asp.net mvc disabled text box updated by javascript does not post new value

Question

I am using a strongly typed model for my view. I have a disabled text box whose value I update using javascript. The textbox is rendered using this

<%: Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.TotalAmount, new { disabled = "disabled"})%>

This renders a textbox with NAME and ID as 'TotalAmount'. TotalAmount is also a property on my model that binds to this view.

The javascript to update its value in the view is like this within its function:

document.getElementById('TotalAmount').value = {assigning new value here};

The function does get called and I can see the value in the disabled textbox when I change some value in another editable textbox. However, when I post this form to my action method as below :

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Process (ProcessVM FormPostVM)
{
}

the disabled textbox property [TotalAmount] still has the old value but the editable textbox which I modified contains the new value I entered. Why does the disabled textbox not contain the javascript updated value?

I tried using

ModelState.Remove("TotalAmount");

in the action method above, but as I already figured it didn't work.

Any clues, tips?

Thanks for your time....

4 answers in one minute and they are all correct. – tkt986 May 04 '12 at 13:16 — tkt986, May 04 '12 at 13:16

score 25 · Accepted Answer · answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

25

HTML input elements such as textboxes that have the disabled="disabled" attribute will never send their values to the server when the form is submitted. If you want to send the value to the server while still disabling the user from changing it you could make the textbox readonly:

<%= Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.TotalAmount, new { @readonly = "readonly" }) %>

answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

Darin Dimitrov

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@Darin Dimitrov, you said "...will never send their values to the server...". Is this a general rule or MVC specific? Also your solution is for textboxes. What about `select` elements? – anar khalilov Jan 09 '14 at 09:28
@Anar, no this has nothing to do with ASP.NET MVC. It's basic HTML. And it is true for all input elements including `select`. – Darin Dimitrov Jan 09 '14 at 11:48
1

The thing is, `select` does not support the `readonly` attribute. I have found a workaround to store the value of dropdown in a hidden element. I don't like that approach, but unfortunately I will have to use it as a last resort. – anar khalilov Jan 09 '14 at 11:50

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

4

Disabled inputs are never sent in a form submit, try using readonly attribute instead or hidden inputs

answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

jorgehmv

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score 4 · Answer 3 · answered May 04 '12 at 13:15

Disabled fields don't get posted. Try having a hidden form field that will send the value to the server, and set both TotalAmount and the hidden form field. On the server, use the value for the hidden field instead.

On a side note, since this looks like the order total, this is something I would recalcuate on the server rather than opening up the possibility of someone hacking the html and getting a discount on their product.

EDIT: To the other's points, I'd forgotten about the readonly attribute. That will work too.

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

3

If you change it to use readonly rather than disabled, then this should give you the same functionality, but post the value.

answered May 04 '12 at 13:13

Tim B James

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score 1 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:09

Browsers don't post values back in disabled input controls, as you've discovered. Probably the easiest way to work around this is to hook onto form submission, and re-enable the input as the form is being submitted; the user won't have a chance to edit the value, and it should get posted with the rest of the request.

i think the last issue described it : please check it out :

Retrieving the value of a asp:TextBox

asp.net mvc disabled text box updated by javascript does not post new value

5 Answers5

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