help with class

I set up a class as a trial. I have 7 files in my project right now. I want to make them into 2 files. an index file and a class_lib file. So I set up my first class as a trial and it seems to be working, but there is a problem in my code. I don't get any errors right now, but what I think should happen isn't happening. I have a form that asks your name, when you put it in and press submit, it ads the name to a list. All is good. So now I want to add some validation. So I set up an error class as a test run.

Code:

---

class error {
        var $error = "You must put in a name";
        var $good = "good work, name has been entered";
function myError(){
        $pattern = '/[A-Za-z]+/';

 
        if(isset($_POST['go']) && !empty($_POST['name']) && preg_match($pattern, $_POST['name']))
        {
                  return $this->good;
        }
        else
        {
                return $this->error;
        }
}
}

---

my issue is that when I run the index page to view the form, the $error code is already visible in the div. It doesn't wait for me to put in a name or to match the $pattern. What is wrong with my logic here? I am calling the class in my index like this

Code:

---

<div>
<?php
      $errorCode = new error();
      echo $errorCode->myError();
?>
</div>

---

thanks for your help

You could instantiate the Error Object after the $_POST['go'] is set (the bottom part).

PHP Code:

---

Class Error 
{
    var $error = "You must put in a name";
    var $good = "good work, name has been entered";

    function myError()
    {
        $pattern = '/[A-Za-z]+/';

 
        if(!empty($_POST['name']) && preg_match($pattern, $_POST['name']))
        {
            return $this->good;
        }
        else
        {
            return $this->error;
        }
    }
} 


---

PHP Code:

---

<div>
<?php 

if (isset($_POST['go'])) 
{

      $errorCode = new error();
      
      echo $errorCode->myError();
      
}

 ?>
</div>

---

It is Echoing out something cause you have a condition that will either Output $good or $bad.
So you should only echo the object once the Submit $_POST['go'] is placed.

I tried that and it does not work. I do not understand why. I have it set up to display an error if you do not put in a name and to display a success code if you do put in a name. But when I push the submit button, nothing shows up.

Is it refreshing the same page or going to another page?
Are you on PHP5?

The form is on an index page. The code that I am working on is in a file I called error.php. Then I used a php include in the header of the index to include the error.php. the action of the form is in a file I called insert.php. So when you push the submit button, it goes to the action page, then I have a line in there that brings me back to the index page like this

Code:

---

$name = $_POST['name'];
        $sql="INSERT INTO mytable (names) VALUES ('$name')";
        header("Location: index.php");

---

I don't understand the difference between the versions of php. So I can't tell you if it's 1 - 5 or not