retain form data when reload

[kav]

How do i retain a form data?
I have a form that requires users to enter their data. After they enter the data, there is an Add Item button on the same page that when CLICKED will open a new window for the user to add the item. The items are all kept into sessions. When done, there is a Close button which when CLICKED, will close the current window and reload the main window and showing the item added below. I used this => onClick="opener.location.reload();

This however will cause the details of the user to disappear.
Any ideas? thanks

edit=typo mistake.

[designguy79]

Are you sure there is not a better way to go about it? If not, this is what comes to mind first. There probably is a better approach, but I can't think of it right now. :-)

Instead of using "reload", have it submit the form -- I think it would be something like: opener.formname.submit(). Make sure and change the action of the form to the point to the same script, so it appears that like it was reloaded. To check if they actuall clicked on the submit button themselves, add a hidden field that is normally an empty value, but the submit button can have an "onClick" handler that changes it.

I hope that makes sense... and helps :-/

[kav]

I dont quite get what you mean. Can eleborate further?
Any, here is the idea of what i am doing.

1.When user come into this form, obviously there is no item yet so nothing is being display except the form fields.
2. User will then enter their details.
3. Then he will click on the Add Item link to open a NEW WINDOW which is also another form to enter the item details.
4. In the item form, he will key in the item desc and then click on the Add button.
5. The data will then be collected at the to_session.php page and then will be inserted into session variables accordingly.
6. After that, a msg will appear saying added bla bla bla, and the a button below.
<input name="button" type="button" value="Close" onClick="opener.location.reload(); self.close()">
7. When click then main.php will be reloaded to display the form with the user details and items added. But how to retain the user details?

"main.php"
<form name="form1" action="process.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="name" value="">
<a href="javascript: open_window5('additem.php?add=1')" target="_self" >Add Item</a>
</form>

"additem.php"
<form name="form2" action="to_session.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="item" value="">
<input type="submit" value="Add">
</form>

[kav]

hello? anyone knows? If no one then i guess i will just use sessions to store all the user details.