How to create a simple dropdown search filter?

[pixel_geek]

I'm not sure of the correct technology, but here is what I'm looking to do"
Similar to the search engines on Monster. com or other job-search sites, I'd like to have to have a database populated with information on various companies.

On the website there would be two dropdown menus: One would have State and one would have type of company (for example).
You could choose: New York, Vermont, Massachusetts
then: Auto Repair, Plumber, Carpenter

If a user selected New York, Carpenter, then "submit," the next page would show them all the matching companies that were Carpenters in New York.

Another good example is: http://idealist.org/if/idealist/en/AdvancedSearch/Job/default?sid=46622970-248-CRHlX

I believe this functionality will have to come from PHP/MySQL. I'm working in Dreamweaver and would greatly appreciate any help or resources!

Thanks!

[BerksWebGuy]

2 different drop-downs in a form is very simple...as far as forms go.

If you have no idea how to make a form, or how to process one...then this is a big first jump. Check out www.HotScripts.com for some pre-made scripts.

[pixel_geek]

Thanks, I've got the form aspect down, no problem.

What I'm wondering is how to make the "submit" button connect to a database, which will then display a page with specific results upon submission.

Does that make sense? I know it's possible; I just don't know how to begin!

Thanks!

[BerksWebGuy]

You can do this a number of ways...but the most 'popular and easiest' way is through PHP (which is a server-side programming language). You can look in the PHP forums, or do a few googles on some simple PHP/MySQL queries.