postcode finder

[karloff]

Trying to setup a simple postcode search in a site.

Basically, I want the user to enter their postcode into a form which then will check to see if that area is available.

Eg:

User enters : fa21 2e3


I want to check if the fa21 matchesa list of postcode which range from fa1 to fa39.

How is this possible? thanks

[alexgeek]

Form:

HTML: Select all

<form action="handle.php">
<input type="text" name="postcode" />
<input type="submit" />
</form>

PHP: Select all

$pcode = $_REQUEST['postcode'];
$validpcodes = array('np23 nf3', 'nog2 0od'); // add more valid postcodes
if(in_array($pcode, $validpcodes)) 
{
// is valid
} 
else 
{
//not valid
} 

[Daniel]

How would that check if it was available?

You'd need a database and you'd want to get it to check against the database.

[karloff]

i have got a databse with lots of postcode, however how do i query on a few?

thanks guys

[alexgeek]

PHP: Select all

$validpcodes = array();
//connect to db
$result = mysql_query("SELECT postcode FROM postcodetable");
while($arr = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
{ 
$validpcodes[] = $arr['postcode'];
} 

[karloff]

ok so i've got this far, but i must be mixing up the variable, can some tell me what i'm doing wrong

PHP: Select all

<?php

    
$validpcodes = array();
//connect to db
function get_db_connection(){
      //connection parameters
        $db_host = '???;
        $db_userid = '???';
        $db_password = '???';
        $db_default_database = '??';
        
      //throw fatal error if couldn't connect to mysql
        if (! @mysql_connect($db_host, $db_userid, $db_password) ){
            trigger_error('get_db_connection(): mysql_connect failed - '.mysql_error(), E_USER_ERROR);
            echo('get_db_connection(): mysql_connect failed - '.mysql_error());
        }

      //throw fatal error if couldn't select correct (DEFAULT) database
        if (! @mysql_select_db($db_default_database) ){
            trigger_error('get_db_connection(): mysql_select_db failed - '.mysql_error(), E_USER_ERROR);
            echo('get_db_connection(): mysql_select_db failed - '.mysql_error());
        }
    }
    
$result = mysql_query("SELECT outcode FROM geg_postcode_table");
while($arr = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
{ 
$validpcodes[] = $arr['outcode'];
} 
$pcode = $_REQUEST['postcode'];
$pcode = array($arr); // add more valid postcodes
if(in_array($pcode, $arr)) 
{
echo 'yes';
} 
else 
{
echo 'no';
}

and getting these errors

Warning: mysql_query() [function.mysql-query]: Access denied for user 'ODBC'@'localhost' (using password: NO) in ....coverage.php on line 26

Warning: mysql_query() [function.mysql-query]: A link to the server could not be established in ...coverage.php on line 26

Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in ..coverage.php on line 27

Warning: in_array() [function.in-array]: Wrong datatype for second argument in ...coverage.php on line 33
no

[Marc]

PHP: Select all

 $db_host = ???; 

you need to close the '

like:

PHP: Select all

  $db_host = '???'; 

[alexgeek]

Also this:

PHP: Select all

$pcode = $_REQUEST['postcode'];
$pcode = array($arr); // add more valid postcodes 

Should just be:

PHP: Select all

$pcode = $_REQUEST['postcode']; 

[karloff]

1st prob was just a mistake when i was taking out my database pw, etc.

fixed the 2nd one but still no joy, thought it was a connection problem but tested database with another script and it worked fine

these lines seem to be throwing up the probs

$result = mysql_query("SELECT outcode FROM geg_postcode_table");

while($arr = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))

if(in_array($pcode, $arr))

[alexgeek]

Supposed to be:

PHP: Select all

if(in_array($pcode, $validpcodes)) 

[karloff]

fixed the last 2 probs but still having truble connecting, really strange

[alexgeek]

Post errors.

[karloff]

just foubd out that the database i was accessing was incomplete and have had to re-think (temp) my plans, tryin to ue your origional script alex but no matter what postcode i enter it always comes back saying no?

PHP: Select all

<?php

$pcode = $_REQUEST['postcode'];
$validpcodes = array('G1', 'G11', 'G12', 'G13', 'G14', 'G15', 'G2', 'G20', 'G21', 'G22', 'G23', 'G3', 'G31', 'G32', 'G33', 'G34', 'G4', 'G40', 'G41', 'G42', 'G43', 'G44', 'G45', 'G46', 'G5', 'G51', 'G52', 'G53', 'G60', 'G61', 'G62', 'G63', 'G64', 'G65', 'G66', 'G67', 'G68', 'G69', 'G71', 'G72', 'G73', 'G74', 'G76', 'G77', 'G78', 'G81', 'G82', 'G83', 'G84', ); // add more valid postcodes
if(in_array($pcode, $validpcodes)) 
{
// is valid
echo 'yes';
} 
else 
{
//not valid
echo 'no';
} 
?>

any idea why?

[karloff]

sorted, was case sensitive!! doh, easy fix. cheers again Alex

[Marc]

Haha.. Yeah.. PHP is case-senSitIvE

[alexgeek]

Glad you have that sorted