help with class

[cybershot]

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.

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

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

thanks for your help

[JREAM]

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

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;
        }
    }
} 

<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.

[cybershot]

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.

[JREAM]

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

[cybershot]

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

$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