What about using a multiple select?
<select name="dependencies" size="5" multiple="multiple">
Sorry, Davey, but I really think that's bogus. What do you need correct
typing of package names for?
I contend this doesn't even need to be collected, as it already exists in the package.xml file.
XPATH to the dependencies:
/package/release/deps/dep
Couldn't this simply be parsed out and then displayed? Why keep data in multiple places? Plus if it is collected from the package.xml file, it could introduce an other check for the package.
Unless I missed something in the process, if I did, feel free to correct me. :)
By the way,
http://preview.pear.php.net/ takes me to PEAR, not to the preview.
When preview comes back online, I'll be sure to check it out.
-Greg M.