jquery.values.js

(function($) {
  /* jQuery.values: get or set all of the name/value pairs from child input controls
   * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1489486/jquery-plugin-to-serialize-a-form-and-also-restore-populate-the-form/1490431#1490431
   * @argument data {array} If included, will populate all child controls.
   * @returns element if data was provided, or array of values if not
  */
  $.fn.values = function(data) {
      var els = $(this).find(':input').get();

      if(typeof data != 'object') {
          // return all data
          data = {};

          $.each(els, function() {
              if (this.name && !this.disabled && (this.checked
                              || /select|textarea/i.test(this.nodeName)
                              || /text|hidden|password|number/i.test(this.type))) {
                  data[this.name] = $(this).val();
              }
          });
          return data;
      } else {
          $.each(els, function() {
              if (this.name && data[this.name]) {
                  if(this.type == 'checkbox' || this.type == 'radio') {
                      $(this).attr("checked", (data[this.name] == $(this).val()));
                  } else {
                      $(this).val(data[this.name]);
                  }
              }
          });
          return $(this);
      }
  };
})(jQuery);