Thanks...

I'm still having trouble understanding. You say
    > create a hidden field in the form and put in the folder.style information.
I'm still confused about how to grab the folder.style.display information. I guess I'm looking for a Perl function that does something like

 param("folder_$id") = grabFromJavascript('folder.style.display', $id)
+;
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or, I guess more likely, a Javascript snippet that does something like

 
  pushToCgiParam(id, folder.style.display)
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or is it an html form that calls a javascript function, like

  <input type="hidden" name="folder_12" value=folderStatus(12) />
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throop

There are only four ways I know for JavaScript to inform Perl about anything: 1) as a querystring on a GET request, 2) as a field in a form sent as a POST request, 3) as either GET or POST on an AJAX request, 4) by having JavaScript write to a cookie and then having Perl retrieve the cookie.

You'd have to explain your overall goal for me to know which of those is best for you. I'm just answering the part of the question about sending something JavaScript knows to a Perl script.

In a hidden field you could do something like these:

<input type="hidden" name="folder_opts" id="folder_opts">
<script type="text/javascript">
document.getElementById('folder_opts').value = 
    '{"f1":' + fi_value + ',"f2":' + f2_value + '}';
</script>
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Then on the Perl side, you'd read the folder_opts param, turn it into a Perl hash with one of the JSON modules.

I'm think the cookie way is the best choice for you.

• on page load read cookies for folder.style.display info for each folder;
• when style.display is changing write this info into cookie;

So this is pure Javascript solution.

Another way: Use AJAX to update the variable on the server whenever it's toggled.

The downside is that you generate more traffic, and if you don't properly code it you may slow down the user experience

The advantage is that the state will be updated on the server even if the user never submits the form, for example if they just close the browser intending to come back later. You also don't have to send the state along with every single link or form on the page.