Question

Language: Javascript

I really hate to ask such a seemingly simple question, but simple as it seems, I can’t get this to work.

I am trying to do this entirely with pure Javascript alone (no library support).

I have a form with checkboxes…
All checkboxes are named files[] because I use the results in an array:

<input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='1' value='1' /> file 1<br>
<input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='2' value='2' /> file 2<br>
<input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='3' value='3' /> file 3<br>

What I’m trying to do is, when the user submits the form:

• IF no checkbox is checked >> return ALERT!
• ELSE submit the form

Here’s my form:

<form name="deleteFiles" action="" method="post" onsubmit="return confirm_update();">

    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='1' value='1' /> file 1<br>
    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='2' value='2' /> file 2<br>
    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='3' value='3' /> file 3<br>
    <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="submit">

</form>​

And here’s my Javascript code:

function confirm_update() {
    var aCheckbox = document.deleteFiles.getElementsByTagName('input');

    if (aCheckbox.checked){
    return confirm("Are you sure you want to proceed deleting the selected files?");

    } else {
        alert("You do not have any selected files to delete.");
        return false;
    }
}​

In action: http://jsfiddle.net/DVqwB/3/

Apparently, it is not working, I know I should use getElementsById but since they each have unique IDs I can’t use that. And I also know that there are lots of solutions on this site, but if you look – they actually use jQuery…

Any help & guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much.

Answer 1

Correct way to iterate the collection will be: (full example)

function confirm_update() {
    var arrCheckboxes = document.deleteFiles.elements["files[]"];
    var checkCount = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < arrCheckboxes.length; i++) {
        checkCount += (arrCheckboxes[i].checked) ? 1 : 0;
    }

    if (checkCount > 0){
        return confirm("Are you sure you want to proceed deleting the selected   files?");
    } else {
        alert("You do not have any selected files to delete.");
        return false;
    }
}

body {
    margin: 30px;
}

<form name="deleteFiles" action="" method="post" onsubmit="return confirm_update();">
    
    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='1' value='1' /> file 1<br />
    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='2' value='2' /> file 2<br />
    <input type='checkbox' name='files[]' id='3' value='3' /> file 3<br />
    <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="submit" />
    
</form>