False validation still executing code

programming web dev
1

I have javascript validating the following form. When the email is not entered an alert box is thrown up stating “not a valid email”. however the action “collectMailPHP.php” is still executed. Can anyone help?

Here is the javascript:

<script type=“text/javascript”>

function validate_email(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
apos=value.indexOf("@");
dotpos=value.lastIndexOf(".");
if (apos<1||dotpos-apos<2)
{alert(alerttxt);return false;}
else {return true;}
}
}

function validate_form(thisform)
{
with (thisform)
{
if (validate_email(email_client,“Not a valid e-mail address!”)==false)
{email.focus();return false;}

}
}
</script>

Here is the form;

<form action=“collectMailPHP.php” method=“post” onsubmit=“return validate_form(this);”>

<fieldset>

<legend> <span class=“style1”>Find Out More</span> </legend>
<ul>

  &lt;li&gt;  
          
  &lt;input type="text" class="contact_select" onfocus="if (this.value=='-Enter Email Address-'){this.value='';}" onblur="if (this.value==''){this.value='-Enter Email Address-';}" border="2" name="email_client" tabindex="1" value="-Enter Email Address-"&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
  
   &lt;li&gt;  

            &lt;select class="contact_select" name="subject"&gt;
            
            &lt;option&gt;I'm interested in...&lt;/option&gt;
             &lt;option&gt;Bingo Machines&lt;/option&gt;
               &lt;option&gt;Raffle Equipment&lt;/option&gt;
              &lt;option&gt;Arcade Games&lt;/option&gt;
             &lt;option&gt;Electronic Promotions&lt;/option&gt;
             &lt;option&gt;Other products&lt;/option&gt;
            
            
            
            &lt;/select&gt;
        &lt;/li&gt;

<div id=“submit_2”>
<input type=“submit” border=“1” value=“Submit” tabindex=“5” />
</div>

  &lt;/ul&gt; 
  &lt;/fieldset&gt;
  
  &lt;/form&gt;