Drop downs and php

[1Jen]

I'm trying to use a form and drop downs to send data to a database table named "computers"
Here's where I'm at, the errors say
Undefined index: name
Undefined index: category
Undefined index: category found here:
$name = $_POST['name'] ;
$category = $_POST['category'] ;
if ($_POST['category']

Isn't it reading these fields in the form? Can someone see why the php isn't reading these named form fields? Am I supposed to have some php in the form itelf? Thanks very, very, much.

PHP Code:
<?php 
ini_set('error_reporting', 8191); 
ini_set('display_startup_errors', 1); 
ini_set('display_errors', 1);{ 
?> 
</span> 
<form action="<?php $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] ;?>" method="post"> 
<table> 
<tbody> 
<tr> 
<td><input name="name" size="25"/></td> 
</tr> 
<tr> 
<td> 
<select name="category"> 
<option value="first">first</option> 
<option value="second">second</option> 
<option value="third">third</option> 
</select> 
</td> 
</tr> 
<tr> 
<td><input value="Add" type="submit" /></td> 
</tr> 
</tbody> 
</table> 
</form> 
<?php 
} 
$con = mysql_connect("","",""); 
if (!$con) 
{ die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error()); 
} 
mysql_select_db("", $con); 
$name = $_POST['name'] ; 
$category = $_POST['category'] ; 
if ($_POST['category'] == 'first'){ 
$sql="INSERT INTO computers (name,category,date) 
VALUES ('" . $_POST['name'] . "','" . $_POST['category'] . "',CURDATE())"; 
if (mysql_query($sql,$con)) 
{echo "row added";} 
else if (!mysql_query($sql,$con)) {mysql_error();}} 
?>

[CorkyMcDoogle]

The errors mean that the variables have no value.

You need to add some type of statement to see if the form has been submitted first... if it has, then assign the values.

Also, you have to give the host, username, and password to connect to the DB. You've left all 3 blank -- $con = mysql_connect("","","");

[rodp]

surround the php code at the bottom with:

if($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST'){

    //do database stuff here

}