Multiple submit buttons on a form

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Multiple submit buttons in an HTML form

I've put together this form which, as you can see at the bottom of the page, allows a user to add and delete image files associated with the main record.

The problem that I have is that there are multiple buttons that have a 'Submit' action behind them, namely: 'Upload this File', 'Delete Selected Image', 'View Selected Image', and 'Submit' and because of this, immaterial of the button I use, the only action performed is a complete record submission.

How can I make sure that the 'Submit' action behind each button works independently of each other?

You are setting values to certain inputs with each button. Looks like you're always sending the form request to the same URL. So, what are you exactly worried about? — Alfabravo, Dec 21 '11 at 16:35
Give them a `name` attribute and write your PHP code based on the presence of that query string item. — kapa, Dec 21 '11 at 16:41
@bazmegakapa, many thanks for your reply. I must admit to being relatively new to PHP. I understand how to allocate a name to each button, but could yopu perhaps please elborate how I would tell the PHP to look for the name? — IRHM, Dec 21 '11 at 16:43
@IRHM `if (isset($_POST['upload_file'])) { your code }` for example if your button has `name="upload_file"`. — kapa, Dec 21 '11 at 16:44

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 24 '21 at 18:43

2

If you put every button in a separate <form></form> it should be fine. That may be possible in your current setup.

Assuming you can not do the above:

Form:

<form name='myForm'>
    <input type='hidden' id='hiddenSubmit' name='hiddenSubmit' value=''/>

    <!-- Lots of fields here --> 
    <input type='button' name='action1' onclick='changeHiddenSubmit(this.name)'/>

    <!-- Some more fields --> 
    <input type='button' name='action2' onclick='changeHiddenSubmit(this.name)'/>

    // etc...
</form>

JavaScript:

<script>
   function changeHiddenSubmit(name){
       document.getElementById('hiddenSubmit').value = name;
       document.myForm.submit();
    }
</script>

PHP:

<?php
    switch($_POST['hiddenSubmit'){

        case 'action1':

        break;

        case 'action2':

        break;
    }
?>

edited Sep 24 '21 at 18:43

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 21 '11 at 16:35

Derk Arts

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Hi, many thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. I'm not sure whether it's possible to use individual forms, is there no other way around this please? – IRHM Dec 21 '11 at 16:40
A solution could be to change them to regular buttons, and `onClick` set a hidden input to the name of the button that was clicked, and then `form.submit()`. In PHP check the value of the hidden field, and act accordingly. Do you follow? – Derk Arts Dec 21 '11 at 16:43
thanks for taking the time to send me your suggestion. I think I understand what you're saying. I'd have to have a look at this a little closer to fully get to grips with it. Kind regards – IRHM Dec 21 '11 at 16:46
Check my update answer, that should get you started – Derk Arts Dec 21 '11 at 16:51
I don't really see why should he use Javascript. In what way does this solution offer more than simply setting a `name` on the buttons (other than breaking your app if JS is turned off)? – kapa Dec 21 '11 at 16:54
I was under the impression that this is not foolproof, e.g. not all browsers handle the submission of submit button names in the same way. But I could be wrong. Too bad about the work though :) – Derk Arts Dec 21 '11 at 16:56

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 18 '21 at 20:33

2

You don't need to use a separate form for each button. You can just use a different value in the "name" of the submit buttons. Then on the server you can examine the value of 'form_action'

Example:

<input name="form_action[delete]" type="submit" value="Delete">
<input name="form_action[update]" type="submit" value="Update">

Put as many of these buttons as you want. On the server, examine the value of $_POST['form_action'].

edited Sep 18 '21 at 20:33

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 21 '11 at 16:52

Dmitri Snytkine

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I would say you should not check the value (with a multi-language site, it could change, etc)... Simply look for the existence of `$_POST['form_action']['delete']` for example. – kapa Dec 21 '11 at 17:10
Does `form_action` become an array in PHP? Can you [add](https://stackoverflow.com/posts/8593384/edit) some references to official documentation to your answer and/or elaborate on this? (But ***without*** "Edit:", "Update:", or similar - the answer should appear as if it was written today.) – Peter Mortensen Sep 18 '21 at 20:34

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 24 '21 at 18:14

1

If you give your submit buttons a unique name, you can tell on the server side which one of them was clicked (resulting in the submission of the form).

Try this example:

<?php
    if (isset($_POST['b1'])) {
        echo 'Button 1 was pressed.';
    }
    if (isset($_POST['b2'])) {
        echo 'Button 2 was pressed.';
    }
    if (isset($_POST['b3'])) {
        echo 'Button 3 was pressed.';
    }
?>
<form action="" method="post">
    <input type="submit" name="b1" />
    <input type="submit" name="b2" />
    <input type="submit" name="b3" />
</form>

edited Sep 24 '21 at 18:14

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 21 '11 at 16:50

kapa

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All, many thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. I've certainly received some fanstastic suggestions. The common theme seems to be to add a name to each button and then call the name in the PHP, so this is the approach I'm going to use. Once again amny thanks and kind regrads. – IRHM Dec 21 '11 at 16:57
Couldn't it be simpler? Using [the array `$_POST['name']`](https://stackoverflow.com/a/3314581)? – Peter Mortensen Sep 18 '21 at 20:53

Multiple submit buttons on a form

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