HTML not updating?

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HTML not updating?

I have a CGI application written in C. When I POST (delete data) to the cgi app from the html form, the action is correctly executed on the server but the page does not refresh after the POST. It does flicker, but displays the non-updated page. I then have to hit the browsers refresh to see the correct updated html page (showing data has been removed).

Is this the web server? Javascript? or just a browser setting? (I am using GoAhead web server, cgi app in C, javascript, html and Fire Fox.)

Any help is appreciated.

+1 A:

It's your browser cache that is playing tricks on you.

Check the HTTP headers you get when GETting (or POSTing) the page to see if there are anything about cache, if there is it's your webserver that is causing the cache otherwise it's the browser. Try with a different browser, or make the webserver send the page with a negative expiration date.

adamse 2010-03-16 20:17:43

Will a negative expiration date guarantee a fresh page?

Tommy 2010-03-16 20:21:50

Looking at the headers, when there is an image it displays "cache-Control: no-cache and Pragma: no-cache" Doesn't have this information for html though

Tommy 2010-03-16 20:27:48

In my experience a negative expiration date will cause the page to be expired immediately, i.e. it won't be cached in the browser. But I think this might be considered a hack, I would look for the cause of the problem first and see if it can be fixed.

adamse 2010-03-16 20:53:27

I hear you. Which cache is it saved in....memory, disk, or offline cache

Tommy 2010-03-16 21:10:25

That I have no idea about. I would guess your browser keeps the cache of the most recent pages in memory. I would advise you to test with different browsers and also check out "fuzzy lollopop"'s answer.

adamse 2010-03-17 18:06:05

+1 A:

Are you sure you're returning an updated page in response to the POST?

Rob 2010-03-16 20:20:25

The updated page is in the local directory on the client....it then is displayed correctly (but I have to manually hit the browser refresh) I expect directly after the POST the new page to be displayed.

Tommy 2010-03-16 20:23:12

+1 A:

In order to be sure what is happening, you need to sniff the local network (using Wireshark).

Wrieshark shows you the traffic and also can filter a specific stream.

After you capture you can understand what exactly was sent to the server and what was the respond.

eyalm 2010-03-16 21:16:31

+1 A:

If you are using Firefox you need to install the Firebug plugin and it will show you if your pages are being cached or being retrieved from the server correctly in the "net" panel.

fuzzy lollipop 2010-03-16 21:32:42

ansaurus

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HTML not updating?

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