Disabling Enter Key

[Attila7]

I have some forms with several fields that I have setup with a "Submit" button and a "Reset" button. Currently these forms can be submitted using either the "Submit" button or the "Enter" key.

I did not intend for these forms to be sent when the enter key is pressed and this function is proving to be troublesome. I get several forms that are incomplete because the enter key was pressed in error.

Is there a way to prevent the enter key from sending the form? Ideally the cursor should move to the next field when the enter key is pressed. I would like only the "Submit" button to send the form.

<?php
$date = date("m/d/y hⓂs A");

if(isset($Submit))

<tr>
<td><div align="left"><input type="submit" value="Submit" name="Submit" class="button"></div></td>
<td><div align="left"><input type="reset" name="Reset" value="Reset" class="button"></div></td>
<td><input type="button" value="Week #'s" class="button" onClick="window.open('/bids/avwn.htm','','scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=500,height=500')"></td>
</tr>

[banzaimonkey]

Attila7 wrote:

Is there a way to prevent the enter key from sending the form? Ideally the cursor should move to the next field when the enter key is pressed.

The Tab key is typically used for that purpose. I think this issue falls into something called "event handling", which is typically managed by the browser. I suspect that the enter key defaults to the "submit" attribute in your form.

There's an article about using the enter key to submit forms here. It may give you some insight on how to break it.

Alternatively, you could implement some sort of error checking in the form processing to make sure it's been completed, or default to a "preview" of the form. You may also be able to employ Javascript to capture the keystroke and nullify it. Keep in mind that some people may not have Javascript enabled.

You may find additional useful information on Google.

You should also keep in mind, though, that many people will expect the enter key to submit the form. If you disable or alter this functionality, your users may be confused. As has been argued elsewhere, it's best to avoid breaking hidden conventions like these. I'd advocate a solution that uses form validation or checking, rather than disabling the enter key. Perhaps a Javascript solution that pops up a confirmation dialog before submitting the form would work too.

[madwormer2]

In the onsubmit event for the form, you can put some javascript that checks to see if all of the data is entered correctly. If it isn't, if you just return false, then the form will not submit (provide an error message as well, obviously.)

<form onsubmit="return false;"> is an example of a form that won't submit (at all)

[Attila7]

thanks for the replies. I guess I will keep it the way it is as I do not want the form to get to complicated (these suggestions are getting beyond me).