I have 3 dynamic select menus in form but when submit when error - selection is lost

Question

Hi does anybody know how to make these select menus stay
other than using javascript?
I have looked on the internet for a looooong time for this
and have no further knowledge.
I can however get it to stay selected in an update record but
not in an insert record. I have tried changing the recordset but it
doesn't work.....
Help please it is frustrating...........especially for users
of the form I want them to use...........

Answer 1

Thanks for your reply.
I don't use javascript and the error checking I use is php.
The menus I use are quite large so I have placed them
dynamically within the form:<select name="stateCode"
class="textarea">
<?php
do {
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_state['code']?>"
><?php echo $row_state['stateCode']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_state = mysql_fetch_assoc($state));
?>
</select>
There are three of these, one for location, one for category
and one for industry.
They aren't connected for a series of dropdowns, just in the
form.
Can I please ask you about the <?=$option1;?> I have
seen this in other forms.
I was wondering wouldn't you need to have <?php echo
.$option1;?>.
Still learning about this fabulous php. I have left it for a
while do learn other things and now am trying to catch up where I
left off.
I don't understand the difference between having
<?=......?> and <?php echo.....?>
I have seen some forms use e.g. <?=$add;?> in a
textarea or checkbox where $add is the variable for error checking.
Thanks again for your help.