# Hidden inputs fields are always strings(chars)?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/hidden-inputs-fields-are-always-strings-chars/127269>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 27, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/hidden-inputs-fields-are-always-strings-chars/127269 "2008-01-27T15:47:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sgudibanda)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/hidden-inputs-fields-are-always-strings-chars/127269/1 "2008-01-27T15:47:22Z")

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Hi,

I am trying to implement wizard for my application. I am doing it with  
hidden divs.  
For navigation purposes: I am using hidden input fields such as:

So that when someone presses next, i can increment the current\_state to  
2 in JavaScript Function that i have written.

$(‘wizard\_previous\_state’).value = previous =  
$(‘wizard\_current\_state’).value  
current = $(‘wizard\_current\_state’).value = previous + 1

But "previous + 1 " is evaluated as 1 + 1 = 11 (string concat).

How do i say that i want hidden value to be integer?

Any suggestions?

Regards,  
Sandeep G

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**Author:** ![sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sgudibanda)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/hidden-inputs-fields-are-always-strings-chars/127269/2 "2008-01-27T16:35:19Z")

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On 1/27/08, Sandeep G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> So that when someone presses next, i can increment the current\_state to  
> 2 in JavaScript Function that i have written.
> 
> $(‘wizard\_previous\_state’).value = previous =  
> $(‘wizard\_current\_state’).value  
> current = $(‘wizard\_current\_state’).value = previous + 1
> 
> But "previous + 1 " is evaluated as 1 + 1 = 11 (string concat).
> 
> How do i say that i want hidden value to be integer?

I’m pretty sure that the values of fields are always strings. But you  
should be able to do what you want with something like

current = $(wizard\_current\_state).value = +previous + 1

In Javascript, using a unary + operator on a string containing a  
number will produce the number.

–  
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby  
[http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/](http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/)

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**Author:** ![sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sgudibanda](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sgudibanda)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/hidden-inputs-fields-are-always-strings-chars/127269/3 "2008-01-27T18:08:54Z")

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Thanks Rick. That helps.