CodeIgniter Search Database based on an undefined number of fields? - mysql

Question

long time searcher here first time asker.
I am using codeigniter to create a system where a user can use a series of fields in a form to search for a result. None of the fields are required but instead can be used to condense the results. I have it working in straight php which is below but after some serious searching i cannot wrap my head around how to get the functionality working in CodeIgniter. I am new to the software too. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Index.php
<form action="site/searchcharacter.php" method="post" class="form" id="searchForm">
<legend>Search AnimeDB</legend>
<select name="gender"><option>None</option><option>Male</option><option>Female</option></select>
<select name="approx_age"><option>None</option><option>Baby</option><option>Todler</option><option>Child</option><option>Teen</option><option>Adult</option><option>Senior</option></select>
<input type="text" name="hair_colour" class="input-small" placeholder="Hair Colour">
<select name="hair_length"><option>None</option><option>Hair Above Ears</option><option>Hair Below Ears</option><option>Hair Below Shoulders</option><option>Hair Below Waist</option></select>
<input type="text" name="eye_colour" class="ut-small" placeholder="Eye Colour">
<select name="ear_type"><option>None</option><option>Human Ears</option><option>Cat Ears</option><option>Dog Ears</option><option>Horns</option><option>Other</option></select>
<input type="text" name="weapons" class="input-small" placeholder="Weapons">
<div class="form-actions">
<button class="btn btn-primary" id="submit_button" type="submit">Search</button>
</div>
</form>
searchcharacter.php
$query = "SELECT * FROM characters WHERE 1=1";
if ($gender != "None") {
if (!empty($gender)) {
$query = $query . " AND gender='$gender'";
}
}
if ($age != "None") {
if(!empty($age)) {
$query = $query . " AND approx_age='$age'";
}
}
if(!empty($hairColour)) {
$query = $query . " AND hair_colour='$hairColour'";
}
if ($hairLength != "None") {
if(!empty($hairLength)) {
$query = $query . " AND hair_length='$hairLength'";
}
}
if(!empty($eyeColour)) {
$query = $query . " AND eye_colour='$eyeColour'";
}
if ($earType != "None") {
if(!empty($earType)) {
$query = $query . " AND ear_type='$earType'";
}
}
if(!empty($weapons)) {
$query = $query . " AND weapons='$weapons'";
}
//Prepare and Exec
$STH = $DBH->query($query);

Answer 1

I'll start you off with Active Records -
if ($gender != "None" && !empty($gender))
{
$this->db->where('gender', $gender);
}
You can then repeat this for your other checks since multiple wheres are added as chained ANDs.
Then you call $query_result = $this->db->get('characters');