'HTML form with multiple "actions"

I'm setting up a form wherein I need two "actions" (two buttons):

1 - "Submit this form for approval"
2 - "Save this application for later"

How do I create an HTML form that supports multiple "actions"?

EG:

<form class="form-horizontal" action="submit_for_approval.php">
<form class="form-horizontal" action="save_for_later.php">

I need to combine these two options-for-submitting into one form.

I did some basic research but couldn't find a definitive answer as to whether or not this is possible, and/or any good resources to links for a workaround.

Thanks in advance.

htmlformssubmit


Solution 1:[1]

As @AliK mentioned, this can be done easily by looking at the value of the submit buttons.

When you submit a form, unset variables will evaluate false. If you set both submit buttons to be part of the same form, you can just check and see which button has been set.

HTML:

<form action="handle_user.php" method="POST" />
  <input type="submit" value="Save" name="save" />
  <input type="submit" value="Submit for Approval" name="approve" />
</form>

PHP

if($_POST["save"]) {
  //User hit the save button, handle accordingly
}
//You can do an else, but I prefer a separate statement
if($_POST["approve"]) {
  //User hit the Submit for Approval button, handle accordingly
}

EDIT

If you'd rather not change your PHP setup, try this: http://pastebin.com/j0GUF7MV
This is the JavaScript method @AliK was reffering to.

Related:

Solution 2:[2]

the best way (for me) to make it it's the next infrastructure: 

<form method="POST">
<input type="submit" formaction="default_url_when_press_enter" style="visibility: hidden; display: none;">
<!-- all your inputs -->
<input><input><input>
<!-- all your inputs -->
<button formaction="action1">Action1</button>
<button formaction="action2">Action2</button>
<input type="submit" value="Default Action">
</form>

with this structure you will send with enter a direction and the infinite possibilities for the rest of buttons.

Solution 3:[3]

This should work without changing the backend code:

<form class="form-horizontal" action="submit_for_approval.php">
  <button>Submit for Approval</button>
  <button formaction="save_for_later.php">Save for Later</button>
</form>

The accepted answer didn't work for me because I'm using Golang and apparently the default Go form returns missing variables the same as empty ones (as empty strings).

Solution 4:[4]

this really worked form for I am making a table using thymeleaf and inside the table there is two buttons in one form...thanks man even this thread is old it still helps me alot!

<th:block th:each="infos : ${infos}">
<tr>
<form method="POST">
<td><input class="admin" type="text" name="firstName" id="firstName" th:value="${infos.firstName}"/></td>
<td><input class="admin" type="text" name="lastName" id="lastName" th:value="${infos.lastName}"/></td>
<td><input class="admin" type="email" name="email" id="email" th:value="${infos.email}"/></td>
<td><input class="admin" type="text" name="passWord" id="passWord" th:value="${infos.passWord}"/></td>
<td><input class="admin" type="date" name="birthDate" id="birthDate" th:value="${infos.birthDate}"/></td>
<td>
<select class="admin" name="gender" id="gender">
<option><label th:text="${infos.gender}"></label></option>
<option value="Male">Male</option>
<option value="Female">Female</option>
</select>
</td>
<td><select class="admin" name="status" id="status">
<option><label th:text="${infos.status}"></label></option>
<option value="Yes">Yes</option>
<option value="No">No</option>
</select>
</td>
<td><select class="admin" name="ustatus" id="ustatus">
<option><label th:text="${infos.ustatus}"></label></option>
<option value="Yes">Yes</option>
<option value="No">No</option>
</select>
</td>
<td><select class="admin" name="type" id="type">
<option><label th:text="${infos.type}"></label></option>
<option value="Yes">Yes</option>
<option value="No">No</option>
</select></td>
<td><input class="register" id="mobileNumber" type="text" th:value="${infos.mobileNumber}" name="mobileNumber" onkeypress="return isNumberKey(event)" maxlength="11"/></td>
<td><input class="table" type="submit" id="submit" name="submit" value="Upd" Style="color: white; background-color:navy; border-color: black;" th:formaction="@{/updates}"/></td>
<td><input class="table" type="submit" id="submit" name="submit" value="Del" Style="color: white; background-color:navy; border-color: black;" th:formaction="@{/delete}"/></td>
</form>
</tr>
</th:block>

Solution 5:[5]

In front-end:

   <form action="act1.php" method="post">
   
   <!-- Your HTML Code -->
   
   <button type="submit" name="act" value="action1">Submit</button>
   <button type="submit" name="act" value="action2">Save for Later</button>
   </form>

In Backend: (act1.php)

<?php
if($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
  $check = $_POST['act'];
  if($check == "action1") {

    /* Write the code of "submit_for_approval.php" Here or add the following line */
       header("Location: submit_for_approval.php");

  }

  
   if($check == "action2") {

    /* Write the code of "save_for_later.php" Here or add the following line */
       header("Location: save_for_later.php");

  }
}
?>

Sources

This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Overflow and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Source: Stack Overflow

Solution Source
Solution 1 Community
Solution 2 Peter B
Solution 3 anderspitman
Solution 4 Rj Acain
Solution 5 John Samuel

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