bheerman
asked on
disabling the "enter" key in FORMs
IE 4 automatically submits our FORMs when visitors hit the key -- even if the form is not filled out. We really don't want to make all the fields required fields with Java Script to counteract this peculiarity. We just want to disable the enter key from effecting the form submission. Is there an HTML attribute that will prevent the enter key from this action?
This problem does not seem to impact Netscape.
This problem does not seem to impact Netscape.
No. There is no way in HTML to enable/disable form buttons without using JavaScript or VBScript. I am surprised that there is no impact on Netscape - an empty field is an empty field.
ASKER
Okay. Just let me clarify to make sure I understand. The user hits the enter key halfway through the form inadvertantly. They are not on the form button, they are in another field, like a radio button or a drop down. This submits the form in IE 4 (but not in Netscape). There is nothing that can be done short of requiring these fields with Java Script? I don't understand why the enter key would submit the form if the user is not in the form submit button field.
You could add an onChange to each form-element, check what the last keypress was, and make nothing happen when it was return, and in every other case add the key typed to the form element.
I cannot check with MSIE4 right now, but i guess submission only happens when the visitor is filling out a textfield or textarea, is that right ?
I cannot check with MSIE4 right now, but i guess submission only happens when the visitor is filling out a textfield or textarea, is that right ?
Now I understand a little more, thanks for clarifying. Yes, IE will submit the form when the user hits <ENTER> but only when the user is in a TYPE="text" field (or on the submit button). As the other comments state, there is no way within HTML (via a tag) to disable this feature in IE4 other than with JavaScript.
BTW, Netscape (I believe) will do this as well _but_ only if the only field in the form is a text field.
JB
BTW, Netscape (I believe) will do this as well _but_ only if the only field in the form is a text field.
JB
this is JavaScript, but may be worth a try:
a) declare a variable in the <HEAD> part of your page:
var submitnow = false
b) add onSubmit="return submitnow" to the <FORM> tag
c) now add a onClick="submitnow=true" to your <INPUT TYPE="SUBMIT">
I have not tested this; it may be that you have to add this to your submit button tag:
onClick="submitnow=true; this.form.submit()" (I assume it's no mailto: form)
Tell me if you like it / if it works.
a) declare a variable in the <HEAD> part of your page:
var submitnow = false
b) add onSubmit="return submitnow" to the <FORM> tag
c) now add a onClick="submitnow=true" to your <INPUT TYPE="SUBMIT">
I have not tested this; it may be that you have to add this to your submit button tag:
onClick="submitnow=true; this.form.submit()" (I assume it's no mailto: form)
Tell me if you like it / if it works.
ASKER
Ok. Thanks all.
jamesbrown should get 50.
sybe, 10.
christian wenz, 10
jamesbrown should get 50.
sybe, 10.
christian wenz, 10
the easiest way to achieve this: let jamesbrown answer this question, he will get 50 points after you rate him. Then, ask questions labeled "just for sybe" and "just for xx" and state there that these questions shall only be answered by the specific persons. Rate each of this questions 10 points.
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