Ajax post request string data instead of object

Question

Similar to this question I need to send a string as data in a post request.

Unlike that one, I can't use an object because I have repeated items. As you can see in my sample data sn1, sn2 and sn3 are repeated several times on different datetimes.

Sample data:

&sn3=2013-2-4T12:43:52&sn3=2013-2-4T12:43:55&sn1=2013-2-4T12:43:59&sn1=2013-2-4T12:44:0&sn2=2013-2-4T12:44:0&sn3=2013-2-4T12:44:2&sn2=2013-2-4T12:44:3&sn3=2013-2-4T12:44:19&sn3=2013-2-4T12:44:19&sn3=2013-2-4T12:44:19&sn2=2013-2-4T12:44:19&sn3=2013-2-4T12:44:21&sn2=2013-2-4T12:44:22&sn2=2013-2-4T12:46:39&sn3=2013-2-4T12:46:42&sn2=2013-2-4T12:46:44&sn2=2013-2-4T12:46:45&sn2=2013-2-4T12:46:46&sn2=2013-2-4T12:47:27&sn2=2013-2-4T12:47:27&sn2=2013-2-4T12:49:44&sn2=2013-2-4T12:50:21&sn2=2013-2-4T12:52:21&sn2=2013-2-4T12:52:24&sn2=2013-2-4T12:57:35&sn3=2013-2-4T12:57:38&sn3=2013-2-4T12:57:39&sn2=2013-2-4T12:57:39&sn2=2013-2-4T12:57:40&sn3=2013-2-4T12:57:46&sn3=2013-2-4T13:21:30

I tried using the following

console.log(screens); //logs my sample data posted above.
        $.ajax({
            url : url,
            type: "POST",
            dataType : 'text',
            data : screens,
            success : function(data) {
                console.log("sucessfull sending:")
                console.log(data);
            },
            error : function() {
                console.log('failed');
            }

        });

But it always triggers failed.

Can I send it as a string? If not, how can I send multiple items with the same key?

Does the Network tab in the debugger console show an error? what is the error in the return argument of the error function? Also, change your error function to error: function(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown), then you can see the error message in errorThrown. you can also get more information inspecting the other 2 arguments in the error event handler. What is the error message you get? — Nope
– Nope, Commented Feb 4, 2013 at 13:28
I don't have a network tab. I'm developing this using phonegap so I don't have access to the amazing debugger console. I didn't bother to log everything as we went with another solution! Thank you! — caiocpricci2
– caiocpricci2, Commented Feb 4, 2013 at 14:43
Ah, I see. At least you can make use of the error handler arguments in future if you ever need to. sorry about that, didn't realise you were using phonegap. — Nope
– Nope, Commented Feb 4, 2013 at 14:51
Probably because I didn't mentioned it :). I get half of the usual replies if I add phonegap in the tag. Your comment was very helpful mostly because I've never noticed we had a Network tab in the console, and it's very handy. I come from a mobile background and phonegap hates me. So every bit helps! Thanks! — caiocpricci2
– caiocpricci2, Commented Feb 4, 2013 at 15:09

Viktor S. · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-04 13:35:45Z

2

    console.log(screens); //logs my sample data posted above.
    $.ajax({
        url : url,
        type: "POST",
        dataType : 'text',
        data : {screens:screens},
        success : function(data) {
            console.log("sucessfull sending:")
            console.log(data);
        },
        error : function() {
            console.log('failed');
        }

    });

See data : {screens:screens},, if you do something like that, on server you will be able to get it like: screensString = Request["screens"]. After that, screensString will contain a single string with all screens.

answered Feb 4, 2013 at 13:35

Viktor S.

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3 Comments

caiocpricci2 Over a year ago

Thanks for the suggestion, this is what I went for. Replaced the &s on my string for |s and the server can split and use it.

Viktor S. Over a year ago

Hm. If I'm not missing something important, you should be able to use & same way as |. Without any replacement.

caiocpricci2 Over a year ago

Probably. But why to risk? I'm sure I can use |. Better safe than sorry!

marty · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-04 13:47:26Z

1

When you don't specify contentType in the ajax options, your request will default to 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8'. However, when your post data is just text, you should make the server aware of that fact by specifying a contentType 'text'. As opposed to the contentType, the dataType specifies the type of response data that you expect back from the server.

answered Feb 4, 2013 at 13:47

marty

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1 Comment

caiocpricci2 Over a year ago

That didn't solve the problem but I didn't know about the contentType param. Thank you.

w3jimmy · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-04 13:58:45Z

1

I think what you need is to use [] in your parameters.

instead of sending &sn3= multiple times (which is rewriting itself) send it as an array like this &sn3[]=

if you are getting this data from an form input use name="sn3[]" and if this is the case, I would recommend you use $('#yourform').serialize() as data sent

answered Feb 4, 2013 at 13:58

w3jimmy

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3 Comments

caiocpricci2 Over a year ago

+1, that is a good suggestion as well, but we went for the other one. The server would have to parse the string anyway and this was extra work for the client.

Viktor S. Over a year ago

Just as note: it depends on server how [] will be handled. In php you will get nice array. In asp.net - you will get one item which contains all sn3[] values separated with |, as I remember.

w3jimmy Over a year ago

thanks, by the way, correcting what you said (gameower) the server will get an array not a string

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