[RESOLVED] Default vaule for multiline text box

I have a multi line text box that im trying to populate with this code

Code:

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<tr>
              <!-- Row 4 Column 1 -->
              <td><span class="style14">Work to be completed :</span><br />
                         
              <textarea name="worktobedone" cols="40" rows="6" id="worktobedone" value="<? echo $worktobedone; ?>"></textarea></td>
            </tr>

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the $worktobedone variable has the proper value in it cause i echo it just before this section and it had the correct value. I have all my forms text boxes filled in except for two multiline text boxes. what am i doing wrong with this code?

Code:

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<textarea name="worktobedone" cols="40" rows="6" id="worktobedone"><?=  $worktobedone; ?></textarea>

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works great smitty. thanks

you shouldn't use short tags like that if you want to have cross-compatibility (with different versions of PHP, and also other servers):

PHP Code:

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<?php echo $var; ?>

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so i should always put the word php in like this

Code:

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<?php echo $var; ?>

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instead of like this?

Code:

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<? echo $var; ?>

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if so should this be in every php script i use?

yes. short tags are deprecated and are also not even enabled on some host servers. using the <?php tag will ensure that your script will work everywhere.