What should I do with form inputs' values when I hide the inputs?

Question

These fields are hidden correctly, but what is the best way of setting the hidden field values.

$j.registerType = {
    '' : $j([]),
    'srotc_cadet' : $j('#vm_schoolstate_divContainer,#vm_srotcschool_divContainer,#vm_mslevel_divContainer'),
    'srotc_intructor' : $j('#vm_schoolstate_divContainer,#vm_srotcschool_divContainer'),
    'jrotc_cadet' : $j('#vm_highschool_divContainer,#vm_highschoolstate_divContainer,#vm_highschoolcity_divContainer')
  };

  $j('#vm_registertype').change(function() {
    // hide all
    $j.each($j.registerType, function() { this.hide(); });
    // show current
    $j.registerType[$j(this).val()].show();
  }).change();


  $j('#vm_registertype').change(function() {
   var regType =  $j('#vm_registertype').val();
   switch (regType) { 
   case "srotc_type":
    $j('#vm_highschool_field,#vm_highschoolstate_field,#vm_highschoolcity_field').val("DOES NOT APPLY");
    break;
    }

   }).change();

---

I just notice the "srotc_type" error. changed it but the code still doesn't work....

Answer 1

Looks like your objective here isn't what your question is asking (how to set a hidden input's value), but to do with what you should set the value to when you've taken it out of the form. How about, then, instead of putting wacky things in the value, you do:

$j.each($j.registerType, function() {
    this.find(':input').attr('disabled', true); 
    this.hide();
});

This will prevent any value from being sent for those inputs when the form is submitted.