I've been trying to figure out how to specify the default value that will appear in a select (drop-down) box that I am using to get a value.

For example:

<select name='color'>
<option value='RED'>Red</option>
<option value='YEL'>Yellow</option>
<option value='GRN'>Green</option>
<option value='BLU'>Blue</option>
<option value='WHT'>White</option>
<option value='BLK'>Black</option>
<option value='BRN'>Brown</option>
</select>

This will always default to RED regardless of the value of $color.
The only way I could figure my way out of this was to test the values of $color and set $default_xxx = "selected". For example:

if ($color == "RED") $default_RED = "selected";
if ($color == "YEL") $default_YEL = "selected";
if ($color == "GRN") $default_GRN = "selected";
if ($color == "BLU") $default_BLU = "selected";
if ($color == "WHT") $default_WHT = "selected";
if ($color == "BLK") $default_BLK = "selected";
if ($color == "BRN") $default_BRN = "selected";

Then re-write my select code:

<select name='color'>
<option value='RED' $default_RED>Red</option>
<option value='YEL' $default_YEL>Yellow</option>
<option value='GRN' $default_GRN>Green</option>
<option value='BLU' $default_BLU>Blue</option>
<option value='WHT' $default_WHT>White</option>
<option value='BLK' $default_BLK>Black</option>
<option value='BRN' $default_BRN>Brown</option>
</select>

This doesn't seem to be a very efficient way of passing $color to the select box, but it works. Is there some other way?

TIA...

If you are not using a database, try the following.
Make sure your form is using the POST method , if not change $_POST to $_GET.

    $color_arr = array('Red'=>'RED',
                                         'Yellow'=>'YEL',
                                         'Green'=>'GRN',
                                         'Blue'=>'BLU',
                                         'White'=>'WHT',
                                         'Black'=>'BLK',
                                         'Brown'=>'BRN');
?>

<select name="color">

<?PHP

    foreach($color_arr as $k => $v)
                        ( $_POST['color'] == $v ) ? print( '<option value='.$v.' selected>'.$k.'</option>' ) : print( '<option value='.$v.'>'.$k.'</option>' );

?>

</select>

<input type="submit" value="submit">