Title: Accessing the $_POST array
Last modified: August 19, 2019

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# Accessing the $_POST array

 *  Resolved [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/)
 * What I want to do, is on a list page after you have returned search results simply
   access the “search_field” and “value” values to construct a filter URL
 * I’ve modified a list template to add a URL link which will be displayed after
   a search has been submitted the link will contain two values the “search_field”
   value and the “value” field value.
 * I thought Id work this out but I just cant seem to get the $_POST array
 * I cant even dump the array
 * how should I access the “search_field” value and the “value” field value please?
   
   $_POST[‘search_field’]; returns nothing.
 * Regards Guy
    -  This topic was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/).

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11845823)
 * Even if I access the $_POST search_field and value I don’t think this method 
   will give me what I want when constructing a URL.
 * I tested it by just making a URL with filter results in
 * [http://www.testpage.com/my_page_with_pdb_list_short_code_on/?search_field=my_lists&value=blue](http://www.testpage.com/my_page_with_pdb_list_short_code_on/?search_field=my_lists&value=blue)
 * on following the URL it works but the results page is the full list of records
   filtered by the search box on the page filled in with the URL params.
 * What I need is the results page to only be the matching records at top level 
   and then use the search box to filter them.
 * If I use the shortcode and pass filter options i.e.
 * [pdb_list filter=my_lists=blue]
 * it works the result page only pulls back the relevant records not (all records)
   and then you can filter and sort this set of records.
 * Ive tried passing URL params and then building the shortcode
 * [pdb_list filter=my_lists=$_GET(list_name)] but I cant work out if this is even
   possible, I’m on trial and error at the moment.
 * Hop this makes sense
 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11846307)
 * Getting somewhere, it seems if I use the function do_shortcode I can build the
   correct pdb_list shortcode with the correct filter.
 * echo do_shortcode( ‘ [pdb_list template=x_detailed sort=true search=true list_limit
   =15 filter=my_lists=’ . $_GET[‘list_name’] .’] ‘ );
 * Still struggling to access the $_POST array after search values have been submitted.
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11846397)
 * One possibility here is if you’ve got AJAX searches enabled (plugin settings,
   advanced tab), then you might not see what you’re expecting on the screen. The
   template is called in the AJAX handler, but only the list part of the display
   is updated, so that could make it look like you’re not getting your values from
   the post array.
 * So, on the search results page, you need to set up your dynamic link so that 
   it is displayed inside of the “list-container” div, so that it will be refreshed
   when the search results are returned.
 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11846442)
 * Hi Roland,
 * Quote”
    So, on the search results page, you need to set up your dynamic link 
   so that it is displayed inside of the “list-container” div, so that it will be
   refreshed when the search results are returned.”
 * hummm I messed about with template, Im sure I put it in the list-container as
   I think this is commented in the template (although I been very busy rushing 
   about today).
 * Ill try again making double sure its in the correct container, and Ill play with
   turning off ajax to check things.
 * fantastic plugin by the way, ive a few more add ons to buy as I work through 
   my code, do you have a donate button anywhere?
 * Regards Guy
 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11854474)
 * Hi Roland
 * So I’ve gone back to trying to access the $_POST array, it works with AJAX search
   turned off, but when I turn AJAX search back on I cant see the $_POST array, 
   I’m assuming as the form doesn’t actually submit and passes through AJAX is why
   a $_POST array isn’t returned.
 * Do you have any pointers how I can grab the FORM fields values on a template 
   page an AJAX search is returned.
 * What Im trying to do is generate a link at the bottom of my search results with
   the search_field and value attached. Its so I can pass just the results to an
   external page to be manipulated.
 * As I said it works with normal search I just grab my variables from the $_POST
   array but when AJAX is on no $_POST array.
 * Guy
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11854529)
 * The whole template is processed by the AJAX handler, and the values in the POST
   array (all the form values that were submitted) are available in the template.
 * If you want to present content that is based on the submitted data, you have 
   to place the content (not necessarily the code that generates it) inside of the
   DIV with the class “list-container”
 * If you try to place the dynamic content outside of that DIV, it won’t be updated
   when the AJAX call displays the new list.
 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11858510)
 * Roland
    Finally got this working, thank you for your input.
 * When I was testing it first I was just using <?php var_dump($_POST); ?> to see
   if the POST array was full and I had it positioned inside a table row data cell
   as the correct class is in the table tag like below
 * <table class=”wp-list-table widefat fixed pages list-container” >
    <tr><td> <?
   php var_dump($_POST); ?> </td></tr>
 * As it happens this does not work, as soon as i just var dumped in its own div
   it worked like below
 *  <div class=”list-container”>
    <?php var_dump($_POST); ?> </div>
 * Once again Thanks
 *  Thread Starter [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * (@gbambury)
 * [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11874917)
 * Just closing thread

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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 * 8 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [gbambury](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gbambury/)
 * Last activity: [6 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/_post-3/#post-11874917)
 * Status: resolved