dropdown & javascript

[Venkat Babu]

Hello,

I have a jsp page and in the bottom of the page i have three dropdown list, 3rd one depends on 2nd. And 2nd dropdown depends on 1st one. Once I select 1st drop down, the page is refreshed and 2nd dropdown has new values. But when the page is refreshed, it stays at the begining of the page. So I have to scroll down everytime to select the 2nd dropdown and once i select the 2nd one, it is refreshed and again i have to scroll down for the 3rd one. Once I make the selection, is there a way the page should refresh and stay where the dropdown list are, instead of scrolling down. I using Javascript and in the javascript function i am calling struts action. Thanks a lot.

[Bear Bibeault]

Well, you didn't say, but I assume you're looking for a way to avoid the page refresh?

If so, Ajax is the answer for you. With Ajax you can make a request back to the server when the value of a dropdown changes in order to fetch the data (and just the data) needed to populate the dependent dropdown.

[Venkat Babu]

Thanks. I don't know AJAX. Could you please tell me any good sites where I can start learning AJAX and implement this task?

Or is there a way when the page is loaded can I bring the focus on the dropdown? Thanks
[ March 30, 2007: Message edited by: Venkat Babu ]

[Bear Bibeault]

Here's a tutorial on Ajax: http://developer.apple.com/internet/webcontent/xmlhttpreq.html

You can try just setting focus on the dropdown with a Javascript statement, but not having to refresh a page just for something like this would be a great tool to add to your repetoire.

[Venkat Babu]

Great. Definitely I will look at it. Thanks. I will try to find how to bring the focus on the dropdown using Javascript. Do you or anyone can post a sample java script code of bringing the focus on a particular field in the form when the page is loaded.

[Bear Bibeault]

document.getElementById('idOfElement').focus();
    

You do have a Javascript reference handy, don't you?

[Venkat Babu]

Actaully I don't. I very new to Javascript. Today is my third day using Javascript.

[Bear Bibeault]

Get yourself a good reference. I'd suggest either (or both) of the O'Reilly Flanagan or Goodman books.

[Venkat Babu]

Great. Thanks.