Is it possible to post a form without a submit button?

Maskeeper

I have a selection form that, once submitted, takes users to a page that shows a roster for the sports team they selected. The form (index.php) passes the ID of the team they selected [along with some other hidden data] to the form handler (buildselect.php) and querys the database for the players associated with that team. Easy.

The form handler works fine and all is well with the world...

However, in that display/form handler page (buildselect.php), I want to give the user the ability to edit the lineup: remove players individually, select eligible players from a list to add, reload with a default lineup, etc. I have written the scripts to do so, each being its own php 'page' and they work fine-- but I've come across a stumbling block:

After the delete/add/default load/etc pages complete their task I'd like to give the user the ability to return to the display page directly and view the lineup they've just edited. Just a simple 'Return to the lineup' link. The problem is, the lineup loaded in buildselect.php is based upon form input. Now I can create a hidden form that passes all the data buildselect.php would require to reload the right data for the user, however I wanted to avoid having the 'Return to lineup' link be a submit button...

So basically I was wondering if it's possible to have a form that submits using a text link instead of a button...

Thanks!

Horizon88

You could use javascript to do it, using onclick=this.submit() or something similar, but that would only work for users with javascript enabled. Your other option could be some restructuring using more GET or session variables, but your best bet would probably be to do a check if javascript is enabled, and if it is, output the text link, while if it's not, just output a submit button.

Maskeeper

The more I play with my needs for this page, I think changing it to a GET will save me a bunch of hassles in a half-dozen ways... allow me to get back to it as needed without resubmitting form data everytime.

Thanks for the info though, good to know it is possible with a little javascript. Also, thanks for the prompt reply- this forum seems to be a treasure trove. Glad I found my way here.

NogDog

Another option is to use CSS styling to make a submit button look like a text link.

...
<style type="text/css">
.link {
   border: none;
   padding: 0;
   background-color: transparent;
   color: blue;
   text-decoration: none;
}
</style>
</head>
...
<input type="submit" name="example" class="link" value="Click me">
...

Horizon88

Oooh, crafty, nogdog. I like the way you think. 😛

rulian

as was said you can pretty much add an onClick, onChange, onCheck, onWhatever trigger to do a document.formname.submit() call
example

<html>
<head>
<script....>
function sendme()
{
document.formX.submit(); 
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form name="formX" method="post" action="myform.php">
<input....>
</form>
<img src="sendme.gif" onClick="sendMe()">

But remember that page will be loaded using a POST method and on refresh the browser will ask to confirm intentions which might confuse people.
You can use a get method and refresh after setting a session variable as was also mentioned before