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Lost History On Window.History.Back() -- Javascript and ColdFusion

Hello All,

I have a basic ColdFusion form with input boxes and combo boxes. The combo boxes are populated by CF queries. After submittal of the form, I do some server side error checking on the action page. If an error occurs, I display the error to the user and provide a link (simply window.history.back()) for him or her to return to the form to correct data. Sounds simple right? Well, here is where the complication comes in...at least for me anyhow. One of the combo boxes has an "OnChange" event that causes other fields to be populated. If I don't select anything from that combo box and force the error, the history is retained, but if something is selected from that combo box and an error occurs, the history disappears. Not only the combo box info is gone, but all the other information that I filled in as well...just sends me back to a blank form. Any help would be appreciated!

The code is pretty simple on the action page...just the CF validation and the window.history.back(); link. Below is the combo box.

<cfquery name="QRY_JOB_TYPES" atasource="#LAP_DATA_SOURCE#">
SELECT JOB_TYPE_DESC, DEFAULT_DAYS
FROM tab_JOB_TYPES
ORDER BY JOB_TYPE_DESC
</cfquery>

<select name="cmb_Type" size="1" onchange="Javascript:PopDates()">
<option value="" selected>
<cfloop query="QRY_JOB_TYPES">
<option value="#QRY_JOB_TYPES.JOB_TYPE_DESC#"><font class="ArialBlk8">#QRY_JOB_TYPES.JOB_TYPE_DESC# (average completion in #QRY_JOB_TYPES.DEFAULT_DAYS# days)</font>
</cfloop>
</select>

<script language="JavaScript">
function PopDates()

{
var typeindex = document.frm_JOB_ADD.cmb_Type.selectedIndex;
var selectedtype = document.frm_JOB_ADD.cmb_Type.options[typeindex].value;
var mypath = "JOB_POPULATE_DEFAULT_DATES_AND_USER.cfm?URL_TYPE=" + escape(selectedtype) + "&URL_BEG_DATE=" + escape(document.frm_JOB_ADD.txt_EST_START_DATE.value);
window.open(mypath+"&random="+Math.random(),"mywin","scrollbars=1,left=190,top=160,width=160,height=80"); 
}
</script>

Thanks!

SOLUTION

riffraff5

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James Rodgers

>>I do some server side error checking on the action page. If an error occurs, I display the error to the user and provide a link (simply window.history.back()) for him or her to return to the form to correct data

try some client side validation too

<form action="' method="" onSubmit="return validateForm(this);">

<script>

function validateForm(objForm){
var strErr="";
var objFocus="";
if (!objForm.formElement.value){
strErr+="FormElement is blank!\nThis is a required field.")
if(!objFocus){
objFocus=objForm.formElement;
}
..do all validation

if(strErr){
alert(strErr);
objFocus.focus();
}
return !strErr;
}

}

}

mts9

ASKER

All,

Yes, I agree both of these fixes, but I guess I was looking for why my problem is occurring.

Thanks
Mike

riffraff5

Because you are not providing any way to maintain persistance of the user's inputs.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

James Rodgers

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mts9

ASKER

Points for both...thanks

James Rodgers

glad i could help

thanks for the points!