Code Issue

[TheHappyPeanut]

Furthermore, the "Incorrect information" string is still there, even though I 100% used the correct user and password.

What does this give you?

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var_dump($_POST);

There are no changes after placing that into the code. Is there a specific place I need to put it?

[Celauran]

You just need to be sure it's executing. May as well place it right at the top. var_dump always produces output.

[TheHappyPeanut]

I placed it at the top and it worked. I actually figured out my problem; I originally had the text-box use "email-address" when it should have used "username". That brings me to another question. Let's say that I have the following database fields:

- id
- email
- username
- password

How can I make it so that a user can log in if they provide either the email or the username. For example, a person could log in using "John" or "john@example.com".

[Celauran]

Absolutely.

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SELECT columnA, columnB FROM users WHERE username = 'provided_username' OR email = 'provided_username'

[TheHappyPeanut]

Absolutely.

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SELECT columnA, columnB FROM users WHERE username = 'provided_username' OR email = 'provided_username'

So basically, that code saying "Username no longer equal to username. Username is equal to username or password"? And where would that code go? Is there any easy way to learn where I place this code other than trial and error and a lot of reading?

[Celauran]

If you recognized that that's SQL and not PHP, then simply use it as a query string (obviously replacing the dummy values with real ones). If not, you will want to become familiar with SQL.

[TheHappyPeanut]

I did recognize it dealt with MySQL, but I haven't read up on that yet. I'll do that now. I REALLY appreciate your help.

[TheHappyPeanut]

Would it look something like this?

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$query = mysql_query ("SELECT columnA, columnB FROM users WHERE username = 'username' OR email = 'username'");

[Celauran]

Replacing columnA, columnB and 'username' with actual values, yes.

I also find it helpful for debugging to store the query itself as a variable, rather than just the result.

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$query  = "SELECT columnA, columnB FROM users WHERE username = '{$username}' OR email = '{$username}'";
$result = $sql->query($query);

[TheHappyPeanut]

Replacing columnA, columnB and 'username' with actual values, yes.

I also find it helpful for debugging to store the query itself as a variable, rather than just the result.

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$query  = "SELECT columnA, columnB FROM users WHERE username = '{$username}' OR email = '{$username}'";
$result = $sql->query($query);

So the columns are actually my row values in the database?

Also, it seems as if something else went wrong. It shows a blank page when you log in regardless of whether you put in no information, incorrect information, or correct information.

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<?php

if (!empty($_POST))
{
    if (isset($_POST['username']) && isset($_POST['password']))
    {        
    $connect = mysql_connect("localhost","root","") or die("Could not connect");
    mysql_select_db("tracker") or die("Could not find database");
    }
    else
        die("Incorrect information");    
}
   
?>

[Celauran]

So the columns are actually my row values in the database?

They're the columns you want returned

Also, it seems as if something else went wrong. It shows a blank page when you log in regardless of whether you put in no information, incorrect information, or correct information.

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<?php

if (!empty($_POST))
{
    if (isset($_POST['username']) && isset($_POST['password']))
    {        
    $connect = mysql_connect("localhost","root","") or die("Could not connect");
    mysql_select_db("tracker") or die("Could not find database");
    }
    else
        die("Incorrect information");    
}
   
?>

So you're not even getting the die() message? Try echoing some dummy text at the very top of the page to make sure the page is loading. If not, check your form's action against the page name.

[TheHappyPeanut]

Yeah, I'm not getting the die() message. I tried echoing and that function works fine.

[Celauran]

That would suggest that the first if is failing, meaning $_POST is empty. var_dump($_POST) to confirm.

[TheHappyPeanut]

This is what I get when I try that:

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Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_IF in C:\xampp\htdocs\Tracker\login.php on line 5

[Celauran]

Without seeing what line 5 is (and the surrounding lines, really), I can't help you much.