A little help with javascript and error messages

I'm looking to display some error messages during input

[JerryOdom]

I'd like a user to be able to fill out a form, press submit and if the data is incorrect then the form displays with the same data just entered and a small error message in text on the page.(not using the alert function) How do I do this guys? I'm an experienced programmer just not with javascript and events.

[Trace]

Not quite sure if I'm understanding exactly what it is you want to do but this might get you moving in the right direction.

<form>
<input type="text" name="txt1">
<input type="text" name="txt2" style="border:0px;">
<br>
<input type="button" value="click" onClick="txt2.value='something';">
</form>