--- Forwarded Message from Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date:         Thu, 1 Apr 2004 13:15:23 -0500
>From: Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      javascript form validation (help or tools)
>To: [log in to unmask]
>cc: Deanne Cobb <[log in to unmask]>

Help!  I am trying to build an "intelligent" on-line (email) form using
javascript to validate entries, but I don't seem to be "intelligent"
enough ;).  I am stuck at simple entry validations.  The page loads
correctly and emails correctly, but there is something wrong with the
validation process.  It will only give an alert if the user inputs
something into the field and then deletes it, but it doesn't do anything if
the user left it blank from the very beginning.  Since the latter is more
likely to be what the user does, and therefore what we would want to stop
from happening, it isn't really serving its purpose well.

I've had a look at several on-line resources for javascript and what I
understood is that an alert wasn't likely to pop up if the field was left
blank and the user moves onto the next field, but that the check for
validation on submit should still work.  Neither alerts are being given.
It is very perplexing.

I have posted the form (as it is) to URL:
http://uregina.ca/~laninstit/General/FPT_apps/ownjavascript.html and have
posted a textfile of the script to URL:
http://uregina.ca/~laninstit/General/FPT_apps/ownjavascript.txt

If there is anyone out there who knows javascript and is willing to give me
some help on why this may be happening, I would be greatly appreciated.

On the other hand, if someone knows of a tool (Macromedia?) that can create
a self-validating form for me without me having to hard-code it, I would be
greatly appreciative for that information too.  I never was a computer
programmer by trade. ;)

Thank you as always for your help.

Deanne Cobb