onchange submitting form

[infiniphunk]

Hello, please forgive me if I've posted this in the wrong forum. Here is what I'm trying to do.

I want to make a form who's content changes dynamically as the user selects options, such as from a drop-down menu or radio buttons. I've googled around and just can't find a good howto on how this is done. You guys know what I'm talking about, we've all seen pages on the web that do this. For instance, you select an option and the form immediately updates itself to show further form input options pertaining to that selection (that don't need to be shown if that option is not selected). From what I understand there is a java function that does this, and I'd be ok with doing it that way if I have to. What is this called?

Otherwise I'd prefer to stay clear of java if I can do this using php alone. Is there no way to integrate a submit button into a radio button or a select option entry? Any ideas much appreciated!

[shergold]

i believe what you are looking for is javascript, there are many sites that provide free scripts for or tutorials on what you are looking for, google it.

 

Good luck,

shergold.

[seventheyejosh]

like so?

 

<form name=form1 action=/index.php method=post>

<input type=whatever onchange="document.form1.submit();">

</form>

[haku]

It's javascript not java. They are entirely different languages.

 

You can do it with php, but it will require a page reload, and you will need to add a button if order to reload the page with the new form element. To do this, you just add a button that says something like 'add new form element', then check in php to see if that was the button that was submitted. If it was, then you add the new form element, and send it back to the user.

[infiniphunk]

OK, thanks for your replies. Looks like I finally have a good excuse to go learn some javascript. I think what I'm looking for is something called 'onchange'.

cheers

[seventheyejosh]

best site IMO

 

http://www.w3schools.com/JS/default.asp

 

and stuff like onchange, onclick etc are called 'events', just so you have a direction for googling

 

 

goodluck!