Windows 7 problem with submit in onbeforeunload event in IE

**wjmcknight** · 20th May 2011

This problem only occurs in IE8 on Windows 7. It does not occur in IE8 in any previous version of windows.

I have a simple page which includes an iFrame control who's source is a second simple page. The second page has an "onbeforeunload" event and some javascript to run for that event. This event simply attempts to do "document.forms[0].submit()". Prior to Windows 7, this code worked. However with Windows 7 the code exceptions on the submit call with an "Access Denied" error.

I have browsed other similar questions, and what few there are have suggestions of browser security setting. I have lowered the settings in the browser to "low", yet the error still occurs. The two pages in question are below, there is no code behind.

Default.aspx

<%@ Page Language="VB" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="Default.aspx.vb" Inherits="_Default" %>

<html>
<head>
<title>Testing</title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="Default">
<iframe src="VarInfo.aspx"></iframe>
</form>
</body>
</html>

VarInfo.aspx

<%@ Page Language="vb" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeBehind="VarInfo.aspx.vb" Inherits="WebSite1.VarInfo" %>

<html>
<head>
<title>simple page</title>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

</script>
</head>
<body onbeforeunload="BeforeClose();">
<form id="VIForm">
<div>
VarInfo Page
</div>
</form>
</body>

</html>

Would greatly appreciate any help with this one!

**wjmcknight** · 24th May 2011

Hi All,

I can now confirm that this is also an issue when running Windows Vista and using IE9.

Willie John McKnight

**wjmcknight** · 25th May 2011

Solution:

After much trial and error I have the solution. It would seem that in Windows 7 and IE9, a child form is no longer allowed to submit. The trick is to have the parent call the submit for the child form. So the solution is to remove the onbeforeunload event from the child form and place one on the parent. The parent JavaScript must then call the submit.

VarInfo.aspx

<%@ Page Language="vb" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeBehind="VarInfo.aspx.vb" Inherits="WebSite1.VarInfo" %>

<html>
<head>
<title>simple page</title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="VIForm">
<div>
VarInfo Page
</div>
</form>
</body>

</html>

Default.aspx

<%@ Page Language="VB" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="Default.aspx.vb" Inherits="_Default" %>

<html>
<head>
<title>Testing</title>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

</script>
</head>
<body onbeforeunload="BeforeCloseParent();">
<form id="Default">
<iframe id="theIFrame" src="VarInfo.aspx"></iframe>
</form>
</body>
</html>

This works just fine!