RE: [PHP] How to make a form retain its info

> An even better way is to output a new form on the second page > where all the data is already filled in (using the variables that > was sent) And maybe a little red star or something to point out > what was filled in incorrectly. > So that they can change it and submit it again.. Except that why should a subsequent page have to know anything about the preceeding page? The answer is that it shouldn't and in doing this, you are just doubling the amount of code you have (the initial code on the first page and then the same code on the second page in case the use has an error). I like to make all form pages as modular as possible and as such, they only know about and process their own form elements. When the form is submitted, it comes back to itself (form action=$PHP_SELF) to validate the element values and insert/update the database as needed. If everything is all good, the user is directed to the next page (along with any necessary variables as GET) otherwise the code drops down to redisplay the form along with the values that were entered by the user. On a slight tangent, Jay Bloodworth's FormClass is an invaluable tool when working with Forms and is highly useful in a situation like this as it has a mechanic built in to validate your form elements so you don't have to. Bearing the above in mind, 99% of all my form pages look some- thing like this: ------------ // I define all my form elements here using JB's FormClass include( "form_definition.data" ) if( isset( $submit_button )) { ok = validateFormVariables if( ok ) { update_database_query ok = mysql( update_database_query ) if( ok ) { header( "location: page2.php3?var1=$var1&var2=$var2" ); exit(); } } print error message here - error from form validate or error from db query } print form out here ---------- That way, each page only knows about itself and you don't have to duplicate code all over the place. This has worked well for me for over 2 years and 10+ major websites, so that's got to say something. DISCLAIMER: as always, YMMV Chris