using an array to check a series of javascript buttons

Question

I am trying to check a series of buttons to see if they have been selected in order to generate a query string. So far as I can tell, the logic looks something like this:

if ($("input[name='ovr']")[0].checked)
{
...
}

This works, but since I don't want to use a series of if statements to generate the string (because more buttons might be added later, it's inefficient, etc), I generated an array representing the names associated with the buttons (I printed the array; it definitely contains the proper names). When I made a loop to run through each name in the array, however, the console suggested that 'input' was an unrecognized expression. Here is the loop:

    for (i = 0; i < myList.length; i = i + 1) {
        if ($("/"input[name='" + myList[i] + "']/"")[0].checked) {
            string += myList[i] + "=" + myList[i] + "&";
        }
    }

string is a variable that appends the proper signature(?) onto itself if the button check should return true. myList is the array containing the names.

Unfortunately, I am new to all of this and don't really know where to begin. I did try to google the answer (really a novice here) but I wasn't even quite sure what to search for. I also messed around with the phrasing of the input expression, used different escape characters, etc., to no avail. Neither the HTML nor most of the javascript is mine (it's my supervisor's), so I am doubly lost. Any suggestions you could give would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks!

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– T.J. Crowder, Commented Jul 6, 2012 at 15:16

kapa · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-06 15:17:57Z

2

Something like this would work (I don't really understand why you tried to add those backslashes, so I only show you the right way):

for (i = 0; i < myList.length; i = i + 1) {
    if ($("input[name='" + myList[i] + "']")[0].checked) {
        string += myList[i] + "=" + myList[i] + "&";
    }
}

One note: if you are generating a query string, don't forget to use encodeURIComponent()!

answered Jul 6, 2012 at 15:17

kapa

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2 Comments

user1507116 Over a year ago

You know, I must be stupid or something because I could've sworn I tried that implementation yesterday and it didn't work. Tried it just now: it works. That's slightly embarrassing. Anyway, thanks for your time! And we are using encodeURIComponent(). I was messing with the backslashes for reasons related to me thinking the parameter had to have quotation marks around it and me wanting to use the " escape character, though I see now that I messed that up too.

kapa Over a year ago

@user1507116 No problem at all, we all make strange mistakes sometimes. If my answer helped, you can accept it with the tickmark next to the answer.

Rafael Herscovici · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-06 15:33:38Z

1

something like this?

var query = "?";
$('input:checked').each(function(index) {
    query += this.name + "=" + this.value + "&";
});

you can modify the selector to get only the checkboxes you need.

answered Jul 6, 2012 at 15:33

Rafael Herscovici

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