In order to have javascript automatically “post back” an asp.net page, the function….

function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) {

    if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() != false)) {

        theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget;

        theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument;

        theForm.submit();

    }

…must be included in the html of the page.  But, this function is only automatically generated by asp.net when there is at least 1 control with the “AutoPostback” property set to true.    So what to do if your page does not have any “AutoPostback” controls on it???....

Add this code to the Page_Load event…

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        Page.GetPostBackEventReference(Me)

End Sub

This will have asp.net generate the javascript function __doPostBack so you can then call the function with this html side code…

<form id="form1" runat="server">

<div>

<asp:Button ID="Button1" runat="server" Text="Button" Width="129px" />

</div>

<input id="Button2" type="button" value="button" onclick="__doPostBack('Button1','')" />

</form>