Question

I have a php script that takes some user form input and packs some files into a zip based on that input. The problem is that sometimes the server errors, so all the form data is lost. I was told I could use ajax instead so that the user never even has to change the page. I’ve never used ajax, and looking at http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.ajax/ without any experience in ajax is quite difficult.

The page says that you can accept returns from an ajax call. How do you set up returns in the PHP file for an ajax call? If the server errors with the ajax call, how will I know?

edit: Also, is there a way to send an ajax request with javascript and jquery as if it were a submitted form?

Answer 1

How do you set up returns in the PHP file

just echo it in ajax page that will return as response

Simple Tutorial

client.php

$.post('server.php',({parm:"1"}) function(data) {
  $('.result').html(data);
});

server.php

<?php

echo $_POST['parm'];

?>

result will be 1

edit on OP comments
Is there a way to use ajax as if you were submitting a form

Yes, there is

• You can use plugins like jQuery form
• Using submit
• If you using jquery validation plugin, you can use submit handler option

using sumit

$('#form').submit(function() {
 //your ajax call
  return false;
});