Disable checkboxes based in other checkboxes.

[mwinter]

maybe i'm just missing something... but if you only want one or the other checked... why not just use radio buttons?

If there are more than one set of buttons, this could be problematical.

Care to explain that line of reasoning?

<fieldset>
  <legend>Platform</legend>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <label for="linux">
        <input id="linux" name="platform" type="radio" value="linux" checked>
        Linux
      </label>
    </li>
    <li>
      <label for="windows">
        <input id="windows" name="platform" type="radio" value="windows">
        Windows
      </label>
    </li>
  </ul>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
  <legend>Server Disposition</legend>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <label for="shared">
        <input id="shared" name="server-disposition" type="radio" value="shared" checked>
        Shared
      </label>
    </li>
    <li>
      <label for="dedicated">
        <input id="dedicated" name="server-disposition" type="radio" value="dedicated">
        Dedicated
      </label>
    </li>
    <li>
      <label for="reseller">
        <input id="reseller" name="server-disposition" type="radio" value="reseller">
        Reseller
      </label>
    </li>
  </ul>
</fieldset>

I fail to see any problems with that (though the OP would undoubtely want to style it), and it facilitates precisely what the original post describes.

[...] i'll try to make it server side as you suggested.

You really have no choice. Relying on client-side validation to do the all work is practically begging for someone to submit false or erroneous data to you. For example, simply having client-side scripting disabled means that the user is unencumbered from any constraint you would like to enforce. Not even a type of control (like radio buttons or select elements) can provide security in a situation like that.

Mike

[djr33]

I'd totally go with radio buttons. It also wouldn't annoy people by "not letting them" click the other checkbox... they have to choose.

Surely that's easier than disabling checkboxes.

Maybe I'm missing something.