PHP/mySQL code help please

Question

Hi all,
Thanks to David Powers fab tutorial I am now well on my way to competeing my first dynamique website using PHP/mySQL, (thanks David ), however I am stuck on one particular area....can anyone please help?
I know that the mySQL database uses the format YYYY/MM/DD for dates, and that is fine. I've sorted out how to display in a more regular format (eg. 1st September 2011) for my application, but I am stuck on how to convert a more regular formatted date entered by the site user into the mySQL format.
Ideally I would like for the users entry or say either 1/9/11 or 1-9-11 (or something along those lines, to be recognised and displayed on the entry form, but to have a backend function that converts the data to mySQL format. I seem to be reading plenty of forum posts which say this can be done, but unfortunately I can't quite seem to fathom how, or where the code should sit. Would someone mind taking a look at my code page to actually identify what I need to insert, and equally as importantly...where!!!
Along these lines...is it possible to have a mini-calendar date picker that could be embedded next to the date entry field to ensure that a valid date is entered and in the correct format? Where could this be sourced?
Thanks in advance of some much needed help
Mark

Answer 1

This is becoming really frustrating for me (so god knows how I am to you!!!!), but I usually pick things up so fast and yet this whole PHP/SQL thing is eluding me!!
I can see (I think) how the code would work, but am struggling to see where it fits into place with my own Dreamweaver 'Update Record' code, as follows. I have spent a couple of days trawling through PHP.net and various other sites and forums before bringing my stupidity to the public domain, but I just can't seem to crack it.
This one last time then i'll leave you in peace??????
<?php
if (!function_exists("GetSQLValueString")) {
function GetSQLValueString($theValue, $theType, $theDefinedValue = "", $theNotDefinedValue = "")
  if (PHP_VERSION < 6) {
    $theValue = get_magic_quotes_gpc() ? stripslashes($theValue) : $theValue;
  $theValue = function_exists("mysql_real_escape_string") ? mysql_real_escape_string($theValue) : mysql_escape_string($theValue);
  switch ($theType) {
    case "text":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;   
    case "long":
    case "int":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? intval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "double":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? doubleval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "date":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "defined":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? $theDefinedValue : $theNotDefinedValue;
      break;
  return $theValue;
$editFormAction = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
if (isset($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
  $editFormAction .= "?" . htmlentities($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
if ((isset($_POST["MM_update"])) && ($_POST["MM_update"] == "form1")) {
    $updateSQL = sprintf("UPDATE gig_guide SET `date`=%s, town=%s, venue=%s, private_or_public=%s, start_time=%s WHERE `index`=%s",
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['date'], "date"),
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['town'], "text"),
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['venue'], "text"),
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['type'], "text"),
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['start_time'], "text"),
                       GetSQLValueString($_POST['index'], "int"));
  mysql_select_db($database_online, $online);
  $Result1 = mysql_query($updateSQL, $online) or die(mysql_error());
  $updateGoTo = "index.php";
  if (isset($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
    $updateGoTo .= (strpos($updateGoTo, '?')) ? "&" : "?";
    $updateGoTo .= $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
  header(sprintf("Location: %s", $updateGoTo));
$colname_updatePost = "-1";
if (isset($_GET['index'])) {
  $colname_updatePost = $_GET['index'];