$variables when retrieving cgi params

basm101 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi monks,

I'd like to know if it's possible to retrieve params from a form
like this:

$get = $cgi->param('$item');
[download]

where $item is set to value1 then value2 then value3 etc.
It doesn't seem to retrieve whether or not the box is checked :( If I use this:

$get = $cgi->param('value1');
[download]

there is no problem.
value1, value2 etc. are names of checkboxes in the first cgi page.
Pressing submit calls a second cgi where I want to retrieve on/off values for the checkboxes.
Maybe I can't use $ variables in the param call. Anyone ?

thanx,
basm101

Comment on $variables when retrieving cgi params Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: $variables when retrieving cgi params by davorg (Chancellor) on Apr 07, 2003 at 15:35 UTC
Variables aren't expanded in single-quoted strings. You want: `$get = $cgi->param($item);` -- <http://www.dave.org.uk> "The first rule of Perl club is you do not talk about Perl club." -- Chip Salzenberg	[reply] [d/l]
Re: $variables when retrieving cgi params by derby (Abbot) on Apr 07, 2003 at 15:37 UTC
try `$get = $cgi->param($item);` [download] notice no single quotes. The single quotes prevent variable interpolation and hence you were trying to retrieve a param actually named $item. -derby	[reply] [d/l]
Re: $variables when retrieving cgi params by Ovid (Cardinal) on Apr 07, 2003 at 16:40 UTC
A useful snippet to gather all form values from variable names: `my %form_data = map { $_ => form_data($cgi,$_) } @form_names; sub form_data { my ($cgi,$name) = @_; my @data = $cgi->param($_); return $#data ? \@data : $data[0]; }` [download] If there is only one value for a name, it is returned as a scalar. If there are multiple values, it's returned as an array reference. Cheers, Ovid New address of my CGI Course. Silence is Evil (feel free to copy and distribute widely - note copyright text)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: $variables when retrieving cgi params by Juerd (Abbot) on Apr 07, 2003 at 15:41 UTC
value1, value2 etc. are names of checkboxes in the first cgi page. `<input type=checkbox name=value value=foo> foo<br> <input type=checkbox name=value value=bar> bar<br> <input type=checkbox name=value value=baz> baz ...` [download] `my @values = $cgi->param('value');` [download] Please note that 'value' is not very descriptive. Consider changing it to something useful. Juerd - http://juerd.nl/ - spamcollector_perlmonks@juerd.nl (do not use).	[reply] [d/l] [select]