Internet Explorer 6 aborts page request when javascript executes

Question

The scenario is this. A web page contains:

• some DIVs whose visibility can be toggled with a javascript (fired from an hyperlink)
• a Submit button, whose response takes about 5 seconds

The hyperlink code is

<a href="javascript:void null;" onclick="MyFunction()">foo</a>

The User:

1. Presses Submit.
2. While he is waiting for the response, he clicks on the hyperlink, and fires the javascript that toggles the DIVs visibility (no other request is performed).
3. In Internet Exporer 6, the browser stops waiting for the first Request.

The problem does not happen in other browsers, even if the user plays with the DIVs, the first request is correctly handled, and we navigate to the next page.

Does anyone know what might be causing this? Is it a known IE6 issue?

Answer 1

Yup, this is the IE6 issue with GET requests triggered from a Javascript action on a hyperlink (where the href is set to 'javascript:...').

e.g. if your JavaScript calls someForm.submit() and the method is GET, there will be NO response (the request is definately sent though)

http://webbugtrack.blogspot.com/2007/09/bug-223-magical-http-get-requests-in.html

You either need to modify the link, to be like:

<a href="#bogushash" onclick="MyFunction()">foo</a>
         ^^^^^^^^^^

or always set the link with return false;

<a href="javascript:void null;" onclick="MyFunction();return false;">foo</a>
                                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Answer 2

I don't really think its wise to call the javascript:void null; from the link. This may be causing your problem. Instead have the href contain a valid link but prevent the defaults action from completing the request

<a href="#" onclick="return MyFunction(event)">foo</a>

where

function MyFunction(e)
{
  if (!e) e = window.event;

  // your code

  if (e.preventDefault) e.preventDefault();
  return false;
}

Answer 3

Since this is a problem. I would suggest using a pseudo "loading" spinner that overlays the clickable content when submit is triggered.

Answer 4

Please stop supporting IE6, only people without internet connections and pirated copies of windows (can't update) still use it.

Ok maybe that was a bit of a hyperbole, but seriously if we keep supporting IE6 people won't go and get a newer browser to use the internet!

If enough of the internet doesn't work on IE6 people will upgrade.

Answer 5

javascript:void null should be javascript:void(0), better still is href="#". If MyFunction returns false the return false in scunliffe's answer shouldn't be necessary, using onclick="return MyFunction()"