Search form Submit button returns whole database instead selected fields

Simply put, you aren't restricting the query you are sending to the database.
SELECT * FROM members
selects everything. You need to add a where clause and pass in whatever value you want to use as a criteria. For example, to get members in a particular ZIP code:
SELECT * FROM members WHERE zip_code = 89102;
The column name would have to match of course, it may not be called zip_code.
And the actual number would come from the input the user filled out.

thank you for the fast response
I did found this previously but i do not know what zip code the client is going to type and Mostly which specilties he is going to select in the multiple choiice check-box.

so I cannot use
SELECT * FROM members WHERE zip_code = 89102;

what is the code to automatically use the imput from the search form check-box?

also how do I separate the wordsin the results?

and how do I send the results in another page?(ie search-results) i did something approaching but I got a page within a page , and it looks very strange.
Thanks again!

When you select from your database, you can use a couple of loops using the zip, you can start by searching for the zip exactly.

"SELECT * FROM table WHERE zip_code = $zip_code"

if no results are found, you can then search for results simular to the zip code, by using LIKE and replacing the last digit with a wildcard %

$zip_code = sub_str($zip_code, -0, -4);

$sql = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE zip_code LIKE '$zip_code%'";

This will remove the last digit from the zip and add wild card for database to look for. So if your zip is 92101, your query will be 9210% and find all matching results. You can do this for all digits in the string until your get results or null

here is how I did this will my code im using in wordpress plugin. I search the full zip, then decrease the number and insert wild card until I find results.

        if( is_numeric($param['q']) ){

            $query = $wpdb->escape( $param['q'] );

            $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename WHERE zip LIKE '$query'";
            $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);

            if( empty($results) ){
                $query = substr($query, -0, 4);
                $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename WHERE zip LIKE '$query%'";
                $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);

                if( empty($results) ){

                    $query = substr($query, -0, 3);
                    $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename WHERE zip LIKE '$query%'";
                    $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);

                    if( empty($results) ){
                        $query = substr($query, -0, 2);
                        $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename WHERE zip LIKE '$query%'";
                        $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);

                        if( empty($results) ){

                            $query = substr($query, -0, 1);
                            $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename WHERE zip LIKE '$query%'";
                            $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);

                            if( empty($results) ){

                                $sql = "SELECT * FROM $tablename";
                                $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);
                                echo "No results found at your locations, here are our other locations.<br />";
                                foreach( $results as $result ){
                                    $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                                    echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a><br />';
                                }
                                //echo 'end results';
                            }else{
                                foreach( $results as $result ){
                                    $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                                    echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a><br />';
                                }
                                //echo 'end results';
                            }

                        }else{
                            foreach( $results as $result ){
                                $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                                echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a><br />';
                            }
                            //echo 'end results';
                        }

                    }else{
                        foreach( $results as $result ){
                            $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                            echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a><br />';
                        }
                    }

                }else{
                    foreach( $results as $result ){
                        $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                        echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a>';
                        echo '<br />';
                    }
                }

            }else{
                foreach( $results as $result ){
                    $href = str_replace(' ', '-', $result->store );
                    echo '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('url') . '/location/' . strtolower($href) .'">'. $result->store .'</a><br />';
                }
            }
        }

$zip_code = sub_str($zip_code, -0, -4);

This is very strange way of teaching people on PHP! Why use -0 when you can simply use 0? Also, why would you give an example of negative length (even though it gives the correct result) instead of a positive length when you KNOW what it is supposed to be? Giving a negative length will give you a wrong result if the string length is LONGER than 5. So it should be $zip_code = sub_str($zip_code, 0, 4); which means starting from string index 0 and take almost 4 characters.

I use negative because I want to start from the last char and work my way back. As a developer I should know the zip code is 5 chars long and should put a check to make sure the string is no longer than 5 using javascrip or php. Then I can run my loop and if statment to count backwards starting from the last digit and work my way back..

You can see my working example here: Click Here. If you place a zip or city in the find location box, you will get the results from the above code.

hello gabrielcastillo, I am back sorry for the delay in answering.The beginner I am deleted main wordpress database per error. I had to redo everything from scratch. Before that I tried your codes in anyway possible (to me) without success. It seems so close! :(

my SQL is 5.5.40, I am using coffeecup web Form Builder installed on my PC (windows 7 64bit ultimate) to create my searchform
see it at http://snapps.riverviewproject.com/
I use <Iframe> to reach the HTML Page at
http://snapps.riverviewproject.com/search/search.html but that is not the problem I think.(if I still can)

What you did in your website is exactly what I try to do exepted my search form has 2 choices of criteria," the visitor's zipcode and his choices on specialties (multiple checkbox). I tried your code and passed hours how to figure it out it does not work for me. what am I doing wrong?
at my last try I got this error:

Database query failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'table WHERE zipcode =' at line 1
this is my search.php file:

<?php
 $db = mysql_connect("localhost","rivervi9_pier145","PjML*$1945"); 
 if (!$db) {
 die("Database connection failed miserably: " . mysql_error());
 }


 $db_select = mysql_select_db("rivervi9_wo2635",$db);
 if (!$db_select) {
 die("Database selection also failed miserably: " . mysql_error());
 }
?>


<?php
 $db = mysql_connect("localhost","user***","password******"); 
 if (!$db) {
 die("Database connection failed miserably: " . mysql_error());
 }


 $db_select = mysql_select_db("dtb*****",$db);
 if (!$db_select) {
 die("Database selection also failed miserably: " . mysql_error());
 }
?>
<html>
 <head>
 <title>members</title>
 </head>
 <body>



 This is the results according to your zip code and specialties selection
 IN CONSTRUCTION. TRY OUT ONLY please try later.than you


<div class="cssstyle">
 <?php
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table WHERE zipcode = $zipcode", $db);
 if (!$result) {
 die("Database query failed: " . mysql_error());
 }
 while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
 echo "<h2>";
 echo $row[company]."";
 echo "</h2>";
 echo "<p>";
  echo $row[2]."firstname";
 echo $row[3]."lastname";
echo $row[5]."phone";
 echo $row[7]."URL";
 echo $row[8]."EMAIL";
echo $row[9]."BIO";
echo $row[11]."subcategory-Exotics";
 echo $row[16]."zipcode 89109";
echo $row[17]."zipcode 89120";
echo $row[18]."Overnight-stay";

 echo "</p>";
 }
?>
</div>
 </body>
</html>

<?php
//Step5
 mysql_close($db);
?>

Actually I do not really need for a visitor to find the nearest zip_code. all the 20 Pet Care Providers (members) are covering some zip-codes.
The difference is, the members is going TO the client's house not the reverse.
if the search for a service in a particular zip code does not give any result then the client is out of luck . In that case, hey are asked to call us, the association to find if a member will be willing to take the deal out of their area.

so **All I need really is the code for mysql version 5.5.40 ** to find, upon pressing the SUBMIT button (go fetch) which member (or members) performs the requested service (or services) in a particular zip-code .

The result (the whole database) was showing in the font page left columm where the form was, so I moved the search form in another page in order to use the whole page to dilpay the results.
those are still showing the WHOLE database ( 5 members out of 20 so far) regarless of zip or specialty, and they are displayed raw from database,with no fancy design beside a title for each..

On the front page I left a link instead of the search form ( hound-dogs's pack picture).Click Here
I know there must be a better way but am doing this with limited knowledge.
I need a good soul to help my old legs to croos the road! Any advice and guidance is appreciated.