checking the textarea value

I just wondering how to check the content of the textarea.

I have a form which will be posted and proceed in a PHP script, but before it's submitted, I want to check the content of the textarea ( in JavaScript function )

If it's empty then return false and do not continue to the process page.

Here's my coding :

<script>

function validate(form)
{
if (!form.comment.value)
{
alert ("Fill it");
form.comment.focus();
return false;
}
}

</script>

<form action="process.php3" method="post" onSubmit="return validate(this)">

<textarea name="comment" cols=40 rows=5>

<input type="submit">

</form>


But the script doesn't work !!
It always go to the process page whether the textarea is empty or not.

Anyone help me please !!!

See ya


------------------
** It's the world of Oscario **

You need to also add (seperated by a ';') return=false to make the submit part of the form break. Then, in your JavaScript, you submit the form.

I've try to add ; return false;
but it still doesn't work !!

Sometimes it works and sometimes not !!

Any other solution please ??

------------------
CyberOsc
sphmjf_oscario@gurlmail.com

** It's the world of Oscario **

Rather than spend time to debug your code, here is an example that I have verified works (I just recently created the site):

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">code:</font><HR><pre><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
function checkFields() {
em = "The following field(s) cannot be blank: "
if (document.formName.fieldOne.value == "") em = em + "n * Text1";
if (document.formName.fieldTwo.value == "") em = em + "n * Text2";
if (em.indexOf('*') > 0) {
alert(em);
return false;
}
}

</SCRIPT>

<FORM NAME="formName" METHOD="post" ACTION="process-file.php" onSubmit="return checkFields();">[/code]

pieux,...

I've tried your code above.
It does work for <input type=text>
but for <textarea> </textarea> , it doesn't work !!

pieux.. would you please try it with <textarea>.
And please tell me if you had a solution.
Or anybody else have a solution for me ??

Thx !!
See ya


------------------
CyberOsc
sphmjf_oscario@gurlmail.com

** It's the world of Oscario **

It worked for me with a TEXTAREA. Make sure you are giving the TEXTAREA a name. <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">code:</font><HR><pre><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
function checkFields() {
em = "The following field(s) cannot be blank: "
if (document.formName.fieldOne.value == "") em = em + "n * Text1";
if (document.formName.fieldTwo.value == "") em = em + "n * Text2";
if (em.indexOf('*') > 0) {
alert(em);
return false;
}
}
</SCRIPT>
<FORM NAME="formName" METHOD="post" ACTION="process-file.php" onSubmit="return checkFields();">
<INPUT TYPE="TEXT" NAME="fieldOne">
<TEXTAREA NAME="fieldTwo"></TEXTAREA>
<INPUT TYPE="Submit">
</FORM>[/code]

I've have tested it in Netscape 4.7 and IE 5.0.

[This message has been edited by pieux (edited August 29, 2000).]