Page control: Want errors on one page; results on another page

[few-time-poster]

I want my errors to appear on the same page as the form where the user puts in the data, and I want "non-error" results generated to appear on a different page.

Right now, both the errors and any actual results appear on the new page, requiring the user to use the "Back" button when an error is made in order to re-enter the values on the form. I want the errors to appear on the same page as the actual form.

On the page where the user enters stuff into the form, I've got: <FORM method="POST" action="res_search.php"> which is the page that the results and the error messages are being shown. Is there any way I can jig that second page so's the error messages show on the originating page instead?

Would I have to have it link back to the original page somehow if an error is made?

[thorpe]

two ways you can do it. firstly, you could have the form processed on the same page as the form. just set the form to post back to itself. so if the page is 'page1.php';

page1.php

<?php
  if (isset($_POST['sent'])) {
    // process the form
  } else {
    // show form
  }
?>

of course you need to create a hidden field in the form called 'sent', whch will, when submitted, trigger the form processessing. this method will of course look exactly the same as having two seperate pages.

the second method (and the one i think your after), is to have the form validated client side using javascript. with js, you can make popups appear and point out required fields to the end user before the page is submitted.