Hi,

Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to automatically
submit a set of data to an online form using PHP? These are basic HTML forms
with text fields and option lists, and the form method is Post. I would like
to automate the submission process. Do I need to set up a dummy form on a
page of my own with the same input fields, populate their values, and then
use the action of the form I am trying to submit to? Or is there another
way?

Many thanks.

--
James

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:27:38 GMT, James A wrote...
>
>Hi,
>
>Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to automatically
>submit a set of data to an online form using PHP? These are basic HTML forms
>with text fields and option lists, and the form method is Post. I would like
>to automate the submission process. Do I need to set up a dummy form on a
>page of my own with the same input fields, populate their values, and then
>use the action of the form I am trying to submit to? Or is there another
>way?
>
>Many thanks.
>
>


I'm not sure if I understand your question. You can use a web form to send data
to a program (the action setting) to be processed. You normally have to input
data into a form before it is submitted, so I'm not sure what you are trying to
automate?

Tom
--
NewsGuy Accounts Go Jumbo!
Extra NewsGuy increased from 30 to 50 GB of download capacity
http://newsguy.com/overview.htm

"Tom" <tom@to.com> wrote in message news:fi1v0h021h5@drn.newsguy.com...
> On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:27:38 GMT, James A wrote...
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to
>>automatically
>>submit a set of data to an online form using PHP? These are basic HTML
>>forms
>>with text fields and option lists, and the form method is Post. I would
>>like
>>to automate the submission process. Do I need to set up a dummy form on a
>>page of my own with the same input fields, populate their values, and then
>>use the action of the form I am trying to submit to? Or is there another
>>way?
>>
>>Many thanks.
>>
>
> I'm not sure if I understand your question. You can use a web form to send
> data
> to a program (the action setting) to be processed. You normally have to
> input
> data into a form before it is submitted, so I'm not sure what you are
> trying to
> automate?
>
> Tom
> --
> NewsGuy Accounts Go Jumbo!
> Extra NewsGuy increased from 30 to 50 GB of download capacity
> http://newsguy.com/overview.htm
>

Hi, apologies for not clarifying this very well. The forms are on
third-party websites that I have no control of. Until now I have had to
enter the data on those forms by hand. Instead of that I want to submit the
data to those forms automatically using code. The data to populate the forms
is in a database and I can retrieve it fine. I'm just not sure how to submit
it to the forms on those sites. Thanks.

--
James

James A wrote:

>
> Hi, apologies for not clarifying this very well. The forms are on
> third-party websites that I have no control of. Until now I have had to
> enter the data on those forms by hand. Instead of that I want to submit the
> data to those forms automatically using code. The data to populate the forms
> is in a database and I can retrieve it fine. I'm just not sure how to submit
> it to the forms on those sites. Thanks.
>
> --
> James
>
>

It seems you want to flood some third party website. And you are seeking
benevolent for that.

"Animesh K" <animesh1978@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fi208j$phb$1@agate.berkeley.edu...
> James A wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi, apologies for not clarifying this very well. The forms are on
>> third-party websites that I have no control of. Until now I have had to
>> enter the data on those forms by hand. Instead of that I want to submit
>> the data to those forms automatically using code. The data to populate
>> the forms is in a database and I can retrieve it fine. I'm just not sure
>> how to submit it to the forms on those sites. Thanks.
>>
>> --
>> James
>
> It seems you want to flood some third party website. And you are seeking
> benevolent for that.

Just wondering why you assume that? I simply spend 15 minutes of my time
each day entering data into a form on a set of 6 news submission websites,
data that I already have in a MySQL db, and would like to automate the
process with some PHP glue. If a friendly coder would like to assist that
would be great, thanks!

--
James

James A wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to automatically
> submit a set of data to an online form using PHP? These are basic HTML forms
> with text fields and option lists, and the form method is Post. I would like
> to automate the submission process. Do I need to set up a dummy form on a
> page of my own with the same input fields, populate their values, and then
> use the action of the form I am trying to submit to? Or is there another
> way?
>
> Many thanks.
>
> --
> James
>
>
>

James,

Check out the cURL extension to PHP. It will do what you want.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

"Jerry Stuckle" <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:u7KdnW4ks94MCtnanZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> James A wrote:
>> Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to
>> automatically submit a set of data to an online form using PHP?>>
<snip>
>
> Check out the cURL extension to PHP. It will do what you want.
>
> --
> ==================
> Remove the "x" from my email address
> Jerry Stuckle
> JDS Computer Training Corp.
> jstucklex@attglobal.net
> ==================
>

Many thanks, Jerry. That looks ideal.

--
James

"Jerry Stuckle" <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:u7KdnW4ks94MCtnanZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> James A wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Could someone please suggest the basic steps I need to take to
>> automatically submit a set of data to an online form using PHP? These are
>> basic HTML forms with text fields and option lists, and the form method
>> is Post. I would like to automate the submission process. Do I need to
>> set up a dummy form on a page of my own with the same input fields,
>> populate their values, and then use the action of the form I am trying to
>> submit to? Or is there another way?
>>
>> Many thanks.
>>
>> --
>> James
>>
>>
>>
>
> James,
>
> Check out the cURL extension to PHP. It will do what you want.
>
> --
> ==================
> Remove the "x" from my email address
> Jerry Stuckle
> JDS Computer Training Corp.
> jstucklex@attglobal.net
> ==================
>