Form data not retained

OniLink

Hi,

When submitting a form with the action: check_fields.php and when there is a field not filled in, I have it so it goes back to the previous page using this code:

But when it goes back to the page, the previous form data is not retained. Can someone please let me know what to do to make the previous form data to be retained? I thought it did it automatically?

Thanks,
~Oni.

bpat1434

Some browsers, like Firefox, can do it automatically. Most others don't.

I'd suggest one of three things:
1.) Have check_fields.php show the form again with the errors and the values of the $_POST array already filled in

2.) Use Javascript to check that each form item has a value, and if not throw an alert() and don't let them on to the next page.

3.) Combine your first form and check_fields.php so that it's one page and the form posts back to itself, then use the solution in #1.

OniLink

Thanks for your help.

I think I may go with 2. To do that would I need an onclick function on the submit button to call the javascript? But then how do I go from that validation to the php/sql process of submitting the form to a database?

bpat1434

You'd want an "onSubmit" action to call a javascript function. This function would check whatever fields you want, and then either return "true" to submit it, or false to keep you on that page.

w3schools.com [JavaScript Form Validation]
xs4all.nl [JavaScript Form Validation - doing it right]
tizag.com [Javascript Tutorial - Form]
javascript-coder.com [JavaScript Form Validations Made Easy]
O'Reilly [Form Validation]

And of course [Google Results]

Ichiro

Also, you would want make sure to assign that onSubmit() event handler in the form element, not the submit input element.

But then again, you'd find that in the great links bpat1434 provided.

I just mentioned it because it often gets overlooked.

leatherback

OniLink wrote:
Thanks for your help.

I think I may go with 2. To do that would I need an onclick function on the submit button to call the javascript? But then how do I go from that validation to the php/sql process of submitting the form to a database?

realize that javascript IS turned of on a number of machines, and using javascript to validate your form is NOT a good way to control user input. You will have to do a check on the server too, and post back the form-field values if any elements do show up emtpy