DataASssist Search Wizard

Dear Jason,
Almost there!
I have created a search field/box on my results page and it works fine. However, if you press submit when the box is 'blank/empty' it displays all the records - which shouldn't happen if the box is 'blank/empty'.

How can I get this to display a message saying something like - "No results - you must enter search criteria in search box'.

I would also like to have a separate button that if pressed would show all records.

I hope that makes sense.

The search works as a filter, so without a filter the default is to return no results.

If you wanted a blank search to return no results, one option might be to automatically populate with a value that would have no result on the top of the results page:

<?php
if (isset($_POST['keywords"]) && $_POST['keywords"] == "") {
  $_POST['keywords"] = "zznoresultszz";
}
?>

if this was added to the top of your results page and a field named "keywords" was submitted in your search it would search for "zznoresultszz" instead of a blank search and would return no results.

Thanks, that worked - excellent. Just wondering, what about a 'show all records' button.

Thanks, that worked - excellent. Just wondering, what about a 'show all records' button. See attached for what I mean.

You could probably add a url parameter in your show all link like:

<a href="results.php?showall=1">show all</a>

Then on the top of the results page add code:

What are you using for the trigger for your filter on the results page? Assuming it is the button named "submitButtonName"

<?php
if (isset($_GET['showall'])) {
$_POST['submitButtonName'] = 1;
}
?>

Thanks for that. It's early morning here - Ill give it a go tomorrow.

Dear Ray, I replaced 'submitButtonName' with 'WADbSearch1' which is the name on the submit button, and it worked. So thanks once again for that.

Trying to use the following directions to restrict the results when no search criteria is chosen. I added this to my results page and I get an error message when I do so. Also, not sure I understand what field keywords need to be added to. Can you further explain because I'm trying to accomplish the same thing.

Thanks

The search works as a filter, so without a filter the default is to return no results.

If you wanted a blank search to return no results, one option might be to automatically populate with a value that would have no result on the top of the results page:


Code:
<?php
if (isset($_POST['keywords"]) && $_POST['keywords"] == "") {
$_POST['keywords"] = "zznoresultszz";
}
?>if this was added to the top of your results page and a field named "keywords" was submitted in your search it would search for "zznoresultszz" instead of a blank search and would return no results.

in the example code, there is a form element named keywords and the search form is posting to the results page using the POST method.


the idea is to use an if statement to see if the keywords form element in the search form is blank:
if (isset($_POST['keywords"]) && $_POST['keywords"] == "") {


if it is left blank in the search form, then set the value to a nonsensical value that wouldn't appear in your database:

$_POST['keywords"] = "zznoresultszz";

this will cause the search to look for a value that doesn't exist, thus returning no records.

Still can't get this to work. When I add the code at the top of the page I get an error message. I also add the keyword in a hidden field on the search page. Maybe I'm missing something obvious but can't get it to work. Can you provide a more detailed instruction.