Like search engine

[paramu vinayagam]

Hello Sir,

I would like to know how to handle the typing text . I am developing application similar to search engine.
where user can type letter 'a' in text box means , which name start with letter 'a' its should be display in select box, if user type letter 'bc' means , which name start with letter 'bc' its should be display in select box like that i want to develop. What is the best practice to handle this case ?

Thanku,

paramu

[Sagar Rohankar]

Its a simple client server application where a client enter a letter or string and request a server for names starting with that particular letter, in response to server this name are appended to <select> tag, right ?

Then why don't you make a simple JSP/Servlet program, if that's what you really need is.

[Joachim Rohde]

That feature is called "autocompletion" and there are tons of examples out there. (With just plain JavaScript have a look at http://www.mattkruse.com/javascript/autocomplete/ for example). It's quite probably that you can find an out-of-the-box solution for the technology you are using, if you're searching for this term.

[paramu vinayagam]

Thank you sir,
for your link its very useful to me, i got the example program.i got some doubts in that program. like that JS file in below.
Arguments are :
field = text input field object
select = select list object containing valid values
property = either "text" or "value". This chooses which of the SELECT properties gets filled into the text box , the 'value' or 'text' of the selected option
forcematch = true or false. Set to 'true' to not allow any text in the text box that does not match an option. Only
supported in IE (possible future Netscape).

   
         function autoComplete (field, select, property, forcematch) {
	var found = false;
	for (var i = 0; i < select.options.length; i++) {
	if (select.options[i][property].toUpperCase().indexOf(field.value.toUpperCase()) == 0) {
		found=true; break;
		}
	}
	if (found) { select.selectedIndex = i; }
	else { select.selectedIndex = -1; }
	if (field.createTextRange) {
		if (forcematch && !found) {
			field.value=field.value.substring(0,field.value.length-1); 
			return;
			}
		var cursorKeys ="8;46;37;38;39;40;33;34;35;36;45;";
		if (cursorKeys.indexOf(event.keyCode+";") == -1) {
			var r1 = field.createTextRange();
			var oldValue = r1.text;
			var newValue = found ? select.options[i][property] : oldValue;
			if (newValue != field.value) {
				field.value = newValue;
				var rNew = field.createTextRange();
				rNew.moveStart('character', oldValue.length) ;
				rNew.select();
				}
			}
		}
	}

below mention 4 arguments like (fields,select,property,forcematch). i could not understand fields and select argument. what i thought.

fields - input box 'id' .
select - select box 'id' this both arguments i gave like in my application. its whether correct or not. can please tell me clearly about this (field,select) arguments.

Thank you,
Paramu..

[Bear Bibeault]

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You can go back and change your post to add code tags by clicking the button on your post.

[paramu vinayagam]

sir,
Thank you for your reply ,

for your link its very useful to me, i got the example program.i got some doubts in that program. like that JS file in below.
Arguments are :
field = text input field object
select = select list object containing valid values
property = either "text" or "value". This chooses which of the SELECT properties gets filled into the text box , the 'value' or 'text' of the selected option
forcematch = true or false. Set to 'true' to not allow any text in the text box that does not match an option. Only
supported in IE (possible future Netscape).
view plaincopy to clipboardprint?

   
           function autoComplete (field, select, property, forcematch) {  
      var found = false;  
      for (var i = 0; i < select.options.length; i++) {  
      if (select.options[i][property].toUpperCase().indexOf(field.value.toUpperCase()) == 0) {  
           found=true; break;  
          }  
       }  
        if (found) { select.selectedIndex = i; }  
      else { select.selectedIndex = -1; }  
       if (field.createTextRange) {  
           if (forcematch && !found) {  
               field.value=field.value.substring(0,field.value.length-1);   
               return;  
               }  
           var cursorKeys ="8;46;37;38;39;40;33;34;35;36;45;";  
           if (cursorKeys.indexOf(event.keyCode+";") == -1) {  
               var r1 = field.createTextRange();  
               var oldValue = r1.text;  
               var newValue = found ? select.options[i][property] : oldValue;  
               if (newValue != field.value) {  
                   field.value = newValue;  
                   var rNew = field.createTextRange();  
                   rNew.moveStart('character', oldValue.length) ;  
                   rNew.select();  
                   }  
               }  
           }  
       }  
 

below mention 4 arguments like (fields,select,property,forcematch). i could not understand fields and select argument. what i thought.

fields - input box 'id' .
select - select box 'id' this both arguments i gave like in my application. its whether correct or not. can please tell me clearly about this (field,select) arguments.

Thank you,
Paramu..