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PHP Build a Basic PHP Website (2018) Enhancing a Form Specifying Required Fields

Henry Lin
Henry Lin
11,636 Points
Posted by Henry Lin
Henry Lin
11,636 Points

My title doesn't show up in the returned email.

<?php
//Import the PHPMailer class into the global namespace
use PHPMailer\PHPMailer\PHPMailer;
require 'vendor/phpmailer/src/PHPMailer.php';
require 'vendor/phpmailer/src/Exception.php';
require 'vendor/phpmailer/src/SMTP.php';

if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"]=="POST"){
  $name = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"name",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  $email = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"email",FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL));
  $category = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"category",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  //$title = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"title",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  $title = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"title",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  $format = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"format",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  $genre = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"genre",FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING));
  $year = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"year",FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT));
  $detail = trim(filter_input(INPUT_POST,"details",FILTER_SANITIZE_SPECIAL_CHARS));
  if ($name == "" || $email == "" || $category == "" || $title = "") {
    $error_message = "Please fill in the required fields Name, Email, category and title";
  }
  if (!isset($error_message) && $_POST["address"] != ""){
    $error_message = "Bad form input";
  }
  if (!isset($error_message) && !PHPMailer::validateAddress($email)){
    $error_message = "Invalid Email Address";
  }

  if (!isset($error_message)){
    $email_body = "";
    $email_body .= "Name ". $name. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Email ". $email. "\n";
    $email_body .= "\n\nSuggested Item\n\n";
    $email_body .= "Category ". $category. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Title ". $title. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Format ". $format. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Genre ". $genre. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Year ". $year. "\n";
    $email_body .= "Details ". $detail. "\n";


    $mail = new PHPMailer;
    //Tell PHPMailer to use SMTP
    $mail->isSMTP();
    //Enable SMTP debugging
    // 0 = off (for production use)
    // 1 = client messages
    // 2 = client and server messages
    $mail->SMTPDebug = 2;
    //Set the hostname of the mail server
    $mail->Host = 'smtp.gmail.com';
    // use
    // $mail->Host = gethostbyname('smtp.gmail.com');
    // if your network does not support SMTP over IPv6
    //Set the SMTP port number - 587 for authenticated TLS, a.k.a. RFC4409 SMTP submission
    $mail->Port = 587;
    //Set the encryption system to use - ssl (deprecated) or tls
    $mail->SMTPSecure = 'tls';
    //Whether to use SMTP authentication
    $mail->SMTPAuth = true;
    //Username to use for SMTP authentication - use full email address for gmail
    $mail->Username = "frankielin2015@gmail.com";
    //Password to use for SMTP authentication
    $mail->Password = "mnpaikzdydkskljj";
    //It's important not to use the submitter's address as the from address as it's forgery,
    //which will cause your messages to fail SPF checks.
    //Use an address in your own domain as the from address, put the submitter's address in a reply-to
    $mail->setFrom('frankielin2015@gmail.com',$name);
    $mail->addReplyTo($email, $name);
    $mail->addAddress('frankielin2015@gmail.com','Xiaofa Lin');
    $mail->Subject = 'Library suggestion from '. $name;
    $mail->Body = $email_body;
    if ($mail->send()) {
      header("location:suggest.php?status=thanks");
      exit;
    }
    $error_message = "Mailer Error: " . $mail->ErrorInfo;
  }
}


$pageTitle = "Suggest a Media Item";
$section = "suggest";
include("inc/header.php");
?>

<div class="section page">
  <div class="wrapper">
    <h1>Suggest a Media Item</h1>
    <?php if(isset($_GET["status"]) && $_GET["status"] == "thanks"){
      echo "<p>Thanks for the email! I&rsquo;ll check out your suggestion shortly!</p>";
    } else {
      if (isset($error_message)){
        echo '<p class="message">' .$error_message.'</p>';
      } else{
        echo '<p>If you think there is something I&rsquo;m missing, let me know! Complete the form to send
        an email.</p>';
      } ?>

    <form method="post" action="suggest.php">
      <table>
        <tr>
          <th><label for="name">Name (required)</label></th>
          <td><input type="text" id="name" name="name" value="<?php
          if (isset($name))echo $name; ?>" /></td>
        </tr>

        <tr>
          <th><label for="email">Email (required)</label></th>
          <td><input type="text" id="email" name="email" value="<?php
          if (isset($email)) echo $email; ?>" /></td>
        </tr>

        <tr>
          <th><label for="category">Category (required)</label></th>
          <td><select type="text" id="category" name="category" />
            <option value="">Select One</option>
            <option value="Books"<?php
            if (isset($category) && $category == "Books") echo " selected"; ?>>Book</option>
            <option value="Movies"<?php
            if (isset($category) && $category == "Movies") echo " selected"; ?>>Movie</option>
            <option value="Musics"<?php
            if (isset($category) && $category == "Musics") echo " selected"; ?>>Music</option>
          </select></td>
        </tr>

        <tr>
          <th><label for="title">Title (required)</label></th>
          <td><input type="text" id="title" name="title" value="<?php
          if (isset($title)) echo $title;?>" /></td>
        </tr>

        <tr>
    <th>
        <label for="format">Format</label>
    </th>
    <td>
        <select name="format" id="format">
            <option value="">Select One</option>
            <optgroup label="Books">
                <option value="Audio"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Audio") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Audio</option>
                <option value="Ebook"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Ebook") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Ebook</option>
                <option value="Hardcover"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Hardcover") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Hardcover</option>
                <option value="Paperback"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Paperback") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Paperback</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="Movies">
                <option value="Blu-ray"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Blu-ray") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Blu-ray</option>
                <option value="DVD"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="DVD") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>DVD</option>
                <option value="Streaming"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Streaming") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Streaming</option>
                <option value="VHS"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="VHS") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>VHS</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="Music">
                <option value="Cassette"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Cassette") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Cassette</option>
                <option value="CD"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="CD") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>CD</option>
                <option value="MP3"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="MP3") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>MP3</option>
                <option value="Vinyl"<?php
                if (isset($format) && $format=="Vinyl") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Vinyl</option>
            </optgroup>
        </select>
    </td>
</tr>
<tr>
    <th>
        <label for="genre">Genre</label>
    </th>
    <td>
        <select name="genre" id="genre">
            <option value="">Select One</option>
            <optgroup label="Books">
                <option value="Action"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Action") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Action</option>
                <option value="Adventure"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Adventure") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Adventure</option>
                <option value="Comedy"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Comedy") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Comedy</option>
                <option value="Fantasy"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Fantasy") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Fantasy</option>
                <option value="Historical"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Historical") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Historical</option>
                <option value="Historical Fiction"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Historical Fiction") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Historical Fiction</option>
                <option value="Horror"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Horror") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Horror</option>
                <option value="Magical Realism"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Magical Realism") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Magical Realism</option>
                <option value="Mystery"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Mystery") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Mystery</option>
                <option value="Paranoid"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Paranoid") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Paranoid</option>
                <option value="Philosophical"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Philosophical") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Philosophical</option>
                <option value="Political"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Political") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Political</option>
                <option value="Romance"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Romance") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Romance</option>
                <option value="Saga"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Saga") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Saga</option>
                <option value="Satire"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Satire") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Satire</option>
                <option value="Sci-Fi"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Sci-Fi") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Sci-Fi</option>
                <option value="Tech"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Tech") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Tech</option>
                <option value="Thriller"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Thriller") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Thriller</option>
                <option value="Urban"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Urban") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Urban</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="Movies">
                <option value="Action"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Action") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Action</option>
                <option value="Adventure"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Adventure") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Adventure</option>
                <option value="Animation"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Animation") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Animation</option>
                <option value="Biography"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Biography") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Biography</option>
                <option value="Comedy"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Comedy") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Comedy</option>
                <option value="Crime"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Crime") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Crime</option>
                <option value="Documentary"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Documentary") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Documentary</option>
                <option value="Drama"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Drama") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Drama</option>
                <option value="Family"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Family") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Family</option>
                <option value="Fantasy"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Fantasy") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Fantasy</option>
                <option value="Film-Noir"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Film-Noir") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Film-Noir</option>
                <option value="History"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="History") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>History</option>
                <option value="Horror"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Horror") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Horror</option>
                <option value="Musical"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Musical") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Musical</option>
                <option value="Mystery"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Mystery") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Mystery</option>
                <option value="Romance"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Romance") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Romance</option>
                <option value="Sci-Fi"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Sci-Fi") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Sci-Fi</option>
                <option value="Sport"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Sport") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Sport</option>
                <option value="Thriller"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Thriller") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Thriller</option>
                <option value="War"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="War") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>War</option>
                <option value="Western"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Western") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Western</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="Music">
                <option value="Alternative"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Alternative") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Alternative</option>
                <option value="Blues"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Blues") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Blues</option>
                <option value="Classical"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Classical") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Classical</option>
                <option value="Country"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Country") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Country</option>
                <option value="Dance"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Dance") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Dance</option>
                <option value="Easy Listening"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Easy Listening") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Easy Listening</option>
                <option value="Electronic"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Electronic") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Electronic</option>
                <option value="Folk"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Folk") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Folk</option>
                <option value="Hip Hop/Rap"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Hip Hop/Rap") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Hip Hop/Rap</option>
                <option value="Inspirational/Gospel"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Inspirational/Gospel") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Insirational/Gospel</option>
                <option value="Jazz"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Jazz") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Jazz</option>
                <option value="Latin"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Latin") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Latin</option>
                <option value="New Age"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="New Age") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>New Age</option>
                <option value="Opera"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Opera") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Opera</option>
                <option value="Pop"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Pop") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Pop</option>
                <option value="R&B/Soul"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="R&B/Soul") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>R&amp;B/Soul</option>
                <option value="Reggae"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Reggae") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Reggae</option>
                <option value="Rock"<?php
                if (isset($genre) && $genre=="Rock") {
                    echo " selected";
                } ?>>Rock</option>
            </optgroup>
        </select>
    </td>
</tr>

            <tr>
              <th><label for="year">Year</label></th>
              <td><input type="text" id="year" name="year" value="<?php
              if (isset($year)) echo $year; ?>" /></td>
            </tr>

        <tr>
          <th><label for="details">Additional Details</label></th>
          <td><textarea name="details" id="details"><?php
          if (isset($detail)) echo htmlspecialchars($_POST['details']); ?></textarea></td>
        </tr>

        <tr style="display:none">
          <th><label for="address">Address</label></th>
          <td><input type="text" id="address" name="address" />
          <p>Please leave this field blank</p></td>
        </tr>

      </table>
      <input type="submit" value="Send" />
    </form>
  <?php }?>
  </div>
</div>

<?php include("inc/footer.php"); ?>

The code segement above is what I have, everything works just fine but the title. My returned email shows Title and nothing.. Everything else would show up as expected. Anyone know how to fix?

Eric Drake
Eric Drake
6,339 Points

The code segment that you posted only shows how you are filtering your input. How do you include these variables, in particular the title, to your email? What input are you using for a title to test your script?

2 Answers

Tim Makin
Tim Makin
17,261 Points
Tim Makin
Tim Makin
17,261 Points

Hi Henry,

I think your problem may be the last condition in the "if" statement below:

if ($name == "" || $email == "" || $category == "" || $title = "") {
    $error_message = "Please fill in the required fields Name, Email, category and title";
}

Where it is supposed to be checking $title for a blank string it's actually using the single equals which has the effect of setting $title to be blank string and overriding any value it has been assigned from the input form.

Try changing the code to this with the double equals like below and see if that helps:

if ($name == "" || $email == "" || $category == "" || $title == "") {
    $error_message = "Please fill in the required fields Name, Email, category and title";
}

Thanks,

Tim

Henry Lin
Henry Lin
11,636 Points
Henry Lin
Henry Lin
11,636 Points

Thanks a lot Tim, It worked.

Ntokozo Ncube
Ntokozo Ncube
17,435 Points
Ntokozo Ncube
Ntokozo Ncube
17,435 Points

Where do you capture the title?Which field is capturing the title input to post as title to email? You may wish to use subject as title if you add it.