File:  [Repository] / kupu / doc / BEFOREUNLOAD.txt
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Thu Sep 15 13:06:00 2005 UTC (18 years, 8 months ago) by dwinter
Branches: first, MAIN
CVS tags: dwinter, HEAD
modifizierter kupu fuer webpages des instituts

=================
BeforeUnload Tool
=================

The BeforeUnload tool will check forms when navigating away from a
page and will warn a user if they are about to lost changes and give
them the option to remain editing the page.

How to use the tool
===================

The tool will install itself automatically provided the javascript
is loaded, and provided no other handler has been installed for the
window.onbeforeunload event.

To test for the presence of the tool and use it if it is present use
the following code::

    var beforeunloadTool = window.onbeforeunload && window.onbeforeunload.tool;
    if (beforeunloadTool) { ... };

Although the tool is installed by default, it does not check any
forms unless they are added. Use the addForm method to add a single
form or addForms method to add multiple forms. When a form is added,
its onsubmit method will be hooked by the tool: if your form needs to
perform its own onsubmit processing you must replace this event
after calling addForm.

The following input field types may be checked::

    <input type="text">
    <textarea>
    <input type="radio">
    <input type="checkbox">
    <input type="password">
    <select>
    <select multiple>
    <input type="hidden">

Single selection fields where nothing was initially selected are
considered to have changed if the first entry is not selected. Single
selection fields where multiple entries were marked as selected
initially are always considered changed.

Field which do not have a `name` attribute are assumed to be
client-side only (as they are not submitted to the server) and are
ignored when checking.

Note that hidden fields are checked for changes although a bug in
Mozilla means that this is done by storing their original value when
the handler is notified of the form.

These field types are always assumed to be unchanged::

    <input type="button">
    <input type="file">
    <input type="image">
    <input type="reset">
    <input type="submit">

Handler functions return false to indicate there is no change to be
lost, true to indicate that something has changed and the default
message should be displayed, or they may return a string to show a
custom message. Once a handler function has returned a value other
than false no other handler functions are called.

API
===

Global variables
----------------

None. The BeforeUnload tool does not create or modify any global
javascript variables. The only way to access it is through the
onbeforeunload event of the window object.


Methods
-------

isAnyFormChanged()
++++++++++++++++++

Calls isElementChanged() for all watched forms and returns the first non-false
value. This is the first handler function called when the page is
unloading.

addHandler(fn)
++++++++++++++

Appends another handler function to be called when the page is
unloading. The handler should not assume anything about the value of
'this' when it is called.

Example::

        var initialBody = ibody.innerHTML;
        beforeunloadTool.addHandler(function() {
            return ibody.innerHTML != initialBody;
        });


onsubmit()
++++++++++

This method is used as the default form.onsubmit event. If you replace
form.onsubmit you should call beforeunloadTool.onsubmit() after
validating the form.

addForm(form)
+++++++++++++

Enables checking for a single form and sets the form's onsubmit handler.

addForms(el1, el2, ...)
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Finds all forms which are the specified elements or children of the
elements at any depth and enables checking for those forms.

removeForms(el1, el2, ...)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Finds all forms in the parameters and disables checking for those
forms.

isElementChanged(element)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Returns true (or a string) if the specified element has changed, false
if it has not. element may be a form or a control on form.

Properties
----------

submitting
++++++++++

Set true by the default form onsubmit handler. If you cancel form
submission you must set it false.

chkId
+++++

beforeunloadTool.chkId is an object which may contain methods whose
names are the same as the ids of form controls. By default there are
no such methods. Add a method if you wish to override checking for a
single control. the method should return true or a string if the field
has changed, false if it has not.

For example, to ignore a control which is only used client-side::

   beforeunloadTool.chkId['kupu-tb-styles'] = function() { return false; }

chkType
+++++++

This property contains methods which check a field based on its 'type'
attribute. For example, to turn off checking for all radio buttons::

   beforeunloadTool.chkType['radio'] = function() { return false; }

The chkType method is not called if a matching chkId method is found.

message
+++++++

This string is displayed if a handler function returns true.

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