Follow Techotopia on Twitter

On-line Guides
All Guides
eBook Store
iOS / Android
Linux for Beginners
Office Productivity
Linux Installation
Linux Security
Linux Utilities
Linux Virtualization
Linux Kernel
System/Network Admin
Programming
Scripting Languages
Development Tools
Web Development
GUI Toolkits/Desktop
Databases
Mail Systems
openSolaris
Eclipse Documentation
Techotopia.com
Virtuatopia.com
Answertopia.com

How To Guides
Virtualization
General System Admin
Linux Security
Linux Filesystems
Web Servers
Graphics & Desktop
PC Hardware
Windows
Problem Solutions
Privacy Policy

  




 

 

The JavaScript FAQ
Prev Home Next

Combining Input Fields

Question: Can I save space in my form by getting more than one input value from just one text field?

Answer: Yes. For example, you can display a text input field and a select box. Using the select box, the user will be able to choose which kind of value to input in the text field. All input data can actually be submitted to the server in additional hidden form elements. Try this example:

This form was created using the following JavaScript code:
<form name=form1 action="" onSubmit="return validate()">
<input name="name"    type=hidden value="">
<input name="email"   type=hidden value="">
<input name="country" type=hidden value="">
<select name=s1 onChange="refill()">
<option value="name" selected >Your name:
<option value="email"         >Your email address:
<option value="country"       >Your country:
</select>
<input name=t1 type=text   value="" size=20>
<input name=b1 type=submit value="Enter!">
</form>

<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
isFilled=new Array(0,0,0);
oldActiveField="name"; oldIndex=0;
theActiveField="name"; theIndex=0;
theValue='';
theForm=document.form1;

function refill() {
 oldIndex=theIndex;
 theIndex=theForm.s1.selectedIndex;
 oldActiveField=theActiveField; 
 theActiveField=theForm.s1.options[theIndex].value;
 theValue=theForm.t1.value;
 eval('theForm.'+oldActiveField+'.value=theValue');
 eval('theForm.t1.value=theForm.'+theActiveField+'.value');
 if (theValue!='') isFilled[oldIndex]=1;
 if (theValue=='') isFilled[oldIndex]=0;
}

function read() {
 oldIndex=theForm.s1.selectedIndex;
 oldActiveField=theForm.s1.options[oldIndex].value;
 theValue=theForm.t1.value;
 eval('theForm.'+oldActiveField+'.value=theValue');
 if (theValue!='') isFilled[theIndex]=1; 
 if (theValue=='') isFilled[theIndex]=0; 
}

function validate() {
 read();
 for (var k=0; k<isFilled.length; k++) {
  if (!isFilled[k]) {
   theIndex=k;
   theForm.s1.selectedIndex=k;
   theForm.t1.value='';
   theActiveField=theForm.s1.options[k].value;
   if (oldIndex==k) alert ('Please fill in your '+theActiveField)
   return false;
  }
 }
 alert ('You are submitting the following data:'
  +'\nName:    '+theForm.name.value
  +'\nEmail:   '+theForm.email.value
  +'\nCountry: '+theForm.country.value
 )

 return false;
 // Instead of returning false in all cases, 
 // a real-life code here would validate the data
 // and return true if the user submitted valid data 
}

//-->
</script>

JavaScripter.net. Copyright © 1999-2006, Alexei Kourbatov

The JavaScript FAQ
Prev Home Next


 
 
  Mirrored with kind permission of Alexei Kourbatov Design by Interspire