PHP header not redirecting when using forms

Question

I'm doing form validation using a PHP script. I initially wrote this code in 2007 but now it just stopped working, and I've been trying to figure out why.

Here's the code:

<?php
$error_msg = '';

// Only Validate Form when it is submitted
if (isset($formSubmit)) {
   if (!isset($_SESSION["First_Name"])) {
     $get_mbr_id = urlencode ($_POST["GetMbrID"]);
     $_SESSION["MemberID"] = $get_mbr_id;
     }

   if (!headers_sent()) {
     header ("Location: mywebsite.com");
     exit (0);
     }
}

if (isset($formExit)) {
  if (!headers_sent()) {
    header ('Location: mywebsiteexit.com');
    exit (0);
    }
}
?>
<html><head></head><body>
<form name="select_action" method="POST" action="select_action">
<br>
<center>
<input type="submit" name="formSubmit" value="Next">
<input type="reset" name="fieldReset" value="Reset">
<input type="submit" name="formExit" value="Cancel">
</center>
</form></body></html>

If the HTML form code is present, then the header redirect doesn't work.

However, if I remove the HTML form code, change the if(isset(formSubmit)) statement to if(!isset(formSubmit)), then the header redirect will work.

I can't figure what is happening with the form code that causes the header() redirect not to happen.

Any help would be appreciated!

Have you tried printing the contents of $formSubmit through var_dump() or the likes? It sounds like you (or your host) disabled the register_globals setting. — Duroth
– Duroth, Commented Jan 20, 2010 at 15:29
That's not going to solve your problem, but any rate, the RFC for HTTP states that the Location header expects a full URL, like http://www.example.com/. — zneak
– zneak, Commented Jan 20, 2010 at 15:29
+1 zneak. Not just an academic concern; browsers do unexpected things with relative URLs, and certainly if you're expecting Location: mywebsiteexit.com to actually go to the site http://mywebsiteexit.com/, that will never happen. — bobince
– bobince, Commented Jan 20, 2010 at 15:59

erenon · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-20 15:29:04Z

3

You have to check for posts data in the $_POST superglobal. Register_globals has turned off.

if (isset($_POST['formSubmit'])) {
//etc.

answered Jan 20, 2010 at 15:29

erenon

19.2k2 gold badges65 silver badges97 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Marius Over a year ago

If you have updated your PHP, then this is most likely what is wrong. In old versions of PHP you could use $formSubmit to access variables in the post, but due to security reasons this was changed. You can still enable it in the php.ini file, but it is depreciated, and in future versions that won't be possible.

StumpClassic Over a year ago

That was exactly the problem. Register_globals has turned off. Changed the code to the superglobal and works fine. Thanks folks! Really appreciate it! This was driving me crazy!

Elitmiar · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-20 16:11:46Z

0

Make 100% dure there isn't a blank line at the top before the

answered Jan 20, 2010 at 16:11

Elitmiar

37.3k77 gold badges183 silver badges234 bronze badges

1 Comment

StumpClassic Over a year ago

I am 100% sure there isn't a blank line at the top. I've read through numerous articles about the possibility of headers being sent, but that's not the case here.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP header not redirecting when using forms

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related