I'll ask one of the senior devs here about the other question.
Try changing the select like so:
<?php list($categoriesRecords, $categoriesMeta) = getRecords(array(
'tableName' => 'dir_categories',
'where => 'hidden = 0'
));
<select name="category">
<option value = "">-Select-</option>
<?php foreach ($categoriesRecords as $record): ?>
<option value = "<?php echo htmlspecialchars($record['name']);?>" <?php selectedIf($record['name'], @$_REQUEST['category']);?>> <?php echo htmlspecialchars($record['name']);?> </option>
<?php endforeach ?>
</select>
--------------------
Claire Ryan
interactivetools.com
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