Form values return blank

Haha left it for awhile and did other stuff now I have to sort this out. Pretty stuck here. I created the form and database etc. I created the php code to connect and retrieve the information, however the values return blank. Although some sort of info is still submitted as the sno field gets updated everytime I submit. Only the sno field with its auto increment has a value the rest of the fields remain blank.
For now I have a seperate form (student_reg.php) and a file with the code (demo.php) know its not the right structure but its only for now until I get it working.

Heres my html form student_reg.php

Language: PHP
<div id="apdiv3">
 
<FORM action = "demo.php" method ="post ">
 
<p>Course name:</p>
<INPUT TYPE = "text"  name="input"/> 
<INPUT TYPE = "Submit" VALUE = "Submit"/>
</div>
</FORM>

and heres my php code. The connection to the database is successful, it just doesn't return the values I submit in the form to the database but picks up that something is being submitted as the sno field gets updated each time I submit.

Language: PHP
<?PHP
 
 
include ';includes/config.php';;
 
		//connect to database
$link=mysql_connect(DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD);
 
 
 
		//error check
if (!$link)
{
	die(';could not connect: '; . mysql_error());
}
 
$db_selected=mysql_select_db(DB_NAME, $link);
 
 
 
		// error check
if (!$db_selected)
{
	die(';can\t use '; . DB_NAME . ';: '; . mysql_error());
}
		// Connected to database
 
 
 
		// retrieve form data
$value=(isset($_POST[';input';]));
 
$sql = "INSERT INTO student (sname) VALUES (';$value';)";
 
 
if (!mysql_query($sql)) 
{
	die (';Error: '; . mysql_error());
}
mysql_close();
 
 
?>

I used to get a notice "undefined index" originating from my "$value=(isset($_POST['input']));" line. However, that dissapeared
when adding "isset" to the line. Don't know If that solved a problem or is just hiding it but just thought I'd share.

Hope someone can help kinda stuck here.

Always do a test for yourself

Language: PHP
$value=(isset($_POST[';input';]));
echo "test $value"; //if the value is received and set then it will echo test + value, else just test +. Then you know where you shoud check.

I always say use a full query

Language: PHP
$sql = "INSERT INTO student VALUES (';';, ';$sname';, $fname';, etc.......)"; //ensure you include each column, with '; '; for the auto-increment

Thanks Mac for the tips, yeah I plan on using a full query. For now I just wanted to use 1 field to see if the information is sent through and working properly. I spent so much time trying to figure out the problem on my php code, basicly redid the whole "retrieve data" part of my code so many times and ended up that my problem was in my html form of all places. Forgot to add a name="submit" and had a space in my method e.g method="POST ". Although I never knew html was that case sensitive and picked up on spaces :/ But yeah should be fine.. for now

Hi Mac,

Just catching up on forum posts I missed. So my current code for inserting goes something like this

Language: PHP
$sql = INSERT INTO student (sname, fname, etc...) VALUES (';$sname';, ';$fname';, etc...);

I see you suggest adding a value for every column, even the auto increments. Should it rather be something like this?

Language: PHP
$sql = INSERT INTO student (sno, sname, fname, etc...) VALUES ('; ';, ';$sname';, ';$fname';, etc...);

Yes. I would drop the (sno, sname etc) as well. It is a personal preference, but it has served me well over the years.

Language: PHP
$sql = INSERT INTO student VALUES ('; ';, ';$sname';, ';$fname';, etc...);