MVC make action link perform a submit

Question

I am currently trying to make an html submit occur, but using the MVC helper method ActionLink as I do not want it to be a button, I want it to be an underlined link like the rest on my page. This is what I have currently

<%= Html.ActionLink("Delete Selected", "DeleteCheckBox", "Domains", "Default.aspx", new { type="submit" }) %>

This jumps back to my action fine, but all the domains that are checked off to be deleted are not sent back. (if I use this, <input type="submit" name="DeleteAction" value="Delete" /> it works fine so I know it's not something wrong with submitting or retrieving the check boxes)

Here's what I have so far ...

<%@ Page Title="" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Views/Shared/Site.Master" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage>" %> <%@ Import Namespace="IProwlAdminUI.Helpers" %>

Index

<h2>Domain List</h2>

<h2 style="color: #FF0000"><%= Html.Encode(ViewData[IProwlAdminUI.Utils.Global.ExceptionMessageKey]) %></h2>
<h2 style="color: #FF0000"><%= Html.Encode(ViewData["Message"]) %></h2>

<% using (Html.BeginForm("DeleteCheckBox", "Domains"))
   { %>
   <% if (ViewData.ContainsKey("DeleteMessage")) 
       { %>
       <h2 style="color: #FF0000"><%= Html.Encode(ViewData["DeleteMessage"]) %></h2>
       <input type="submit" name="DeleteAction" value="Commit" /> <input type="reset" name="DeleteAction" value="Cancel" /> 
    <% } %>
   <p>
    <%= Html.ActionLink("Create New", "Create") %> 
    | <%= Html.ActionLink("Export List", "Export") %> 
    | **<a href="javascript:void(0)" class="DeleteLink">Delete Selected</a>**

    <% if (ViewData.ContainsKey("Path")) 
       { %> 
       | <%= Html.ReferenceToFile("/download/Domains.xls", "Exported File") %>
    <% } %>
    </p>

    <div style="overflow:scroll; width:100%">
    <% Html.Telerik().Grid(Model).Name("Domains")
        .DataKeys(dataKeys => dataKeys.Add(c => c.DomainId)).DataKeys(dataKeys => dataKeys.Add(c => c.Name))
        .Columns(columns =>
        {
            columns.Template(o =>
            {  %>
                <%= Html.ActionLink("Edit", "Edit", new { id = o.DomainId })%> 
                <%
        }).Title("Edit");
            columns.Template(o =>
            { %>
            <% if (ViewData.ContainsKey("DeleteMessage"))
               { %>
               <input type='checkbox' checked="checked" id='<%= o.Name %>' name='DeleteIds' value='<%= o.DomainId %>' />
            <% } %>
            <% else
                { %>
               <input type='checkbox' id='<%= o.Name %>' name='DeleteIds' value='<%= o.DomainId %>' />
             <% } %>
               <%
        }).Title("Delete");

            columns.Bound(o => o.DomainId);
            columns.Bound(o => o.Name);
            columns.Bound(o => o.SiteId);
            columns.Bound(o => o.ScrubAndRedirect);
            columns.Bound(o => o.ReportingSiteId);
            columns.Bound(o => o.TrafficCopClass);
            columns.Bound(o => o.SiteName);
            columns.Bound(o => o.FeedType);
            columns.Bound(o => o.Active);
        }).Sortable().Filterable().DataBinding(db => db.Server().Select("Index", "Domains")).Render();%>
     </div> 
     <% if (!ViewData.ContainsKey("DeleteMessage"))
        { %>
     <input type="submit" name="DeleteAction" value="Delete" />   
     <% } %>
<% } %>     
<p>
    <%= Html.ActionLink("Create New", "Create") %> | <%= Html.ActionLink("Export List", "Export") %> 
    <% if (ViewData.ContainsKey("Path")) 
       { %> 
       | <%= Html.ReferenceToFile("/download/Domains.xls", "Exported File") %>
    <% } %>
</p>
**<script type="text/javascript">
    $(function() {
        $('.DeleteLink').click(function() {
            $(this).closest('form')[0].submit();
        });
    });
</script>**

Answer 1

You cannot make a hyperlink submit a form without Javascript.

Using jQuery, you can write

<a href="javascript:void(0)" class="DeleteLink">Delete Selected</a>

---

$('.DeleteLink').click(function() { 
    $(this).closest('form')[0].submit();
});

Answer 2

Instead of creating an action link, you are better off writing client-side javascript code which will submit the form for you when the link is clicked.

You can easily use jQuery to do this, using the submit method on a selector which selects the form:

<form id="myForm">
   <!-- Other form inputs -->
   <a id="myFormSubmit" href="#">Submit form</a>
</form>

<script>
    // Assuming you have jQuery loaded.
    $(document).ready(function() {
        // Can load the results of the selector 
        // for the form here.
        // No need to load it every time in the
        // event handler.
        // Even though more often than not the
        // form will cause a reload of the page
        // if you are using the jQuery form validation
        // plugin, you could end up calling the click
        // event repeatedly.
        var myForm = $("#myForm");

        // Add the event handler for the link.
        $("#myFormSubmit").click(function() {
            // Submit the form.
            myForm.submit();

            // Return false, don't want
            // default click action to take place.
            return false;
        });
    });

</script>

Answer 3

Adding to SLaks, you can ensure that your jQuery code fires at the appropriate time (regardless of location on the page) by using the following:

<script type="text/javascript">
   $(document).ready(function(){
      $('.DeleteLink').click(function() { 
         $(this).closest('form')[0].submit();
       });
   });
</script>

By wrapping the code in $(document).ready(...) you ensure that the code will not run before the page is finished loading.