Form submission without "ENTER"

[EBG]

I have a simple email form on my site but getting screwy results because I
know alot of users are hitting "enter" instead of tab when doing the form.

When they hit enter the entire form is submitted whether it's finished or
not.

Is there an easy way to correct this?

My site only cares about IE.

the code for the submit button is......
<input type="submit" name="Send" value="Submit label order" size="25">

I think I read where if I get rid of naming the button (submit label
order)...that will take care of it?

I'm just a cool page user that saves to html....nothin' fancy.

THANKS kindly for any help with this.

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven EBG:

I have a simple email form on my site but getting screwy results
because I know alot of users are hitting "enter" instead of tab
when doing the form.

When they hit enter the entire form is submitted whether it's
finished or not.
If you have that many inexperienced visitors, try a "Please use Tab
key between fields" note at the top of the form.
Is there an easy way to correct this?
Your backend script should check if the form is complete, and if not,
return them to the page.

AFAIK, there is no way to stop the form from submitting when pressing
Enter. You could use some JavaScript to check for required fields not
being empty.
My site only cares about IE.

What about the other 20% ? Not good enough for your business?

<snip>

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

[Lachlan Hunt]

EBG wrote:

I have a simple email form on my site but getting screwy results because I
know alot of users are hitting "enter" instead of tab when doing the form.
Why would anyone be pressing enter instead of tab? Are they
expecting enter to take them to the next field, like tab would? I've
never seen anyone do that before.
When they hit enter the entire form is submitted whether it's finished or
not.
You should provide some server-side validation which will check that
all required fields have been provided. If not, return the form to the
user, asking them to complete it. After that, you can provide
javascript validation, which can prevent the entire form being submitted
and returned if there's an error. Do not skip the server side
validation, because javascript may be unsupported or disabled in some
browsers.

My site only cares about IE.

Well, that's a big mistake!

--
Lachlan Hunt
http://www.lachy.id.au/
la**********@lachy.id.au.update.virus.scanners

Remove .update.virus.scanners to email me,
NO SPAM and NO VIRUSES!!!

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven Lachlan Hunt:

Why would anyone be pressing enter instead of tab? Are they expecting
enter to take them to the next field, like tab would? I've never seen
anyone do that before.

Old DOS-based (80x25 character) data input programs... ;-)

Most GUI users though are aware of the tab key, at least in my experience.

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

[Harlan Messinger]

"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.*********@example.invalid> wrote:

Quoth the raven Lachlan Hunt:

Why would anyone be pressing enter instead of tab? Are they expecting
enter to take them to the next field, like tab would? I've never seen
anyone do that before.
Old DOS-based (80x25 character) data input programs... ;-)

Heh, I was surprised by the question. I gotta remember how young some
folks are! :-)

Most GUI users though are aware of the tab key, at least in my experience.

Let's put it this way: if someone doesn't know how to navigate the
OP's form using Tab instead of Enter, then he has the same problem on
every other form he completes, in which case he'll figure out pretty
quickly that he's doing it wrong.

--
Harlan Messinger
Remove the first dot from my e-mail address.
Veuillez ôter le premier point de mon adresse de courriel.

[Karl Groves]

"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.*********@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:ru*******************@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

Quoth the raven Lachlan Hunt:

Why would anyone be pressing enter instead of tab? Are they expecting
enter to take them to the next field, like tab would? I've never seen
anyone do that before.

Old DOS-based (80x25 character) data input programs... ;-)

Most GUI users though are aware of the tab key, at least in my experience.

Does your "experience" include usability studies?
Don't get me wrong, BTS, your posts are usually very good. But, I *do* have
experience in viewing subjects in a usability lab, and the only
(able-bodied) people who use the "tab" key for anything are usually power
users on a laptop. Some desktop power users will use "tab" as well, but not
as reliably as those on a laptop.
"Power users" are unequivocally not representative of the general populace.

-Karl

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven Karl Groves:

"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.*********@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:ru*******************@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

Old DOS-based (80x25 character) data input programs... ;-)

Most GUI users though are aware of the tab key, at least in my experience.
Does your "experience" include usability studies?

No, not like you have. My experience is 20 years in the database world
[1], writing prgs for capturing and manipulating data. Business
database applications. In the old DOS world, people hit the Enter key.
As we progressed into GUI, and the Tab key really worked <g>, most of
my clients adapted.

In the WWW world, my experience is from looking over the shoulders of
many friends and coworkers, who generally move from field to field
with the Tab (experienced users) or use the mouse to click in the next
field (inexperienced). Then of course they click the submit button and
never use the Enter key.

Sometimes, a simple "Hey, why don't you use the Tab key?" can change
their lives forever.
Don't get me wrong, BTS, your posts are usually very good.
Well, thanks for that. ;-)
But, I *do* have
experience in viewing subjects in a usability lab, and the only
(able-bodied) people who use the "tab" key for anything are usually power
users on a laptop. Some desktop power users will use "tab" as well, but not
as reliably as those on a laptop.
If there were usability labs in my area, I'd be happy to visit.
Unfortunately, about all we have is community college adult education
classes, which really don't qualify.
"Power users" are unequivocally not representative of the general populace.

Agreed.

[1] Second career...

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

[Brian]

EBG wrote:

My site only cares about IE.

Then your post is off-topic. Please find a microsoft group.

--
Brian (remove ".invalid" to email me)
http://www.tsmchughs.com/

[Shawn K. Quinn]

EBG wrote:

My site only cares about IE.

This group is about HTML authoring for the World Wide Web, not just IE. If
you want answers about your IE site, ask on a microsoft.* group.

--
Shawn K. Quinn