Form clears after data validation finds an error

[Mean MrMustard]

I built a form to collect data from users. When the Submit button is clicked a Javascript function runs to validate data. If the function finds an error, a message box pops up. If the user clicks OK the entire form clears and all the data has to be re-entered.

How do I stop the form from clearing?

 

[hellman69]

Return false from the function so the form doesn't submit?

Trevor

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Here's the main function:

function validateSendReport() {

if( document.contact.firstname.value=="" )
{
alert("Please provide a First Name.");
document.contact.firstname.focus();
return false;
}

if( document.contact.lastname.value=="" )
{
alert("Please provide a Last Name.");
lastname.focus();
return false;
}

if( !isValidEmailAddress(document.contact.email.value) )
{
alert("Please provide a valid Email Address.");
email.focus();
email.select();
return false;
}

if( document.contact.department.value=="" )
{
alert("Please provide a Department.");
department.focus();
return false;
}

if( document.contact.reportname.value=="" )
{
alert("Please provide a Report name.");
reportname.focus();
return false;
}

if( document.contact.dateneeded.value=="" )
{
alert("Please provide a Date Needed.");
dateneeded.focus();
return false;
}

sendReport();

alert( "The Report Request has been sent." );

return true;

}

It doesn't submit the form if it finds an error it just clears it if it does. If it doesn't find any errors it submits but doesn't clear.

 

[Gunslinger08]

What language is the page written in? If asp.net, just use RequiredField or RegularExpression validation.
Otherwise, the crappy workaround: save the values in session variables when they click submit, do your validation, and have a function that loads the session variables into the form when the page loads, if they exist.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Alternately, nest all of those if statements and negate them and put sendReport() with the alert inside the last if.

Like:

 

[hellman69]

One other thing, make sure the form is calling the function like this: onSubmit="return validateSendReport();"

From the JS you provided, it wouldn't clear the fields unless the form is submitted.

Trevor