how to set cursor style to pointer for links without hrefs

Use CSS cursor: pointer if I remember correctly.

Either in your CSS file:

.link_cursor
{
    cursor: pointer;
}

Then just add the following HTML to any elements you want to have the link cursor: class="link_cursor" (the preferred method.)

Or use inline CSS:

<a style="cursor: pointer;">

in your css file add this....

a:hover {
 cursor:pointer;
}

if you don't have a css file, add this to the HEAD of your HTML page

<style type="text/css">
 a:hover {
  cursor:pointer;
 }
</style>

also you can use the href="" attribute by returning false at the end of your javascript.

<a href="" onclick="doSomething(); return false;">a link</a>

this is good for many reasons. SEO or if people don't have javascript, the href="" will work. e.g.

<a href="nojavascriptpage.html" onclick="doSomething(); return false;">a link</a>

@see http://www.alistapart.com/articles/behavioralseparation

Edit: Worth noting @BalusC's answer where he mentions :hover is not necessary for the OP's use case. Although other style can be add with the :hover selector.

This is how change the cursor from an arrow to a hand when you hover over a given object (myObject).

myObject.style.cursor = 'pointer';

style="cursor: pointer;"