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Hi all,

I'm sure you have used something like this - but in case you're always copying and pasting a drop down for states, I created an include that I have used a lot!

1. Copy and paste this code into a file (I call it stateselect.php) and put it somewhere within your joomla installation (I usually create a directory called myincludes)
Code for stateselect.php:

Code: Select all

<select name='state' size='1'>
<option value=''>Choose a State</option>
<option value='AK' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'AK') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Alaska</option>
<option value='AL' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'AL') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Alabama</option>
<option value='AR' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'AR') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Arkansas</option>
<option value='AZ' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'AZ') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Arizona</option>
<option value='CA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'CA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>California</option>
<option value='CO' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'CO') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Colorado</option>
<option value='CT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'CT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Connecticut</option>
<option value='DC' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'DC') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>District of Columbia</option>
<option value='DE' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'DE') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Delaware</option>
<option value='FL' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'FL') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Florida</option>
<option value='GA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'GA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Georgia</option>
<option value='HI' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'HI') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Hawaii</option>
<option value='IA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'IA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Iowa</option>
<option value='ID' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'ID') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Idaho</option>
<option value='IL' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'IL') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Illinois</option>
<option value='IN' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'IN') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Indiana</option>
<option value='KS' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'KS') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Kansas</option>
<option value='KY' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'KY') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Kentucky</option>
<option value='LA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'LA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Louisiana</option>
<option value='MA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Massachusetts</option>
<option value='MD' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MD') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Maryland</option>
<option value='ME' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'ME') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Maine</option>
<option value='MI' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MI') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Michigan</option>
<option value='MN' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MN') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Minnesota</option>
<option value='MO' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MO') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Missouri</option>
<option value='MS' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MS') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Mississippi</option>
<option value='MT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Montana</option>
<option value='NC' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NC') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>North Carolina</option>
<option value='ND' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MD') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>North Dakota</option>
<option value='NE' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'ME') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Nebraska</option>
<option value='NH' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NH') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>New Hampshire</option>
<option value='NJ' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NJ') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>New Jersey</option>
<option value='NM' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NM') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>New Mexico</option>
<option value='NV' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NV') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Nevada</option>
<option value='NY' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NY') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>New York</option>
<option value='OH' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'OH') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Ohio</option>
<option value='OK' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'OK') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Oklahoma</option>
<option value='OR' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'OR') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Oregon</option>
<option value='PA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'PA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Pennsylvania</option>
<option value='PR' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'PR') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Puerto Rico</option>
<option value='RI' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'RI') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Rhode Island</option>
<option value='SC' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'SC') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>South Carolina</option>
<option value='SD' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'SD') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>South Dakota</option>
<option value='TN' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'TN') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Tennessee</option>
<option value='TX' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'TX') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Texas</option>
<option value='UT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'UT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Utah</option>
<option value='VA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'VA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Virginia</option>
<option value='VT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'VT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Vermont</option>
<option value='WA' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'WA') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Washington</option>
<option value='WI' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'WI') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Wisconsin</option>
<option value='WV' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'WV') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>West Virginia</option>
<option value='WY' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'WY') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Wyoming</option>
<option value=''>Canadian Provinces</option>
<option value='AB' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'AB') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Alberta</option>
<option value='BC' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'BC') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>British Columbia</option>
<option value='MB' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'MB') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Manitoba</option>
<option value='NB' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NB') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>New Brunswick</option>
<option value='NF' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NF') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Newfoundland</option>
<option value='NT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Northwest Territories</option>
<option value='NS' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NS') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Nova Scotia</option>
<option value='NU' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'NU') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Nunavut</option>
<option value='ON' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'ON') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Ontario</option>
<option value='PE' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'PE') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Prince Edward Island</option>
<option value='QC' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'QC') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Quebec</option>
<option value='SK' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'SK') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Saskatchewan</option>
<option value='YT' <?php if ($_POST['state'] == 'YT') echo 'selected='selected''; ?>>Yukon Territory</option>
</select>

2. in your form, where you'd normally put the <select> </select>, put

Code: Select all

<?php include ( 'myincludes/stateselect.php' );?>

that's it - the states will be included in the form, and they'll be remembered if someone puts in the wrong text for image verification.

hope that helps someone :)

Hi Rod,

This is neat - I like the idea of using and include file for this. It prompted me to go back and look to see if Joomla had a buil-in states list (it doesn't as far as i can see). However I did find some built in constructor code that lets you do this with less repetition

Code: Select all

<?php
$USStateArray = Array(
'AK' => 'Alaska',
'AL' => 'Alabama',
'AR' => 'Arkansas',
'AZ' => 'Arizona',
'CA' => 'California',
'CO' => 'Colorado',
'CT' => 'Connecticut',
'DC' => 'District of Columbia',
'DE' => 'Delaware',
'FL' => 'Florida',
'GA' => 'Georgia',
'HI' => 'Hawaii',
'IA' => 'Iowa',
'ID' => 'Idaho',
'IL' => 'Illinois',
'IN' => 'Indiana',
'KS' => 'Kansas',
'KY' => 'Kentucky',
'LA' => 'Louisiana',
'MA' => 'Massachusetts',
'MD' => 'Maryland',
'ME' => 'Maine',
'MI' => 'Michigan',
'MN' => 'Minnesota',
'MO' => 'Missouri',
'MS' => 'Mississippi',
'MT' => 'Montana',
'NC' => 'North Carolina',
'MD' => 'North Dakota',
'ME' => 'Nebraska',
'NH' => 'New Hampshire',
'NJ' => 'New Jersey',
'NM' => 'New Mexico',
'NV' => 'Nevada',
'NY' => 'New York',
'OH' => 'Ohio',
'OK' => 'Oklahoma',
'OR' => 'Oregon',
'PA' => 'Pennsylvania',
'PR' => 'Puerto Rico',
'RI' => 'Rhode Island',
'SC' => 'South Carolina',
'SD' => 'South Dakota',
'TN' => 'Tennessee',
'TX' => 'Texas',
'UT' => 'Utah',
'VA' => 'Virginia',
'VT' => 'Vermont',
'WA' => 'Washington',
'WI' => 'Wisconsin',
'WV' => 'West Virginia',
'WY' => 'Wyoming' );
foreach ( $USStateArray as $abb => $name ) {
  $options[] = mosHTML::makeOption($abb, $name);
}
$select = mosHTML::selectList($options, 'state[]', 'size='1'', 'value', 'text', $_POST['state']);
echo $select;
?>
<br />
<input name='state[]' type='hidden' />

This works in a ChronoForms form. A couple of things to notice though: (a) I used the mosHTML library (documented in the Joomla Developers Manual) really just to see if it works, you could do the same with a foreach loop to generate <option> tags. (b) to get the result into ChronoForms I had to add that dummy hidden input - it's only there so that when ChronoForms parses the HTML it finds the field name.

Bob

You mean I have to put in all this code and it's going to post the drop down answer? Do I have to build arrays?;)

Both the codes posted will work fine, just pick anyone of them, Bob used the Joomla built in functions to make the dropdown through arrays, it makes it easier to show the selected entry too!

Cheers

Max

Hi guys,

I am trying to utilize similar code in a form I am building. I would like to eventually move the array code into a PHP file so that it can be edited easily as the array of list values could change often.

Here is a simple example I tried to adapt - is there something wrong with this code? :dry:

Code: Select all

<?php
$Category = Array(
'Audio' => 'Audio',
'Blog' => 'Blog' );

foreach ( $Category as $cat => $category ) {
  $options[] = mosHTML::makeOption($cat, $category);
}
$select = mosHTML::selectList($options, 'category[]', 'size='1'', 'value', 'text', $_POST['category']);
echo $select;
?>
<br />
<input name='category[]' type='hidden' />

Hi kai920,

It looks OK to my eyeball.

What happens when you use it?

Bob

hmm nothing happens! The form becomes blank when I paste the above code in.

That's why I thought something was wrong with it...

I tried to turn on debugging in Chronoforms - but don't see any debugging info.

Oh, I should mention I am using J!1.5.x - is that why I am getting a blank form?

Hi Kai920,

Missed one, you've got confused quoted around size - should be 'size="1"' I also got a PHP notice about an undefined index. Modified code is

Code: Select all

<?php 
$Category = Array( 
'Audio' => 'Audio',
'Blog' => 'Blog' );
$options = array();
if ( !isset($_POST['category']) ) {
  $_POST['category'] = "";
}
foreach ( $Category as $cat => $category ) { 
  $options[] = mosHTML::makeOption($cat, $category); 
} 
$select = mosHTML::selectList($options, 'category[]',
  'size="1"', 'value', 'text', $_POST['category']); 
echo $select; 
?>

Bob

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your reply. Maybe I am misunderstanding what the code is supposed to do :blush:

I used the code as posted immediately above, I thought I would see a pull down list with "Audio" and "Blog"... is that not what should show up?

Or perhaps something is still wrong with the code? Because I do not see the J template, nor the submit button. Screenshot:

Hi Kai920,

Sorry trying to do two things at once I stuck it in a copy of the test form and forgot to delete the other code. I'll amend my post now. That said, I get the drop-down OK.

Bob

Could there be something wrong with my Joomla setup? Very strange : I am getting a blank screen with only the following code in the form. No Joomla template, no drop down list, nothing.

Code: Select all

<?php   
$Category = Array(   
'Audio' => 'Audio', 
'Blog' => 'Blog' ); 
$options = array();
if ( !isset($_POST['category']) ) {
  $_POST['category'] = "";
}
foreach ( $Category as $cat => $category ) {   
  $options[] = mosHTML::makeOption($cat, $category);   
}   
$select = mosHTML::selectList($options, 'category[]', 
  'size="1"', 'value', 'text', $_POST['category']);   
echo $select;   
?>
<input name='category[]' type='hidden' />

The HTML source only has one line:

<form name="ChronoContact_quotes" id="ChronoContact_quotes" method="post" action="index.php?option=com_chronocontact&task=send&chronoformname=quotes" >

Hi Kai,

It looks Ok to me - but there may still be a typo in there. Set your site to Error Reporting Maximum; comment out most of the lines of code and refresh the form, uncomment a few more lines until you find where error is.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the hint.

I set error_reporting = E_ALL and display_errors = On and finally got a meaningful error msg.

Fatal error: Class 'mosHTML' not found in /home/joomla/components/com_chronocontact/chronocontact.html.php(83) : eval()'d code on line 10

I assume Joomla 1.5.x still uses moSHTML?

Hi kai920,

I must have Legacy mode on. Try JHTML instead see here for docs.

Bob

Ah-ha! Thanks for the clarification once again :side:

I turned on the legacy bot and it works nicely now.

I did come across the api link, but found it strange there was no "selectList". Is it hidden under another class?

Never mind, found something HERE!