Can you set a form field value with PHP?

Question

I use the $_GET function to pull a value with php from the url (http:..../index.html?variable=value), basic stuff. However, I need to use that value in my form.

Typically, I would set

<?php echo 'value="'.$variable.'"' ; ?>

or something to that effect. However, I can't use php inside my form using the editor I'm working with.

Can I set a value in the form without using PHP in my form? If so, how?

Edit: with the CMS editor I'm using you can't store php code to the server. (I'm using FCKeditor. The same used by Dubral). This is a security measure all CMS's use even Wordpress. Basically I want to send/set the value in the form with php. Similar to how javascript does it: document.form.field.value

Answer 1

That looks completely valid to me. If you're using something like Dreamweaver, which is the only valid interpretation I can come up with, use a plain text editor instead of the editor you currently use. Problem solved.

There might be a more specific fix if you were to say what editor you're using, but since you don't, this is the best I can do. Just use Notepad or whatever.

Answer 2

You can set the value without php, but it has to be static value hardcorcoded in the html itself. For dynamic pages you have to use some programming language.

Answer 3

The best way to set default values (ie pre-existing values) within an HTML form is as you mentioned in your question value="'.$variable.'"'.

If you are unable to use markup like that, then you may be able to use javascript (whether referencing a secondary file/feed using AJAX, or using the same variable echoing technique) to replace the values in the specific fields after the page has loaded.

ie

<script language="javascript">
document.form[0].name.value = "<?php echo $name; ?>";
</script>