Search code examples
phpmysqlwordpress

My Search function isn't working when I search by name

so I've tried creating a Wordpress plugin that searches data in a different MySQL database and it works when I search by license number but when I search for any kind of name I get sent to a "Page not found" page and I can't figure out how to fix it.

Here's the plugin:

    <div class="search">
        <form class="search-form" method="get" action="">
            <input type="text" name="name" placeholder="Enter Name">
            <input type="text" name="license_number" placeholder="Enter License Number">
            <input type="submit" value="Search">
        </form>

        <?php
        if (isset($_GET['name']) || isset($_GET['license_number'])) {
            $name = sanitize_text_field($_GET['name']);
            $license_number = sanitize_text_field($_GET['license_number']);

            

            // Construct the search query
            $conditions = [];
            if (!empty($name)) {
                $conditions[] = $second_db->prepare("name LIKE %s", '%' . $wpdb->esc_like($name) . '%');
            }
            
            if (!empty($license_number)) {
                $conditions[] = $second_db->prepare("license_number LIKE %s", '%' . $wpdb->esc_like($license_number) . '%');
            }
            if (empty($conditions)) {
                echo '<p>Please enter a search query.</p>';
                return ob_get_clean();
            }
            $where_clause = implode(' OR ', $conditions);

            // Debug: output the constructed query
            error_log("Constructed query: SELECT * FROM licenses WHERE {$where_clause}");

            // Query the second database for license results
            $license_results = $second_db->get_results("SELECT * FROM licenses WHERE {$where_clause}");

            // Debug: output the number of license results found
            error_log("Number of license results: " . count($license_results));

            // If searching by license number, use the name from the license result to search applications and courses
            if (!empty($license_number) && !empty($license_results)) {
                $name = $license_results[0]->name;
            }

            // Query the second database for application and course results using the name
            $application_results = $second_db->get_results($second_db->prepare("SELECT * FROM applications WHERE name LIKE %s", '%' . $wpdb->esc_like($name) . '%'));
            $course_results = $second_db->get_results($second_db->prepare("SELECT * FROM courses WHERE name LIKE %s", '%' . $wpdb->esc_like($name) . '%'));

            // Debug: output the number of application and course results found
            error_log("Number of application results: " . count($application_results));
            error_log("Number of course results: " . count($course_results));

This is what the results should look like: results

This is what I get when I search by any kind of name:

page not found

The field in the database is: "name" and the name format in the field is: "LastName, FirstName Middle Initial(if available)" or "Doe, John J".

For the URL with license results, it is: https://domain.tld/plugin/?name=&license_number=12520 Here are some examples of the URL when searching by name: https://domain.tld/plugin/?name=LAST+MICHAEL+R&license_number= OR https://domain.tld/plugin/?name=bob&license_number= OR OR https://domain.tld/plugin/?name=bob+lee&license_number=

My error log is inconsistent with updating so that hasn't been helpful.

Thank you for any help!

Solution

  • name is a reserved term, you cant use it, try another variation, example userName

    https://codex.wordpress.org/Reserved_Terms

    this case same from this when adding term name in url Wordpress 404 error when adding /?name=someonesname at the end of my URL