Form validation

[vccarvalho]

Hi ppl, sorry for the off topic subject, but I need to know if somebody knows how to use Javascript to force user to input data using a mask like in msacccess (eg. MM/DD/YYYY) as soon as the user clikcs on the input it changes to //____ and does not accept any other type of input.

Thanks

Vinicius

[sarahk]

can't be done nicely - you're better off using javascript to reformat their entry afterwards.

[wilzy]

I agree with Sarah.. it 'can' be done... but it is much easier for both you AND the user if you have your code rework it afterwards.

[AdminsDeath]

Try this way

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
function slash(number) {
number = '' + number;
if (number.length > 2) {
var mod = number.length % 2;
var output = (mod > 0 ? (number.substring(0,mod)) : '');
for (i=0 ; i < Math.floor(number.length / 2); i++) {
if ((mod == 0) && (i == 0))
output += number.substring(mod+ 2 i, mod + 2 i + 2);
else
output+= '/' + number.substring(mod + 2 i, mod + 2 i +2);
}
return (output);
}
else return number;
}
// End -->
</script>

Then the area you want to make sure is done right

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
document.write(slash(<?php echo"<form><input type=text></form>"; ?>)+'<BR>');
// End -->
</script>

This will create a forward slash after every 2 numbers.

[bad_goose]

Originally posted by AdminsDeath

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
document.write(slash(<?php echo"<form><input type=text></form>"; ?>)+'<BR>');
//  End -->
</script>

I don't get that section. There's no point having the php echo there, nor the javascript document.write, because they would output the same thing every time. And isn't the slash() function supposed to take a date string as its input? The way you have it now will just cause an error.

Here's my idea:

<script>
(your slash function here) {
    .
    .
    .
}

function addslashes(theinput) {
    theinput.value = slash(theinput.value);
}
</script>
.
.
.
<form>
<input type=text name="date_input">
<input type=submit onClick="addslashes(date_input)">
</form>

That way it will add the slashes when you submit the form, asuming your slash function works as expected (i didn't really look at it).

Of course, the most robust and cross-platform compatible way to do all error checking is on the server with PHP, so you don't have to rely on different browsers' weird versions of javascript.

Another approach would be to make 3 different select boxes, one for day, one for month, one for year. That would be my first choice.