iframe problem

We have a form that contains an iframe. In the iframe are 3 select
boxes (country, state and city). When you select the country, the
iframe page refreshes with the appropriate states and does the same
thing when you select a state. We did some testing in the different
browsers with this method and it appeared that the only browser that it
worked reliably in was IE. So, we put some asp code in that ran a
browser check and displayed the iframe only if the user was using IE.

We noticed that over the last few weeks, we've been getting a number of
support request emails from users who try to fill out the form and when
they submit it, it doesn't contain the information from the iframe. We
found that when some users would disable their firewall, it would work.
But, it didn't fix all occurences of this problem.

Does anyone know if there's a problem with this type of setup or what
could be happening? Oh, and the process is like this. They fill out
the form, submit it to page 2 (page 2 pulls all the variables from page
1 and puts them in hidden form values) and page 2 submits to master
processing page which returns the error. Thanks.

re: iframe problem

cakewalkr7 wrote:[color=blue]
> We have a form that contains an iframe. In the iframe are 3 select
> boxes (country, state and city). When you select the country, the
> iframe page refreshes with the appropriate states and does the
> same thing when you select a state. We did some testing in the
> different browsers with this method and it appeared that the only
> browser that it worked reliably in was IE. So, we put some asp
> code in that ran a browser check and displayed the iframe only if
> the user was using IE.[/color]

Is this for the WWW or an intranet?

I don't use IE. Ever...
[color=blue]
> We noticed that over the last few weeks, we've been getting a
> number of support request emails from users who try to fill out the
> form and when they submit it, it doesn't contain the information
> from the iframe. We found that when some users would disable their
> firewall, it would work. But, it didn't fix all occurences of this
> problem.[/color]

What happens to your form when you disable JavaScript? Without your
URL, we can't really tell...
[color=blue]
> Does anyone know if there's a problem with this type of setup or
> what could be happening? Oh, and the process is like this. They
> fill out the form, submit it to page 2 (page 2 pulls all the
> variables from page 1 and puts them in hidden form values) and page
> 2 submits to master processing page which returns the error.[/color]

Hidden form values are prone to failure, methinks.

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

re: iframe problem

It's used in a number of employment related web sites, so no, no
intranet. I understand you not wanting to use IE and I don't really
want to anymore either, but the fact is, you still have to make sure
things work in it since the majority of surfing is done with it. We
wrote some no script content for the page informing the user that they
must have javascript enabled to use the form. As for the URL, you
can't access the iframe page any more. I've taken it out of production
until we get the problem resolved (if that's even possible). Why are
hidden form values prone to failure? I've never run into a problem
with them before. Thanks.

re: iframe problem

Gazing into my crystal ball I observed "cakewalkr7" <cakewalkr7
@hotmail.com> writing in news:1119892893.683260.87690
@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
[color=blue]
> It's used in a number of employment related web sites, so no, no
> intranet. I understand you not wanting to use IE and I don't really
> want to anymore either, but the fact is, you still have to make sure
> things work in it since the majority of surfing is done with it. We
> wrote some no script content for the page informing the user that they
> must have javascript enabled to use the form. As for the URL, you
> can't access the iframe page any more. I've taken it out of production
> until we get the problem resolved (if that's even possible). Why are
> hidden form values prone to failure? I've never run into a problem
> with them before. Thanks.
>
>[/color]

Hidden form values can be read and spoofed by the client, but in your
case, you might be having a situation where they are not getting
populated. Have you tried turning off js and seeing if the fields
populate?

--
Adrienne Boswell
http://www.cavalcade-of-coding.info
Please respond to the group so others can share

re: iframe problem

Yes, and they are being populated. Except of course the field that is
turning up as the problem field. But I don't think that's what's
causing the problem. We've specifically asked the people who have
problems if they have javascript enabled and they do. Plus, with the
big no script warning at the top of the page, if they still don't turn
it on, it's their fault if they get an error like that.

re: iframe problem

cakewalkr7 wrote:[color=blue]
> It's used in a number of employment related web sites, so no, no
> intranet. I understand you not wanting to use IE and I don't
> really want to anymore either, but the fact is, you still have to
> make sure things work in it since the majority of surfing is done
> with it.[/color]

What, 80% and falling? Sure, it has to work in IE, but it has to work
in all other major browsers as well. How about PDAs and mobile phones?
Will your page work on those?

Make it work first in Firefox and Opera, then tweak what IE won't do.
[color=blue]
> We wrote some no script content for the page informing the user
> that they must have javascript enabled to use the form.[/color]

What if my mobile phone doesn't even have JavaScript?
[color=blue]
> As for the URL, you can't access the iframe page any more. I've
> taken it out of production until we get the problem resolved (if
> that's even possible). Why are hidden form values prone to
> failure? I've never run into a problem with them before. Thanks.[/color]

Adrienne answered that. All an unscrupulous visitor has to do is make
a copy of your page (Save As...), change the values in the source, and
click the Submit button. And lo, you've just sold a new car for a
dollar. (you get the idea)

and your other post:[color=blue]
> Plus, with the big no script warning at the top of the page, if
> they still don't turn it on, it's their fault if they get an error
> like that.[/color]

No, it's still your problem. <g> I have a number of forms and web
apps online, and not a single one of them needs JavaScript.

BTW, Google Groups does have a method of quoting what you are replying
to...

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

re: iframe problem

Look, I'm not trying to start an argument about the merits and
shortcomings of certain browsers. I fully understand that you have to
design for all browsers, but in our situation, we really aren't
concerned about pdas and mobile phones. We have attempted to make this
application as cross browser as possible while either only using
javascript that translates fine between all browsers, or using server
side detection to give them the correct content. As far as not
worrying about mobile phones and pdas, yes, that's our problem, but we
choose not to worry about it.

I know you can make forms without any javascript, but in this
particular case, javascript helped to solve a number of problems.
Without javascript, we would either have had to load every country,
state and city (which would be very messy and long to load) or require
the user to resubmit the form over and over for each change when they
change the country or state. Keep in mind, there is location
information like this for home address, work address, relocation
address, etc. So, that would require many manual submissions. You
don't need javascript for your apps... fine, good for you. For us it
makes sense.

Now back to the original question. Javascript is definitely not the
cause of this problem. We have determined that with many users and net
meeting calls. All I'm asking is if anyone knows if there's a known
problem in ANY browser when you submit a form that has an iframe that
contains part of the form contents?

re: iframe problem

cakewalkr7 wrote:[color=blue]
> Look, I'm not trying to start an argument about the merits and
> shortcomings of certain browsers.[/color]

Ok. Neither was I.
[color=blue]
> I fully understand that you have to design for all browsers, but in
> our situation, we really aren't concerned about pdas and mobile
> phones. ...[/color]

Still, it pays to think about it. While you didn't say all your users
will be using a desktop computer somewhere, maybe next year they will
be surfing while driving to work. :-)
[color=blue]
> I know you can make forms without any javascript, but in this
> particular case, javascript helped to solve a number of problems.
> Without javascript, we would either have had to load every country,
> state and city (which would be very messy and long to load) or
> require the user to resubmit the form over and over for each change
> when they change the country or state. Keep in mind, there is
> location information like this for home address, work address,
> relocation address, etc. So, that would require many manual
> submissions. You don't need javascript for your apps... fine, good
> for you. For us it makes sense.[/color]

Use it where appropriate of course. Just be sure that your server's
processing code also checks for all validation.

I don't have any apps that use every country, state/province/etc, and
city in them, and I can't see why you would need to preload such data.
Have them enter those items, then verify against a server-side table.

Unless you are talking only about a small subset of country/state/city
that would be a valid entry - but you didn't say that. <g>
[color=blue]
> Now back to the original question. Javascript is definitely not
> the cause of this problem. We have determined that with many users
> and net meeting calls. All I'm asking is if anyone knows if
> there's a known problem in ANY browser when you submit a form that
> has an iframe that contains part of the form contents?[/color]

My thinking is that an iframe contains a completely separate page,
with likely a separate form, and may not be visible to your processor.

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

re: iframe problem

Gazing into my crystal ball I observed "cakewalkr7" <cakewalkr7
@hotmail.com> writing in news:1119893763.881840.208930
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
[color=blue]
> Yes, and they are being populated. Except of course the field that is
> turning up as the problem field. But I don't think that's what's
> causing the problem. We've specifically asked the people who have
> problems if they have javascript enabled and they do. Plus, with the
> big no script warning at the top of the page, if they still don't turn
> it on, it's their fault if they get an error like that.
>
>[/color]

Have _you_ turned off javascript yourself and seen what the page is
doing? Don't rely on what people are telling you - when you're
debugging, you have to do it yourself.

Download Opera, you can turn javascript and a host of other things off
and on on the fly.

--
Adrienne Boswell
http://www.cavalcade-of-coding.info
Please respond to the group so others can share

re: iframe problem

Adrienne wrote:[color=blue]
> Download Opera, you can turn javascript and a host of other things
> off and on on the fly.[/color]

Also easy in Firefox with the PrefBar extension:
http://prefbar.mozdev.org/

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.