radio button with input value "Other"

hello,

Quick question:
How do I set up an array of radio buttons the last of which will be a input from the user (usually named "Other") ?

Hi samoht,

You set up the array of radio buttons and add an extra text input field for the 'other' entry. It's a design question whether you include an 'other' button in the array - you will need to if you are setting any default values (having a button pre-checked).

You then need to handle the display logic in the OnSubmit code - that is looking to see if there is an 'other' value entered and using that in your database or email.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Currently my array looks like:

	<tr>
		<td  colspan="2" class="noborders">
		<?php 
		// set checked field(s) for checkboxes
		$amounts = array(50,75,100,125,150,200,250,300,500,750,1000); 
		foreach ($amounts as $amount) {
			echo '<span class="cb"><input type="radio" name="checkbox[]" onclick="javascript:document.ChronoContact_newgc.otheramount.disabled=true" value="'.$amount.'" style="border:0;" ';
			if (is_array($_POST['checkbox']) && in_array($amount,$_POST['checkbox']))
				echo 'checked="checked" '; 
			elseif ( !$edit ) 
				echo 'disabled="disabled"'; 
			echo ' /> $'.$amount.'</span>'."\n";
		} 
		?> 
		</td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td  colspan="2"><span>Other Amount:  $</span>
		<input name="otheramount" type="text" value="<?php if(isset($_POST['otheramount'])) echo $_POST['otheramount'];?>" size="4"  <?php echo $readonly;?> onclick="javascript:document.ChronoContact_newgc.checkbox[].disabled=true" />
		<span>.00</span><br />
		<br />
		</td>
	</tr>

But I want to do as you say and add "Other: as my last value but then where would I put the input ??

Also, is it in the On Submit that I put the code to make the input text only accessible when the "Other" radio is active??

Hi samoht,

you will need a new field in the DB table for the other field, is this what you mean ?

Max

Hi samoht,

How you add the extra field is up to you. Most often designers add an extra text input with a label that says ' If other, please give details'.

You could add some clever JavaScript so that this field only displays once 'other' is selected; but it probably isn't necessary.

You also have to decide how to deal with the two fields in the back-end. You can simply keep them as two separate fields in the database table, or you could use some PHP to merge them. If you will ever need to re-display the form for editing then I'd keep all the raw data i.e. use two fields; otherwise you will have to write code to undo the merged values to re-create the form data.

Bob

Thanks guys!

You put me on the right track for sure.
I decided not to merge the two fields but just to have a separate text field for storage reasons. I made the calculation simplified by conditionals on the text field rather than the radio's. I also threw in some js to disable and clear the text field if any other radio was picked + code to check the "Other" radio if the text field has focus. It seems pretty foolproof and it stores and calculates well.

Thanks again!