How to make a specific 'submit' button the default?

[Martin]

I have a page/form with several text boxes and several submit buttons.
I would like to have a script that would set one of the buttons as the
'default' when the text in any of several specific text boxes is
changed by the user. 'Default' meaning that's the one that will react
when the user hits the <Enter> key.

I read a message on another board that setting a submit button as the
default is not possible - is that true?

 

[Jukka K. Korpela]

I have a page/form with several text boxes and several submit buttons.
I would like to have a script that would set one of the buttons as the
'default' when the text in any of several specific text boxes is
changed by the user.

How would that help, given the fact that scripting can be disabled, and
often is?

The only safe way to avoid the problems caused by browsers' foolish
behavior in this respect is to use only one submit button if you have
text input fields in a form. Use e.g. radio buttons to let the user make
the selection between the alternatives that the multiple submit buttons
represent in your current design. That is, the user would just select an
action by selecting among radio buttons, then use the single submit
button to submit the form.