Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl

peacemaker1820 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello monks!

I am trying to connect to my database while the user is filling out the form. It works as such: the user fills out a text box, without submitting the form, I would like to have a pop up window from where the user can have more options that are coming from a database.
Here is my code:
IN HTML I HAVE:

<input type="text" name="textBox" size="8"> 
<a href="javascript:priceList('form.textBox.value');">Price List</a>
[download]

IN JAVASCRIPT I HAVE:

function priceList(text){
win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox="+text,"","width=250,heigh
+t=240")
win.creator=self
}
[download]

IN PERL I HAVE:

use CGI;
$q = new CGI;

$partNumber = $q->param('textBox');
print ($partNumber);
[download]

Thus, as you can see in Perl I am printin the result of what i have got. The result on page that I get is UNDEFINED.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks Monks I am out of guesses!

Comment on Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl Select or Download Code

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Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by Speedy (Monk) on Jul 05, 2002 at 23:16 UTC
Perhaps the problem is in getting the value of "textBox" passed in the JavaScript function call. Try reading the value in the JavaScript function rather than passing it. This also would give you the chance to test for no value or improperly formatted values being entered. For example, in your HTML code, try something like: `<html> <head> <script language="JavaScript"> function priceList () { var text=form.textBox.value; win=window.open("/cgi-bin/getPrice.pl?textBox="+text,"","width=250,hei +ght=240") } </script> </head> <body> <form name='form'> <input type="text" name="textBox" size="8"> <a href="javascript:priceList();">Price List</a> </form> </body> </html>` [download] with about the same Perl script, for example: `#!/usr/bin/perl use strict; use warnings; use CGI; my $q = new CGI; my $partNumber = $q->param('textBox'); print $q->header, $q->start_html; print $q->p("Part Number = $partNumber"); print $q->end_html;` [download] The pop-up window then contains the value entered. Speedy Live in the moment	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by dws (Chancellor) on Jul 05, 2002 at 22:06 UTC
The result on page that I get is UNDEFINED. I'm not clear on whether you're getting a 404 page in the popup, or whether the CGI is producing empty results. If the former, I suspect you have a problem with this line `win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox="+text,` Typically, the CGI directory is named "cgi-bin", not "cgibin". Double-check this. Also, you might have better luck using a fully qualified URL. E.g., `win=window.open("http://www.example.com/cgi-bin/getPrice? ...`	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by George_Sherston (Vicar) on Jul 05, 2002 at 21:35 UTC
Apart from your not using `strict` (which I and I should think everyone else round here would encourage you to do), I don't think there's a problem with your Perl. If you're outputting to a web browser you'll need `print $q->header, $partNumber;` [download] but you probably knew this. I think the problem is likely to be in your jscript, and two possibles are I think `form.textBox.value` should perhaps not be in quotes Do you need `cgi-bin` instead of `cgibin`? § George Sherston	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by TexasTess (Beadle) on Jul 07, 2002 at 00:04 UTC
The following screams at me from your code: win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox="+text,"","width=250,heigh+t=240") Should read: win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox='+text+' ","width=250,height=240") See the difference? TexasTess	[reply]
Re: Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by dws (Chancellor) on Jul 07, 2002 at 00:30 UTC
Should read: win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox='+text+' ","width=250,height=240") Nope. Not unless the CGI expects the string to arrive with single quotes around it. I suspect that the right thing to do here is to URL-encode 'textBox', via `win=window.open("cgibin/getPrice.pl?textBox=" + escape(text), "width=250,height=240")` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: Re: Retrieving value from HTML->Javascript->Perl by TexasTess (Beadle) on Jul 07, 2002 at 00:52 UTC
I've just written some code almost exactly like this..but it's at work and I'm at home..and my brain is fried so can't remember the EXACT syntax I used however.... I've found that when trying to use quotes inside a quoted string the CGI converts the ' nicely...but leave the " in and it screws it up...ALSO shouldn't there be a "+" on either side of the variable? Texas Tess	[reply]


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