[ajaytemp]

I have a web form with a simple name input. And a submit button.
Then the action takes one back to the same webpage.
How do I repopulate the name into that webpage?

Thx,
Ajay

[Mr.LLB]

i am not sure what you'r trying to ask.....do you want to put the name back into the textbox once it has submited?

[ajaytemp]

Originally Posted by Mr.LLB

i am not sure what you'r trying to ask.....do you want to put the name back into the textbox once it has submited?

Yes.

[tomdkat]

If the page that is displayed has the fields entered on the form as part of the URL, you can use JavaScript to fill-in the form with the values the user entered when the form is re-displayed.

So, let's say the form is at this address:

www.mysite.com/form.html

The user fills out the form and submits it and this URL is then loaded:

www.mysite.com/form.html?name=tomdkat

If that is how the URL looks after they submit the form, you can use JavaScript to parse out the name and put it in the appropriate field on the form when it's displayed.

Peace...

[ajaytemp]

Ok, there are bunch of links on the web to parse using JavaScript.
But is there an easier way b/c I don't remember the instructor doing this in class.

THX,
Ajay

If the page that is displayed has the fields entered on the form as part of the URL, you can use JavaScript to fill-in the form with the values the user entered when the form is re-displayed.

So, let's say the form is at this address:

www.mysite.com/form.html

The user fills out the form and submits it and this URL is then loaded:

www.mysite.com/form.html?name=tomdkat

If that is how the URL looks after they submit the form, you can use JavaScript to parse out the name and put it in the appropriate field on the form when it's displayed.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by ajaytemp

How would I do this in JavaScript?

Carefully.

Here is some JavaScript that should do what you want.

And is there an easier way?

Unless your form is being dynamically generated by a server-side script, something will have to fill in the appropriate fields since the browser won't do it on its own. Using JavaScript is just one solution and I don't think it's complicated or difficult.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by ajaytemp

But is there an easier way b/c I don't remember the instructor doing this in class.

Ok, then ask your instructor what method they used.

Peace...

[ajaytemp]

"If that is how the URL looks after they submit the form, you can use JavaScript to parse out the name and put it in the appropriate field on the form when it's displayed."

"...and put it in the appropriate field on the form when it's displayed."


I understand the JavaScript parsing part. But getting those fields displayed on the form again, i do not.

This is a self-learn course. Instructor won't help!

[TheRobatron]

You can achieve this with a server side language, which is more reliable than Javascript (though Javascript may be preferable in some circumstances). Using Tomdkat's URL example, this is the code you could use:

PHP Code:

$name = $_REQUEST['name'];
if (isset($name)) {
echo "<input type='text' name='name' value='$name' />";
} 


[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by ajaytemp

I understand the JavaScript parsing part. But getting those fields displayed on the form again, i do not.

Once you have the appropriate field parsed on, you set the element's value to make the field display.

So, if the input field looks like this:

<input name="fname" type="text" length="20" id="fname"/>

Then you can access that in the JavaScript code like this:

formField = document.getElementById('fname');
formField.value={var with name parsed with JavaScript};

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by TheRobatron

You can achieve this with a server side language, which is more reliable than Javascript (though Javascript may be preferable in some circumstances).

More reliable? How so?

Peace...

[TheRobatron]

It will work in browsers that don't support Javascript. (I know most browsers do, but I think it's best to do things that will work for everyone )

[tomdkat]

That's true. The flip-side of that is the site will have to be hosted on a server that supports PHP and that might not be a guarantee either. However, you do raise an interesting point about JavaScript. Would a JavaScript blocking browser add-on prevent JavaScript parsing of a HTML form? I disable certain JavaScript functions in browsers I use but those don't impact JavaScript functions this nature.

Also, a "noscript" tag could be added stating JavaScript is required for the form to function so that the user is informed of that before filling out the form.

Great point, TheRobatron!

Peace...