Asp.Net nested form

Question

I need to supply an html form (not a server form) for searching within an asp.net web-forms website. The form will post to another website where an indexed search is performed. Seeing as nested forms don't work well in asp.net, what is the simplest approach for this?

The nested form is a simple html form that performs a "get" against the search website, which I do not have programmatic control over.

Update: I resolved my issue by simply moving the server form to the appropriate place on the page, rather than having it surround the entire page. However, I'm still wondering how this would be handled if the html form needed to be placed physically between server controls (which require the server form).

user134706 · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-27 20:52:02Z

2

However, I'm still wondering how this would be handled if the html form needed to be placed physically between server controls (which require the server form).

You can place controls on your page without requiring an HtmlForm.

In your case there's no issue declaring another form markup, but you could also just use some search control on your main form and make it issue a GET to that website.

answered Jul 27, 2009 at 20:52

user134706

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2 Comments

Jeremy Over a year ago

Right, I didn't actually mean an "HtmlForm" server control. I had used a form tag with the get method and upon clicking it's contained button, the entire page posted back rather than going to the "action" page of that form. It sounds like you are saying that should work? Perhaps I overlooked something else if so.

user134706 Over a year ago

What I ment was exactelly what you have already done (rendering another form just outside your main HtmlForm) and that's perfectly fine. The other solution I was sugesting is to use some custom search control (textbox & button) and embed the logic to just issue an HTTP GET with it.

Matt Ball · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-27 19:36:14Z

2

Not only do nested forms "not work well," you basically can't have >1 form per page at all. The simplest approach is the approach you are forced to go with: write a page that only uses one <form runat="server"></form>. Since you need search functionality, is there no ASP.NET search box control that you could use?

Have a read here.

answered Jul 27, 2009 at 19:36

Matt Ball

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1 Comment

Matt Ball Over a year ago

Righto - "can't have >1 form per page at all" meaning forms with runat="server". You can have other forms on the same page as long as they don't have runat="server". Sorry if that was less-than-clear.

Roman O · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 12:34:57Z

2

There are 4 workarounds:

Use an IFRAME
Force Submission to Navigate Using a GET Request
Dynamically Change the Form Action
Use a 3rd Party Form Handler

More details on http://www.revindex.com/Blogs/tabid/65/EntryID/21/Default.aspx

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 12:34

Roman O

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Comments

Ruddy · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-25 14:43:59Z

1

Nested forms don't work well in HTML full stop! You should never do it.

Perhaps you mean more than one form on page? Whilst it's true you can only have one form with runat="server", I can't see any reason why you couldn't have a standard form (not server form) that posted to another site at the same level (ie. not nested).

edited Mar 25, 2015 at 14:43

Ruddy

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answered Jul 27, 2009 at 19:39

Dan Diplo

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James Lawruk · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-06 16:53:14Z

Try adding your HTML input elements to wherever you want the nested form to be. Then use JQuery to change the page form action to point to the external Website. The entire form is submitted, but with a different external Url. The minor downside is the values for all input elements on the page are posted, but most times that is not big deal.

(I only tried this using a POST, not a GET. This is basically Roman O's #3 workaround in more detail)

<div id="nested-form">
    <input type="text" name="q">            
    <input name="searchbtn" value="Go" type="submit" class="search-button">
</div>

<script>
$(function() {
  $("input.search-button").click(function() {      
        $('form').get(0).setAttribute('action', 'http://external.com');
  });
});
</script>

Ruddy · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-25 14:44:21Z

0

maybe you try Server.Transfer() to your target page that do the search from a button for example!

edited Mar 25, 2015 at 14:44

Ruddy

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answered Jul 27, 2009 at 19:33

0xFF

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