[RESOLVED] using link instead of form

[AndreF]

I created a database dumb backup script and it forces a download when that script runs. It works fine and no problem there.

on another page I want to add a link to that script operation.php?act=dump to force a dumb db backup download. If I use a form like this on page like blah.php:

<form method="get" action="operation.php">
<input type="hidden" name="act" value="dump">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value=" Backup ">
</form>

then if I submit it, I will stay on blah.php and a force download pops up as expected. But is it possible to use a link instead of this form?
something like:
<a href="operation.php?act=dump">backup</a>?

the problem is that when I click this link I will be redirected to operation.php which is obviously blank then a force download pops up as I said the header of operation.php to force download. I need to stay on blah.php when clicking the link just the same way when I use the form.

so is it possible to use a link instead of a form?

[zabmilenko]

Try this:

<form name="operation_form" action="operation.php">
    <a href="#" onclick="document.operation_form.submit()">Submit</a>
</form>

I'm typing on the run, so sorry if I missed something.

[AndreF]

It works fine, but is it the only way to do so?

[AndreF]

well, however this is almost the same what you said but just a way:

<form name="operation_form" method="get" action="operation.php">
<input type="hidden" name="act" value="dump">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value=" Backup ">
</form>

<a href="javascript:void(document.operation_form.submit())">Run that form</a>