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Misc

Multiple Function Calls with One Onclick Attribute

By Will Bontrager

This question comes up from time to time. And the methods I've seen on the Internet are a bit short of complete.

The question is, "How do I run more than one JavaScript function with one onclick= or onsubmit= call?" and variations thereof.

The technique is the same whether the attribute is onclick or onsubmit.

Let's suppose these functions need to run when a submit button is clicked:

One()
Two()
Three()
Four()

The methods I've seen on the Internet would suggest making a new function that calls each function, in turn. Then, call that new function with the onsubmit attribute.

Example:

<script type="text/javascript"> function DoAllThese() { One(); Two(); Three(); Four(); } </script>

Then, call the DoAllThese() function with this attribute value:

onclick="DoAllThese()"

It works just fine in many instances — image tag onclick attributes, link onclick attributes, and some form field onclick attributes.

A lack is observed when a false return value of any of the functions needs to abort form processing.

For that functionality, the modified DoAllThese() function returns the value of the first function that returns a value of false. If none of the functions return a value of false, then DoAllThese() returns the value of the last function it called.

Here is the modified DoAllThese() function:

<script type="text/javascript"> function DoAllThese() { var retvalue; retvalue = One(); if(retvalue == false) { return retvalue; } retvalue = Two(); if(retvalue == false) { return retvalue; } retvalue = Three(); if(retvalue == false) { return retvalue; } return Four(); } </script>

The onclick attribute's value is modified accordingly:

onclick="return DoAllThese()"

Now, sleep well :)

January 27, 2007

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