static input type

[janet287]

I am trying to make what I thought would be minor modifications to a php form. I have the following:
$table->data[$i][] = '<input type="text" name="acronym['.$st->id.']" size="2" maxlength="2" value="'.$st->acronym.'" />';

I want to make it so the text field is not editable to the end user. I still need it to be submitted as part of the form, but I'd like just a plain static field, not an editable text box.

I did this and it gives me what I want on the screen but nothing gets submitted when I submit the form, so I get an error. How can I get this and still submit the value with the form?
$table->data[$i][] = $st->acronym;

Any help would be appreciated.

[NogDog]

If in your form HTML you are setting the field in question to be "disabled", instead set it to be "readonly". Disabled elements are not included in the form data, whereas readonly fields are.

[janet287]

I tried readonly but it still looks like the field can be changed. Is there a way to make it look like a static field not a text box?

[NogDog]

You can use CSS to change the background-color and color to make it look however you want. 🙂

[janet287]

Can you help me understand the best way to set the field to readonly? Where do I add the readonly statement to the code below?

$table->data[$i][] = '<input type="text" name="acronym['.$st->id.']" size="2" maxlength="2" value="'.$st->acronym.'" />';

[scrupul0us]

use this:

<input onFocus='this.Blur' ...

when a user clicks on the field it automatically unclicks thanks to javascript

[NogDog]

$table->data[$i][] = '<input type="text" name="acronym['.$st->id.']" size="2" maxlength="2" value="'.$st->acronym.'" readlonly="readonly" />';

CSS:

input[readonly] {
   background-color: #ccc;
   color: #666;
}

You could also add the onfocus attribute that scrupul0us suggested in order to help the user realize that it is not editable.