Submit form on Django page without changing url - html

Question

I have a text area in a django based website that displays the content of a database field.
I'd like to be able to edit this field and submit it to a function which updates the field in the database.
I know how I can call a function in a views.py which then send back the result of the query using render_to_response to a new webpage.
So in summary, how do I adress a function in a django/python script using a html form without the need to refer to another url?

Answer 1

It's usually recommended to use Post/Redirect/Get pattern, for example:
def myview(request, **kwargs):
if request.POST:
# validate the post data
if valid:
# save and redirect to another url
return HttpResponseRedirect(...)
else:
# render the view with partial data/error message
if request.GET:
# render the view
return render_to_response(...)

Answer 2

Use AJAX:
1) Create a view to handle form submission:
def my_ajax_form_submission_view(request):
if request.method == 'POST':
form = MyForm(request.POST)
if form.is_valid():
# save data or whatever other action you want to take
resp = {'success': True}
else:
resp = {'success': False}
return HttpResponse(simplejson.dumps(resp), mimetype='application/json')
else:
return HttpResponseBadRequest()
Then, tie the view into your urlpatterns
2) Submit form via AJAX (uses jQuery):
$('#my-form-id').submit(function(){
var $form = $(this);
$.post('/url/to/ajax/view/', $form.serialize(), function(data, jqXHR){
if (data.success) {
alert('Form submitted!');
} else {
alert('Form not valid');
}
});
return false;
});
That's the basics. You can and should provide more detailed return responses, error handling, form validation/checking, etc.

Answer 3

This is the standard views code pattern that I've been using.
def payment_details(request, obj_id):
yourobj = get_object_or_404(Obj, pk=obj_id)
form = TheForm(instance=yourobj)
if request.method == 'POST':
form = TheForm(request.POST, instance=yourobj)
if form.is_valid():
yourobj = form.save()
messages.success(request, 'Yourobj is saved!')
url = reverse('SOMEURL')
return redirect(url)
template = 'SOMETEMPLATE'
template_vars = {'TEMPLATEVARS': TEMPLATEVARS}
return render(request, template, template_vars)
Having watched the Advanced Forms talk at DjangoCon, one could re-write the above view like this:
def payment_details(request, obj_id):
yourobj = get_object_or_404(Obj, pk=obj_id)
form = TheForm(request.POST or NONE, instance=yourobj)
if request.method == 'POST' and form.is_valid():
yourobj = form.save()
messages.success(request, 'Yourobj is saved!')
url = reverse('SOMEURL')
return redirect(url)
template = 'SOMETEMPLATE'
template_vars = {'TEMPLATEVARS': TEMPLATEVARS}
return render(request, template, template_vars)