Build select lists for search form

build_select.php

/**
        * How to create an advanced search form for wordpress
        * http://fearlessflyer.com/how-to-create-an-advanced-search-form-for-wordpress/
*/
 function buildSelect($tax){
    $terms = get_terms($tax);
    //$tax = preg_replace('/^software_/', '', $tax);
    //$tax_name = str_replace('_', ' ', $tax_name);
    $prefix = 'software_';
    $tax_name =  preg_replace('/^' . preg_quote($prefix, '/') . '/', '', $tax); //preg_replace('/^software_/', '', $tax);

    if (strpos($tax,'categories') !== false) {
    $tax_name = substr_replace('Categories', 'Category', $tax);
}
    //$tax_name = str_replace('categories', 'category', $tax);
    $x = '<div class="group">' . "\n";
    $x .= '<fieldset>' . "\n";
    $x .= '<legend>' . ucfirst($tax_name) .'</legend>' . "\n";

    $x .= '<select id="searchsubmit" class="left" name="'. $tax .'">' . "\n";
    $x .= '<option value="">Choose one</option>' . "\n";
    foreach ($terms as $term) {
       $x .= '<option value="' . $term->slug . '">' . $term->name . ' (' . $term->count .')</option>' . "\n";
    }
    $x .= '</select>' . "\n";
    $x .= '<input class="left icon-search" type="image" src="http://dev-udcp.gotpantheon.com/wp-content/themes/nimble-child/images/search_btn.png">' . "\n";
    $x .= '</fieldset></div>';

    return $x;
}