}

public function countErrors(){
return $this->num_errors;
}
};
?>


and the JQuery
Code: [Select]
$(document).ready(function() {
contact.initEventHandlers();
});
var contact = {
initEventHandlers : function() {
/* clicking the submit form */
$('#send').bind('click',function(event){
$('#loader').show();
setTimeout('contact.ContactFormSubmit()',500);
});
/* remove messages when user wants to correct (focus on the input) */
$('.inplaceError',$('#ContactForm')).bind('focus',function(){
var $this = $(this);
var $error_elem = $this.next();
if($error_elem.length)
$error_elem.fadeOut(function(){$(this).empty()});
$('#success_message').empty();
});
/* user presses enter - submits form */
$('#ContactForm input,#ContactForm textarea').keypress(function (e) {
if ((e.which && e.which == 13) || (e.keyCode && e.keyCode == 13)) { 
$("#send").click();
return false; 
}
else 
return true; 
});
},
ContactFormSubmit : function() {
$.ajax({
   type : 'POST',
   url : 'php/contact.php?ts='+new Date().getTime(),
   dataType : 'json',
   data : $('#ContactForm').serialize(),
   success : function(data,textStatus){
  //hide the ajax loader
  $('#loader').hide();
  if(data.result == '1'){
      //show success message
  $('#success_message').empty().html('Message sent');
  //reset all form fields
  $('#ContactForm')[0].reset();
  //envelope animation
  $('#envelope').stop().show().animate({'marginTop':'-175px','marginLeft':'-246px','width':'492px','height':'350px','opacity':'0'},function(){
      $(this).css({'width':'246px','height':'175px','margin-left':'-123px','margin-top':'-88px','opacity':'1','display':'none'});
  });
  }
  else if(data.result == '-1'){
  for(var i=0; i < data.errors.length; ++i ){
      if(data.errors[i].value!='')
          $("#"+data.errors[i].name).next().html('<span>'+data.errors[i].value+'</span>').fadeIn();
  }
  }  
  },
   error : function(data,textStatus){}
});
} 
};

I have to get the error messages to appear...but for some reason they're not showing up if I leave the forms blank and click submit.

Code: [Select]
  <?
  $PROVINCES = array( "--" => "--- Please Select Provinces ---",
"nf"=>"Newfoundland",
"pe"=>"Prince Edward Island",
"nb"=>"New Brunswick",
"ns"=>"Nova Scotia",
"qc"=>"Quebec",
"on"=>"Ontario",
"mb"=>"Manitoba",
"sk"=>"Saskatchewan",
"ab"=>"Alberta",
"bc"=>"British Columbia",
"nt"=>"Northwest Territories");
 
  if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET')
  {
  $dimwelcomeMsg = TRUE;
  }
 
  if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST')
  {
  if ($_POST['uname'] == ''){
$errMsg['uname'] = "Username must not be blank!!!"; 
$unameInError = true;
  }
  if (empty($_POST['year']) == TRUE){
  $errMsg['year'] = "Year must not be blank!!";
  }
  if (count($errMsg) > 0 ):
  $dispErrorMsg = TRUE;
else:

foreach ($_POST as $key => $val):
$key = strtoupper($key);
$successMsg[$key] = $val;
endforeach;

$dispSuccessMsg = TRUE;


endif;
  }
  ?>
<html  >

<head>
<title>Comp10065 - Simple Form Validatioon</title>

 
<style type="text/css">


body { margin: 0; padding: 0; font: 80%/1.5 Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #111; background-color: green; }
h2 { margin: 0px; padding: 10px; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 200%; font-weight: normal; color: #FFF; background-color: #CCC; border-bottom: #BBB 2px solid; }
h1 {color:#006600}
p#copyright { margin: 20px 10px; font-size: 90%; color: #999; }
div.form-container { margin: 10px; padding: 5px; background-color: #FFF; border: #EEE 1px solid; }
p.legend { margin-bottom: 1em; }
p.legend em { color: #C00; font-style: normal; }
div.errors { margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 5px 10px; border: #FC6 1px solid; background-color: #FFC; }
div.errors p { margin: 0; }
div.errors p em   { color: #C00; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; }
div.success { margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 5px 10px; border: #FC6 1px solid; background-color: #FFC; }
div.success p { margin: 0; color:#006633}
div.success li {list-style-type: none; }
div.form-container form p { margin: 0; }
div.form-container form p.note { margin-left: 170px; font-size: 90%; color: #333; }
div.form-container form fieldset { margin: 10px 0; padding: 10px; border: #DDD 1px solid; }
div.form-container form legend { font-weight: bold; color: #666; }
div.form-container form fieldset div { padding: 0.25em 0; }
div.form-container label,
div.form-container span.label { margin-right: 10px; padding-right: 10px; width: 150px; display: block; float: left; text-align: right; position: relative; }
div.form-container label.error,
div.form-container span.error { color: #000; }
div.form-container select.error, div.form-container div.error {background-color: #FEF;}
div.form-container label em,
div.form-container span.label em { position: absolute; right: 0; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; color: #C00; }
div.form-container input.error { border-color: #C00; background-color: #FEF; }
div.form-container input:focus,
div.form-container input.error:focus,
div.form-container textarea:focus { background-color: #FFC; border-color: #FC6; }
div.form-container div.controlset {margin: 3px}
div.form-container div.controlset label,
div.form-container div.controlset input { display: inline; float: none; }
div.form-container div.controlset div { margin-left: 170px; }
div.form-container div.buttonrow { padding-left: 430px; border: 1px solid #CCCCCC }
div#wrapper {width: 700px ; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto}
pre {color:black; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 30px}
</style>

</head>

<body>

<div id="wrapper">

<h1> Form Validation Lab</h1>

<div class="form-container">
 <? if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET') : ?>
 <? if (displayWelcomeMsg) : ?>
 <p>Please fill in the form........</p>
 <? endif; ?>
 
<? endif; ?>

<? if ($displaySuccessMsg): ?>
<div class="success">
<p>Thank you for your submission.</p>
<ol>
<? foreach($successMsgs as $key => $successMsg): ?>
<li><?= $key ?> = <?= $successMsg ?> </li>
<? endforeach; ?>
</ol>
</div>
<? endif; ?>

<? if ($dispErrorMsg) : ?>
<div class="errors">
<p><em>Oops...the following errors were encountered</em></p>
<ul>
<? foreach ($errMsgs as $key => $errMsg): ?>
<li><?= $errMsg ?> </li>
<? endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<p>Please correct the errors and re-submit this form.</p>
</div>
<? endif; ?>




<form action="<?= $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] ?>" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="act" value="post">
<div class="buttonrow">
<input type="submit" value="Submit This Form " class="button" />
<a href="<?= $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] ?>" >Start Again</a>
</div>

<p class="legend"><strong>Note:</strong> Required fields are marked with an asterisk (<em>*</em>)</p>
<fieldset>
<legend>User Details</legend>
<div>
<label for="uname" >User Name <em>*</em></label>
<? if (isset($errMsgs['uname'])) echo 'class = "errors"' ?>
           
<input id="uname" type="text" name="uname"  value="<?=$_POST['uname'] ?>"  />
(must be greater than 5 chars)</div>
<div>
<label for="email">Email Address </label>
<input id="email" type="text" name="email" value="" />
</div>
</fieldset>

<fieldset>

<legend>Submission</legend>
<div>
<label for="year">Year (YYYY) <em>*</em></label>
<input id="year" type="text" name="year"
            <? if (isset($errMsgs['year'])) echo 'class = "errors"' ?>
value="" size="4" maxlength="4"  />
(4 digit number)</div>
<div>
<label for="date">Month (MM)</label>
<input id="date" type="text" name="month" value="" size="4" maxlength="2" />

(number ranging from 1-12)</div>
</fieldset>

<fieldset>
<legend>Preferences</legend>
<div>
<label for="type" >Province (Multiple Select) <em>*</em></label>
<select name = "province[]" multiple size = "12" id="type"  >
                <? foreach ($PROVINCES as $abbreviation => $longname); ?>
                <option value = "<?=$abbreviation ?> "></option>
                <? enfgoreach; ?>
</select>

</div>
<div class= 'controlset'   >
<span class="label">Status (Mult Select)<em>*</em></span>
<input name="status[]" id="approved" value="approved" type="checkbox"  /> <label for="approved">Approved</label>
<input name="status[]" id="pending" value="pending" type="checkbox"  /> <label for="pending">Pending Application</label> <input name="status[]" id="actives" value="actives" type="checkbox"  /> <label for="actives">Active Service</label>

</div>

<div class= 'controlset'>
<span class="label">  Location  <em>*</em></span>
<input name="location" id="radio1" value="Garage" type="radio" /> <label for="radio1">Garage</label>
<input name="location" id="radio2" value="Attic" type="radio" /> <label for="radio2">Attic</label>
<input name="location" id="radio3" value="House" type="radio" /> <label for="radio3">House</label>

</div>
</fieldset>

</form>
<p>This debug info is here to help you. You are only required to display the POST array</p>
<pre><?= print_r($_POST,true) ?> </pre>
</div>

</div>

</body>
</html>