Posted by The Natural Philosopher on 10/22/07 20:37

Jerry Stuckle wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> Fester Bestertester wrote:
>>> Greetings,
>>>
>>> I'm an occasional php/mysql dabbler.
>>>
>>> I have a basic data form with a submit button. Unfortunately, it's
>>> still possible for the user to enter data changes and close the
>>> window, without clicking the submit button, thus losing the data.
>>>
>>> Can someone point me to a generic example of some code that will trap
>>> and handle this error?
>> Only way is via javascript.
>>
>> Something like "onunload submit".
>>
>> But the syntax is far more complex.
>>
>> Another way to achieve what you want is to use javascript to submit
>> the form any time anything changes using teh onchange function.
>>
>
> Terrible advice. What happens if they put in 1/2 of the data they want
> to update, then have to close because they get called away?
>

That depends. In some cases that is desirable behaviour, if the fields
are somewhat independent.

Oherwise an alert box on unloading, and ask them if they want to scrap
the data they have entered..


> Or, if it updates on the fly like you suggest, they update one field and
> the system crashes, the power goes out, the internet connection drops -
> whatever.
>

No problem really..it depends if the form comprises an atomic
transaction. Lots do not.

> Someone trying to enter a new address comes to mind. You want all of
> the changes or none of the changes.
>
>

Dunno. Here just changing the postcode woul probably be enough ;-)

However if you want an atomic transaction, use onchange to set a flag,
and submit to clear it, and on unload if the flag is still set, issue
warning.

Its fairly standard javascript.

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