How to Make a Text Link Submit A Form

by Christopher Heng, thesitewizard.com

Every now and then, I get a question from one of my visitors at thesitewizard.com asking how a text link can be made to work like a submit button in submitting the contents of a form. This is easily done, with the help of a bit of JavaScript.

For the uninitiated, the usual way that the contents of a form is submitted is when someone clicks on a button created with HTML (or XHTML) code like the following:

Alternatively, some people prefer to replace the ugly button with a graphical image. If the image is called, say, "buttonimage.gif", the code to do this might take the following form:

Search as you might, you will probably not be able to find any documentation in your HTML manual on how you can make a text link function as though a submit button has been clicked. And no wonder. HTML does not directly support such a feature.

The JavaScript Code

If you want the contents of a form submitted when a text link is clicked, you will need a little help from JavaScript. Needless to say, if this is the only way your form can be submitted, your form will never be used by visitors who do not have JavaScript enabled in their browsers.

Let's say you have a form that begins in the following way:

Now, suppose you want to have two text links, one of which is for "Paid Support" and the other for "Free Support". Clicking either of these text links is supposed to cause the form to be submitted, with some device to indicate which link was clicked.

The code to implement this is simple. First, place the following JavaScript code somewhere on your page, such as in the HEAD section of your document.

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">

<!--

function getsupport ( selectedtype )

{

  document.supportform.supporttype.value = selectedtype ;

  document.supportform.submit() ;

}

-->

</script>

Now add the following to your form prior to the closing FORM tag.

<input type="hidden" name="supporttype" />

<a href="javascript:getsupport('Paid')">Paid Support</a> or

<a href="javascript:getsupport('Free')">Free Support</a>

As you can see from the FORM snippet, when the text link "Paid Support" is clicked, getsupport will be called with the string "Paid". Likewise, when the text link "Free Support" is clicked, getsupport will be called with the string "Free" in its argument.

The function getsupport sets the form variable "supporttype", which you defined as a hidden field in the form, to the string given in its argument. This is "Free" or "Paid" depending on which link was clicked. It then submits to form to the CGI script you defined in the "action" attribute of the FORM tag.

Modifying the Form

You will probably want to modify or extend the form to suit your purposes. For example, you might want to change the name of the variable "supporttype" in the code or add more possible values that can be assigned to it. Whatever you do, remember to synchronize your JavaScript code with your form code. For example, if you change "supporttype" to something else in the JavaScript code, remember to change the hidden INPUT tag to contain your new name as well.

Conclusion

There you have it. A text link that can be used to submit a form. Trivial, isn't it?

Do remember, though, before you rush out to implement this in your forms, that not everyone has JavaScript enabled in their browsers. Those without JavaScript will see your form, click it, and find that nothing happens. You will have to weigh the advantage of having this kind of facilities on your site against the cost of excluding non-JavaScript users.

Copyright 2000-2002 by Christopher Heng. All rights reserved.
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