Make SQL ignore a specific search value if clicked in a dropdown?

LiamHorizon · 10-09-2012, 12:57 PM

I am creating a multi-form search box that searches a Meat packaging database. The search works only if users are specific, I want them to be able to search the database without having to choose a specific option from the dropdown box, limiting the number of searches.

Is it possible to add an option into the dropdown boxes such as "Any" and have the SQL query ignore it if the user chooses it? So then it will only search for results that match those of the ones within the text forms?

Here is the HTML and PHP:

Code:

<body>

  <form action="form3.php" method="post"> 
    <label for ="description">Description:</label>
    <input type="text" name="descrip" /><br />

    <label for ="trayheight">Trayheight:</label>
    <input type="text" name="height" /> <br /> 

    <label for ="traywidth">Traywidth:</label>
    <input type="text" name="width" /> <br />

    <label for ="traydepth">Traydepth:</label>
    <input type="text" name="depth" /> <br />

         <label for="trayrange">Trayrange: </label>
                <select name="trayrange">
                    <option value="Other">Any</option>

                    <option value="BBQ">BBQ</option>

                    <option value="Dessert">Dessert</option>

                    <option value="Display">Display</option>

                    <option value="Meat">Meat</option>  

                    <option value="Microwave">Microwave</option>

                    <option value="Party">Party</option>

                    <option value="Salad/Wet Pasta">Salad/Wet Pasta</option>

                    <option value="Snacks">Snacks</option>

                    <option value="Standard">Standard</option>

                </select>

        <label for ="traytype">Traytype: </label> 
            <select name="traytype">
                    <option value="Other">Any</option>

            <option value="Open">Open</option>

            <option value="Cavitised">Cavitised</option>

                    <option value="Lid">Lid</option>

                    <option value="Tray">Tray</option>

                    <option value="Coallition">Coallition</option>

                    <option value="Bowl">Bowl</option>

                    <option value="Hinge pack">Open</option>

                    <option value="Pot">Pot</option>

                    <option value="Base & Lid">Base and Lid</option>

                    <option value="Rectangular">Rectangular</option>

                    <option value="Specalist">Specialist</option>
                </select><br />

        <label for="trayshape">Trayshape: </label>
            <select name="trayshape">
                    <option value="Other">Any</option>

            <option value="Rectangular">Rectangular</option>

                <option value="Oval">Oval</option>

                <option value="Square">Square</option>

                    <option value="Insert">Insert</option>

                    <option value="Round">Round</option>

                    <option value="Open">Open</option>
        </select><br />
        <input type="submit" value="Submit" /> 
    </form> 

        </body>

PHP Code:


			
<body>

    <?php
         $con = mysql_connect ("localhost", "root", "");
         mysql_select_db ("delyn_db", $con);

    if (!$con)
        { 
        die ("Could not connect: " . mysql_error());
        }

            $descrip = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['descrip']); 
            $height = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['height']);
            $width = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['width']);
            $depth = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['depth']);

            $varRange = $_POST['trayrange'];
            $varType = $_POST['traytype'];
            $varShape = $_POST['trayshape'];

    $sql = "SELECT * FROM delyn WHERE description LIKE '%".$descrip."%' AND trayheight
                    LIKE '%".$height."%'AND traywidth LIKE '%".$width."%' AND traydepth LIKE
                    '%".$depth."%' AND trayrange LIKE '%".$varRange."%' AND 
                    traytype LIKE '%".$varType."%' AND trayshape LIKE '%".$varShape."%' ";


    $r_query = mysql_query($sql);

    while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r_query))
            { 
            echo '<br /> Tool Code:   '.$row['toolcode'];
            echo '<br /> Description: '.$row['description']; 
            echo '<br /> Tray range:  '.$row['trayrange']; 
            echo '<br /> Tray type:   '.$row['traytype'];
                echo '<br /> Tray size:   '.$row['traysize']; 
            echo '<br /> Tray shape:  '.$row['trayshape'] . '<br />' . 
                            '<br />'; ;  
                    }

        if (mysql_num_rows($r_query) <= 0){
            echo 'No results match your search, please try again';
               }
        ?>
      </body>

Any ideas?

sunfighter · 10-09-2012, 06:30 PM

Sure one example only. If "any" is chosen for <select name="trayrange"> you can add this to the php file just before you do your query.

if($varRange == 'any'){
$sql= 'code that does not restrict the search'
}else{
$sql = 'your old code'
}

Old Pedant · 10-09-2012, 09:00 PM

An easier way: Since you are using LIKE '%xxx%' in all your tests, just use <option value="">Any</option> in the HTML.

That will cause your query to become (for example)

Code:

SELECT * FROM delyn WHERE description LIKE '%%' AND ...

and so of course it will match ANY description.