combo box

You have not read the docs! Clearly.

http://www.codeigniter.com/user_guide/he...m_dropdown

Why would you put the output of form_dropdown function into an array with input posts that you then insert into your database!!!!!

I seriously do not know whether to laugh or cry!

This will tell you how dropdowns work
http://www.html-form-guide.com/php-form/...elect.html

Now you have a post field with your dropdown option value. Access it just like you would any other input post. The form helper just helps you to write your select HTML a bit more easily than writing it all out.

Did you say you were building an eCommerce CMS? OMFG :-(