KeyCodes and IE 2

bdichiara · Oct 17, 2006

I'm using a script which works in Firefox, but not so much in IE that allows "keyboard shortcuts" on the page. So if the user presses "s" it takes them to the search box on the page to do a search. Only problem is i get a JS error in IE that says 'keyCode' is null or not an object.

Code:

function sendToSearch(e) {
	if (e.keyCode) {
		keycode=e.keyCode;
	} else {
		keycode=e.which;
	}
	character=String.fromCharCode(keycode);
	if(keycode == "83" || keycode == 83 || character == "s"){
		document.forms['search_box'].elements['search'].focus();
	}
}
document.onkeypress = sendToSearch;

Any ideas?

_______________
_brian.

kaht · Oct 17, 2006

This should work. In the event that the browser does not support some combination of keyCode or which, it will set the value of keycode to false:

Code:

<html>
<head>
<script language="JavaScript">

function alertKeycode(e) {
   e = (e) ? e : event;
   var keycode = (e.keyCode) ? e.keyCode : (e.which) ? e.which : false;
   alert(keycode)
}

document.onkeydown = alertKeycode;
</script>
</head>

<body>

</body>
</html>

-kaht

http://www.silkypups.com

[small](All puppies have now found loving homes, thanks for all who showed interest)[/small]

BillyRayPreachersSon · Oct 17, 2006

Why use JS for this at all? Investigate "access keys" - they're an accessible alternative to JS like this, and will probably work in a whole heap more browsers - even with JS disabled.

See our site here for an example:

http://www.coedit.co.uk/information/accessibility/

Hope this helps,
Dan

Coedit Limited - Delivering standards compliant, accessible web solutions

[tt]Dan's Page [blue]@[/blue] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/dan/

[/tt]

bdichiara · Oct 17, 2006

Wow. BillyRay, that is awesome, i didn't know that existed. I may use that with some of my other applications, however with this one, pressing the "s" is easier for my users. Trying to use an ALT+Letter combination will only end up confusing them.

@ kaht, It looks like that did the trick, however now, in IE it actually puts an "s" into the search field after you type it.

I've tried to reset the value of the search field, but the "s" is still coming through. Any ideas about that?

_______________
_brian.

kaht · Oct 17, 2006

Well.... you can set the returnValue for the event equal to false, but that will not work in Firefox.... I'm not sure you can completely suppress the value from coming thru in all browsers - in which case you're probably better off using Dan's suggestion.

If a non-firefox solution works for you, then you can try setting the returnValue to false like so:

Code:

<html>
<head>
<script language="JavaScript">

function alertKeycode(e) {
   e = (e) ? e : event;
   var keycode = (e.keyCode) ? e.keyCode : (e.which) ? e.which : false;
   alert(keycode)
   e.returnValue = false;
}

document.onkeydown = alertKeycode;
</script>
</head>

<body>
<input type="text" />
</body>
</html>

-kaht

http://www.silkypups.com

[small](All puppies have now found loving homes, thanks for all who showed interest)[/small]

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KeyCodes and IE 2

bdichiara

Programmer

kaht

Programmer

BillyRayPreachersSon

Programmer

bdichiara

Programmer

kaht

Programmer

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