I have been struggling with the validation plugin for a while. And I
finally got it to work. As a result I created a multi-purpose lookup
script. I hope this comes in handy for someone else. This script can
be used for the validation plugin or for returning field values back
to your jquery event. The script is quite short and I provided some
documentation and examles below the code. It is only meant to find 1
record, but you can enhance for your needs.
LOOKUP.PHP
<?
include("config.php");
$table = $_POST["table"];
$key = $_POST["key"];
$value = $_POST["value"];
$failmsg = (isset($_POST["failmsg"]) ? $_POST["failmsg"] : $value.":
Not Found in TABLE: ".$table." for KEY: ".$key);
$successmsg = (isset($_POST["successmsg"]) ? $_POST["successmsg"] :
$value.": Found in TABLE: ".$table." for KEY: ".$key);
$fields = (isset($_POST["return_fields"]) ? $_POST["return_fields"] :
"*");
$sql="SELECT $fields FROM $table WHERE $key='$value'" ;
$result=mysql_query($sql);
if (mysql_num_rows($result) > 0) {
if ($fields == "*") {
print_r($successmsg);
} else {
$successmsg = mysql_fetch_assoc($result);
print_r("data=".json_encode($successmsg));
}
} else {echo $failmsg; };
?>
<?
/*
This lookup file is a multi-purpose lookup function.
It is meant to work with a POST transaction.
This file makes the assumption that you already have a DB CONNECTION.
I make my connection in CONFIG.PHP
There are 3 mandatory parameters that need to be set prior to the
POST.
TABLE is mandatory. We need to know which table to perform the
lookup on.
KEY is mandatory. We need to know which fieldname we will be
searching on.
VALUE is mandatory. We need to know what we are looking or in the
KEY field.
FAILMSG is optional. Unless you are using this function for
validation. see VALIDATION below.
SUCCESSMSG is optional. Unless you are using this function for
validation. see VALIDATION below.
FIELDS is optional. If you set this to anything but "*" it will
override the SUCCESSMSG
and return the results as a JSON encoded
string.
If you send comma delimited string of field
names.
There are 3 options for this paramter.
1. Dont send it at all.
2. Send it as "*", which is same as not
sending it.
3. Send a comma delimited string of valid
field names.
USING IT FOR VALIDATION
When using it to check for duplicate values with jquery validation
plugin...
You want to have the incoming msg parameters set as (failmsg =
"true" , successmsg = "false")
Its a little reverse logic because when you are checking for
duplicates you really dont want to find anything.
EXAMPLE:
USERNAME check for duplicates. useful for registration form.
var validator = $("#myform").validate({
rules: {
username: {required: true,
minlength: 4,
remote: {url:"lookup.php",
type : "post",
data: {table:"members",
failmsg:"true",
successmsg:"false",
key:"username",
value:function(){return $("#username").val
(); }
}
}
},
messages: {
username: {required: "Enter a username",
minlength: jQuery.format("Enter at least
{0} characters"),
remote : "it already exists"
}
},
[MORE VALIDATION RULES GO HERE]
});
USING IT FOR RETURNING DATA
You can also use this function to lookup a key value and return field
values as a JSON encoded string.
EXAMPLE:
ZIP CODE LOOKUP - User enters ZIPCODE and we populate the CITY and
STATE.
IMPORTANT!: This example assumes that the ZIPCODE field name is
identical in your current form/table and the ZIPCODES table.
otherwise LOOKUPKEY would have to be set manually.
$("#zipcode").blur(function(){
var lookupkey = $(this).attr("name");
var lookupvalue = $(this).val();
var valid_img = '<img src="/global_libs/images/icons/
checked.gif">';
var error_img = '<img src="/global_libs/images/icons/
unchecked.gif">';
$.post('lookup.php', {table : "zipcodes", key : lookupkey, value :
lookupvalue, return_fields : "city,state" }, function(data){
eval(data);
$("#city").val(data.city);
$("#state").val(data.state);
});
});
*/
?>
