Can a href command be used to post rather than get?

[Karen_Little]

Hi - is there some way to use a standard href=myPage.cfm to post information rather than get, as in: href=myPage.cfm?topic=123

[Guest]

You can do this but it's a bad idea.

• It breaks the web paradigm which confuses users and breaks down their trust.
  
• Visitors without javascript, or using mobile devices or voice readers will not be able to use your site.
  
• Search engines can destroy your data!
  
• Users with Firefox, etc., pre-fetch extensions can destroy your data!
  
• Do you really want users to be able to bookmark say, "Delete this entry" or "Add new junk to my site with one click and no thought"?
  

A better way is to keep forms for posting and alter the submit button(s)' appearance, if you wish, without hiding its/their purpose.

[Karen_Little]

Do you know how to do it? You don't have to worry how I will use it.

[Karen_Little]

Hi - it's very easy to attach a url variable to a link. This forum, for example, uses that construct. What I'm looking for is the means to execute a post by using a link, rather than a form setup.

[Guest]

You've already been told how to do it and also some of the reasons why it's a boneheaded idea.

I will not show you any other methods (just like I wouldn't help a mugger with his planned tasks).

[Karen_Little]

Forgive! I didn't see the lower half of the message. My bad!

As I said - please don't worry about the application. If there are other ways, I'd greatly appreciate knowing.

[BKBK]

I don't think you can post a variable by means of a link. For example, doing <a href="myPage.cfm?form%2Etopic=123"> wont work. A link cannot create the form scope on the action page. Only tags like <form> and <cfhttp> can.

However, if you insist on using a link, Javascript could come in handy.

sender.cfm:

<a href="javascript: document.poster.submit()">Post it</a>
<cfform name="poster" action="myPage.cfm" format="HTML" method="POST">
<cfinput name="topic" type="Text" value="123">
</cfform>

myPage.cfm

<cfif isDefined("form.topic")>
form.topic: <cfoutput>#form.topic#</cfoutput>
</cfif>