need to include javascript total in form submit

des1370

I am working on an invoice page. I used javascript to create a running total on the page in <input type="text" name="total"> (if anyone knows how to limit the total field to ##.## that would be helpful too).

I need to inlcude this total when the form uses php to submit. I know I need to use a hidden field of some sort, but I don't know how to do that.

Here is the code for the form starting with the script:

(x.item4_total.value-0) + (x.item5_total.value-0) + (x.item6_total.value-0)
}
</script>

</head>

<h1>Contractor Invoice</h1>

<form name="instructor_invoice" method="post" action="invoice.php">
<table>
<tr><td><b>Name:</b>
<select name="instructor">
<option>Dan</option>
<option>Gary</option>
<option>Charlie</option>
<option>Lonnie</option>
<option>Eddy</option>
<option>Mark</option>
<option>Gary</option>
<option>Jim</option>
<option>Mike</option>
<option>Hugh</option>
<option>Hunter</option>
<option>John</option>
</select>
</td>
<td colspan="3"><b>Email:</b><input type="text" name="InvoiceEmail" size="30"

/></td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Course#:</b><input type="text" name="InvoiceCourse" size="15"></td>
<td><b>Invoice Date:</b><input type="text" name="InvoiceDate" size="12"></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><b><input type="radio" name="new_revised" value="New" />New

Invoice <input type="radio" name="new_revised" value="Revised" />Revised Invoice
</td></tr>

<tr><td><table>
<tr>
<td><b>Type</b></td>
<td><b>Description</b></td>
<td><b>Total</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><select name="item1">
<option> </option>
<option>Hotel</option>
<option>Car</option>
<option>Fuel</option>
<option>Mileage</option>
<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
<option>Other</option>
<option>Per Diem</option>
</select>
</td>
<td><input type="text" size="50" name="item1_desc" /></td>
<td><input type="text" size="10" name="item1_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>

<tr>
  <td><select name="item2">
	<option>&nbsp;</option>
	<option>Hotel</option>
	<option>Car</option>
	<option>Fuel</option>
	<option>Mileage</option>
	<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
	<option>Other</option>
	<option>Per Diem</option>
      </select>
  </td>
  <td><input type="text" size="50" name="item2_desc" /></td>
  <td><input type="text" size="10" name="item2_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>


<tr>
  <td><select name="item3">
	<option>&nbsp;</option>
	<option>Hotel</option>
	<option>Car</option>
	<option>Fuel</option>
	<option>Mileage</option>
	<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
	<option>Other</option>
	<option>Per Diem</option>
      </select>
  </td>
  <td><input type="text" size="50" name="item3_desc" /></td>
  <td><input type="text" size="10" name="item3_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>


<tr>
  <td><select name="item4">
	<option>&nbsp;</option>
	<option>Hotel</option>
	<option>Car</option>
	<option>Fuel</option>
	<option>Mileage</option>
	<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
	<option>Other</option>
	<option>Per Diem</option>
      <select>
  </td>
  <td><input type="text" size="50" name="item4_desc" /></td>
  <td><input type="text" size="10" name="item4_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>


<tr>
  <td><select name="item5">
	<option>&nbsp;</option>
	<option>Hotel</option>
	<option>Car</option>
	<option>Fuel</option>
	<option>Mileage</option>
	<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
	<option>Other</option>
	<option>Per Diem</option>
      </select>
  </td>
  <td><input type="text" size="50" name="item5_desc" /></td>
  <td><input type="text" size="10" name="item5_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>


<tr>
  <td><select name="item6">
	<option>&nbsp;</option>
	<option>Hotel</option>
	<option>Car</option>
	<option>Fuel</option>
	<option>Mileage</option>
	<option>Classroom Supplies</option>
	<option>Other</option>
	<option>Per Diem</option>
      </select>
  </td>
  <td><input type="text" size="50" name="item6_desc" /></td>
  <td><input type="text" size="10" name="item6_total" onchange="calculate()" /></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
    <td><input type="text" size="10" name="total"></td>
</tr>
<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr><td><input type="submit" value="Send Invoice"></td></tr>

</table></td></tr>
<!--The last row should be reserved for the footer include file. The file is already a table

so just make sure you don't remove the include statement when you're working on the

content.-->

</table>
</body>
</html>

Thanks for any help you can give me.

ZibingsCoder

Not sure why you'd think you need to use a hidden form. Since it's a text field and part of the form, the value that it has when the form is submitted is used.

des1370

Thanks for your help. The web site where I found the information on the javascript had instructions to use hidden fields or the sum wouldn't transfer. When I tested it, the number didn't come through. Turns out I had a typo in the field name. I really appreciate your help. I looked at that page so long I couldn't see anything any more.

commandonz

Submitting a JavaScript calculated value sounds like a bad idea to me - someone could easily submit a page with a total much lower than it should be. I could do that very easily. You'd be better off calculating it on the server using php.

des1370

I need to have a running total on the form page. Can I do that with PHP? I didn't think I could...I thought Javascript was my only option. Sorry, if this is a really basic question, I've tried for two days to look this up online and haven't been very successful.

commandonz

I wasn't clear, sorry. Having a running total that's calculated should be done with JavaScript, but that value shouldn't be sent to the server IMHO. The value is only for the user. Once the rest of the data is submitted (I assume product IDs and quantities or something like that) the PHP code would recalculate it, to prevent people submitting a lower total.

I'm a newbie to PHP and I don't do JavaScript, but i'm an enterprize Java programmer, so I can help with the design but not the implementation sorry.

TheDefender

commandonz, you are absolutely right... You definitely want to requery for things like the price and product ID, to also prevent someone from maliciously posting a lower price value too...

LordShryku

Depending what you're selling, I may disagree with these guys.... :evilgrin:

SumitGupta

Hi..

You can use the Javascript fucntion to put the value in the textbox before submiting it..like this

<script lang=javascript>
funtion total()
{
var sum
sum=item1_total+item2_total+...+item<n>_Total
document.total=sum
}
</script>

and in your html code write this in button event like

<input type=submit value=submit onclick=javascript:total()>

NOTE: The codes above are not correct in syntax and just don't cut and paste.

The code 2 Section will call the Total function and Procced to Form action url after submitting the value in your textbox for total so at time of submission your PHP has the value and you can do what ever you want..

Also make the textbox as Readonly for the total to avoid the Security issue told you before in previous reply... (I thought u can do that using Style sheet tutorial from www.w3schools.com)

SumitGupta

Hi..

I have one mistake in the code above (code 2)
it should be javascript:total() than "java script:total()"
typing mistake 😃

commandonz

Even if the text box is marked read only it's still trivial to submit an invalid total to the server. You simply save the html page to your hard drive, manually change the value, and the submit it - the server generally has no idea where the submit came from, but you might be able to put checking in.

For any serious application you really do need to submit just product numbers and quantities, look up product prices, and add up the total again yourself. Otherwise you will have people abuse the system.