Passing variables to multiple pages

Hey guys,
I'm having a bit of a problem with sending variables across two+ pages.

My first page (the form) is where the user inputs their information.

Page two is where $variable=$_POST['variable'] and echo "You have said $variable";

Page three is where I'm having trouble.
I want page three to also have the echo "You have said $variable"; along with another form.

Page four then gathers all the $variables then INSERTs INTO database VALUES.

Doesn't make sense? I made a picture that may make more sense. I hope the text isn't too small

Attached Images

php problem.GIF (10.1 KB, 14 views)

you need to use sessions.

put session_start() at the start of every page, and define $_SESSION['variable'] as $_POST['variable'], instead of just $variable.

here's a dummy example i just set up to get ie6 treating session variables properly:

index.php
page2.php
you'd just define the $_SESSION variables on page 2 instead of 1.

as for the ie6 thing, turn session.use_trans_sid on in your php.ini. ie 6 will start a new session every page load otherwise, because microsoft builds bad products.

Yeah your best bet is sessions but be sure to unset the session after you are done using it. If you are putting sensitive data into the session, it can be manipulated by "others".

Derek:
I did it and I got a series of errors

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php:13) in C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php on line 15

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent (output started at C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php:13) in C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php on line 15

Dark: How do I do that?

I'm a COMPLETE noob when it comes to PHP. If the answer is really obvious then I'm sorry.

Originally Posted by majorglory Derek: I did it and I got a series of errors Dark: How do I do that? I'm a COMPLETE noob when it comes to PHP. If the answer is really obvious then I'm sorry.

For the first problem, I would try wrapping the session stuff with the output buffering functions ob_start() and ob_end_flush().

Example:

For the second problem, session_destroy() or session_unset() should do the trick. You could also change the values of each $_SESSION index to "" (ie. $_SESSION['hello'] = ""). That would work too.

Originally Posted by majorglory Derek: I did it and I got a series of errors

you've got to start the session before you output anything to the browser. it's best to do it right after you set the <?php tag.

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php:13) in C:\wamp\www\contacts\app.php on line 15

you get this error because something's already been sent to the browser. you've either echoed/printed something, or you included an external file that writes to the browser, like an html include.

you can use the $_SESSION variables anytime through the script, but you have to declare it right at the beginning.

You could simply use hidden form fields for the values you already have.

^ Thats what I was thinking, but I figured it was an uncommon way to go. Would that method still be acceptable as a valid way of doing it?

Thanks all for the replies. Since I only work on this at the office, I'll come back tomorrow morning with the results.

Before I tried anything, I tried Creative's idea first. It worked out fine so I never got around to touching the sessions idea.

Thanks all for your help! I feel I'll be back real soon though with another problem.

Just to get back to your question. Yes, there's nothing wrong with doing it that way. The hidden form fields would only contain contents that the user actually submitted themselves therefore there's nothing wrong with doing it that way. I would however not store passwords in the hidden form fields though.