Dynamic input fields for database insert

Question

I'm working on a project where the user will get an online form they have to fill out with items. I have many different labels for personal data and one label for the item name, that they will have to select from a dropdown (items come from the database).

<label id="first">Item name</label><br/>
<select name="itemname" required>
    <?php 
    $sql = mysqli_query($con, "SELECT name FROM items");
    while ($row = $sql->fetch_assoc()){
        $naziv = $row['name'];
    echo '<option value="'.$naziv .'">'.$naziv .'</option>';
    }
    ?>
</select><br/>

Now this code is working perfectly, and I also have a quantity field for it. Now, I don't have a clue how I could add the option to add multiple input fields without having to declare many more database columns and separate inputs for each one. Could I somehow do this dinamically?

Are you talking about creating a list of <input> tags, each with a <label>? If so, how about creating a database table called "inputs"? — terrymorse
– terrymorse, Commented Apr 10, 2020 at 15:51
Each form has a field named Item name and Item quantity. Item name has a dropdown of all items. I'm trying to add like 15 fields for both of them without having to have 15 columns for it in my database. Database: id, itemname, itemquantity, date, personaldata... — Matic
– Matic, Commented Apr 10, 2020 at 16:45
You have multiple forms? What is the source for these 15 fields? Still confused. Can you post an example of the completed HTML? — terrymorse
– terrymorse, Commented Apr 10, 2020 at 21:01
I currently don't have my files with me but imagine, that a user has a reciept where they enter personal data. On the reciept they enter a maximum of 15 items but a minimum of 1. The source for them is a database with all items, and the fields should post their content to the database. I'm not sure how to form a database for allowing multiple items on one reciept that users can input. — Matic
– Matic, Commented Apr 11, 2020 at 8:24

Mr Lister · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-12 14:53:56Z

0

You want a database structure that permits receipts that can contain multiple items.

You need multiple tables.

Create a new table called 'receipts':

TABLE receipts: id, (...personal data)

Add a field to the items table called "receipt_id".

TABLE items: id, receipt_id, itemname, itemquantity, date

You should also have a separate table to contain the available item names, which you use to populate the <select>, above:

TABLE itemnames: id, name, (description?)

edited Apr 12, 2020 at 14:53

Mr Lister

46.8k15 gold badges118 silver badges156 bronze badges

answered Apr 11, 2020 at 17:03

terrymorse

7,1561 gold badge23 silver badges31 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Matic Over a year ago

I've been thinking in this direction but how could I implement this on the html form? For example, the user can click a + sign to add more items?

terrymorse Over a year ago

You'll need to write a JavaScript function that adds new inputs to the form.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Dynamic input fields for database insert

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related