Question

I am trying to update the <p> tag using jquery, however, when I click the ‘submit’ button the text I am inserting with innerHTML quickly disappears. UNLESS I use Firefox, in which case it seems to work -IF- I insert the alert box. This sounds to me like some sort of timing problem. But I am not sure quite what it is or how do fix it. Does anyone have an idea what the problem might be?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

$(document).ready(function(){
     $('#addCourse').live("submit", function(){
        //alert("Submit Function.  hours = "+$('#hours').val());
        document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS = '+INIT_PLANNED_HRS+2;//($('#hours').val())+' GPA';
     });                
     document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS!! = '+INIT_PLANNED_HRS+' GPA';
});

and the html

<li><h3>Planned Courses</h3><p id = "hrs_planned"> gpa </p></li>

Answer 1

Try return false;

Also use on() instead of live() if you are using jQuery 1.7 as live() has been depricated. See documentation for details.
If you are using jQuery 1.6.x or earlier use delegate() instead.

$(document).ready(function() {
    $('#addCourse').on("submit", function(e) {
        //alert("Submit Function.  hours = "+$('#hours').val());
        document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS = ' + INIT_PLANNED_HRS + 2; //($('#hours').val())+' GPA';
        return false;
    });
    document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS!! = ' + INIT_PLANNED_HRS + ' GPA';
});​

..or if that fails you can try to use e.preventDefault and e.stopPropagation.

$(document).ready(function() {
    $('#addCourse').on("submit", function(e) {
        // prevent default submit behaviour
        e.preventDefault;
        //alert("Submit Function.  hours = "+$('#hours').val());
        document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS = ' + INIT_PLANNED_HRS + 2; //($('#hours').val())+' GPA';

        // prevent event from bubbling up
        e.stopPropagation;
    });
    document.getElementById('hrs_planned').innerHTML = 'HOURS!! = ' + INIT_PLANNED_HRS + ' GPA';
});​