wordpress - Ajaxify WP Options - Problems with using jquery serialize and checkboxes -

i've been working on theme options panel wordpress. i've run bug when start using more 1 checkbox option.

my code uses jquery serialize form data , submit wp's ajax-url. add callback function , wp knows send data function have set save options db.

it works when check boxes on, hit save , no problem. values saved. boxes checked if try uncheck 1 or 2 of 3 , click save... on refresh boxes still checked. values still 'on' in db. think b/c jquery doesn't serialize unchecked checkboxes, aren't passed update_option array. since aren't in update_option array values keys stays same in db. hence, no change. strangely (to me atleast) if uncheck 3 of test checkboxes update properly.

so, looking work around update options correct values , remove checkbox values have been unchecked.

<?php  add_action('admin_menu', 'test_add_theme_page');  function test_add_theme_page() {     if ( isset( $_get['page'] ) && $_get['page'] == basename(__file__) ) {          add_action('admin_head', 'test_theme_page_head');     }     add_theme_page(__('test admin'), __('test admin'), 'edit_themes', basename(__file__), 'test_theme_page'); }     function test_theme_page_head() { ?>      <script type="text/javascript">     jquery(document).ready(function($) {        jquery('form#test_form').submit(function() {           var data = jquery(this).serialize();      alert(data);            jquery.post(ajaxurl, data, function(response) {               if(response == 1) {                   show_message(1);                   t = settimeout('fade_message()', 2000);               } else {                   show_message(2);                   t = settimeout('fade_message()', 2000);               }           });           return false;       });      });      function show_message(n) {         if(n == 1) {             jquery('#saved').html('<div id="message" class="updated fade"><p><strong><?php _e('options saved.'); ?></strong></p></div>').show();         } else {             jquery('#saved').html('<div id="message" class="error fade"><p><strong><?php _e('options not saved.'); ?></strong></p></div>').show();         }     }      function fade_message() {         jquery('#saved').fadeout(1000);         cleartimeout(t);     }     </script>  <?php }     function test_theme_page() { ?>  <div class="wrap">      <h2><?php _e('test admin'); ?></h2>      <div id="saved"></div>     <?php $options = get_option('test_theme');    echo "<br>";  print_r($options);  echo"<br>";  ?>     <form action="/" name="test_form" id="test_form">         text<input type="text" name="test_text" value="<?php echo $options['test_text']; ?>" /><br />         check1<input type="checkbox" name="test_check1" <?php echo ($options['test_check1'] == 'on') ? 'checked' : ''; ?> /><br />   check2<input type="checkbox" name="test_check2" <?php echo ($options['test_check2'] == 'on') ? 'checked' : ''; ?> /><br />   check3<input type="checkbox" name="test_check3" <?php echo ($options['test_check3'] == 'on') ? 'checked' : ''; ?> /><br />         <input type="hidden" name="action" value="test_theme_data_save" />         <input type="hidden" name="security" value="<?php echo wp_create_nonce('test-theme-data'); ?>" />         <input type="submit" value="submit" />     </form>  </div>  <?php }     add_action('wp_ajax_test_theme_data_save', 'test_theme_save_ajax');  function test_theme_save_ajax() {      check_ajax_referer('test-theme-data', 'security');      $data = $_post;     unset($data['security'], $data['action']);      if(!is_array(get_option('test_theme'))) {         $options = array();     } else {         $options = get_option('test_theme');     }      if(!empty($data)) {         $diff = array_diff($options, $data);         $diff2 = array_diff($data, $options);         $diff = array_merge($diff, $diff2);     } else {         $diff = array();     }      if(!empty($diff)) {         if(update_option('test_theme', $data)) {             die('1');         } else {             die('0');         }     } else {         die('1');     } } 

you can see full code here http://pastebin.com/bchwsbi5

was apparently 1. over-complicating things , 2. not understanding update_option returns true on update , returns false if there no change , not on failure.

here's corrected test_theme_save_ajax() function:

function test_theme_save_ajax() {      check_ajax_referer('test-theme-data', 'security');      $data = $_post;     unset($data['security'], $data['action']);      update_option('test_theme', $data);     die('1');  }