embedding web2py forms in static websites

[Richard Penman]

I want to embed web2py forms in a static website (same domain) and keep the static part as simple as possible.

Currently I have this in the static website:

<div id="form"></div>

<script type="text/javascript">$("#form").load("path/to/web2py/app");</script>

And this in the web2py app:

def email():

    script = """

        $("#contact_form").submit(function(event) {

            $.post(this.action, $(this).serialize(), function(response) {

                $("#contact_form").replaceWith(response);

            });

            return false;

        });"""

    form = FORM(

        SCRIPT(script),

        TABLE(

            TR('Message:', TEXTAREA(_name='message', requires=IS_NOT_EMPTY())),

            TR('', INPUT(_type='submit')),

        ), 

        _action=URL(), 

        _id='contact_form'

    )

    if form.accepts(request):

        # process result ...

        return 'Message received'

    else:

        return form.xml()

The key part is: $("#contact_form").replaceWith(response);

Each AJAX request the form is replaced with the latest response, which is either a form with errors or the success message.

This works as expected, but is there a better way to do this? 

Richard