Populate a text area via data from drop down 1

qwert62 · Dec 3, 2002

Here is my challenge. I have a textarea that a user currently keys in general data. I need to give user an option to enter in certain keywords. These keywords need to come via a drop down. For example, the user needs to insert the phrase "[[blue color]]" amoungst existing text in the text area. The user does not want to have to type [[blue color]], but select it via a drop down.

Anyone have any thoughts on how to do accomplish this?

My thought is to have user click desired text in drop down. I then want to create a keystroke that will copy the drop down value into the position in textarea where the cursor sits. (Similair to Copy/Paste). Any ideas if this is possible?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

mwa · Dec 3, 2002

Here is a quick idea... This uses VBscript but I'm sure it could be done with javascript as well...

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<script language=vbscript>
sub addchoice()
form1.mytext.value = form1.mytext.value & form1.choices.value
form1.choices.selectedIndex = 0
end sub
</script>
</HEAD>
<body>
<form name=form1>
<select name=choices onchange=addchoice()>
<option value="" selected>Choose a color
<option value="[[blue color]]">[blue]
<option value="[[red color]]">[red]
</select>
<BR>
<BR>
<textarea rows=10 cols=50 name=mytext></textarea>
</form>
</body>
</html>

Hope that helps...
mwa

onpnt · Dec 3, 2002

if you wanted to convert that to javascript due to vbscript copatibility issues this should do it
<script language="javascript">
function addchoice() {
form1.mytext.value = form1.mytext.value + form1.choices.options[form1.choices.selectedIndex].text
}
</script>
</HEAD>
<body>
<form name=form1>
<select name=choices onchange=addchoice()>
<option value="" selected>Choose a color
<option>[blue]
<option>[red]
</select>

no need to add the value attrib seeing as you're not passing this in anyway out of the page but just using it for functionality I dare to learn more

http://www.onpntwebdesigns.com

admin@onpntwebdesigns.com

qwert62 · Dec 3, 2002

Thanks very much. It worked like a charm!!!

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Populate a text area via data from drop down 1

qwert62

Programmer

mwa

Programmer

onpnt

Programmer

qwert62

Programmer

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