focus() & select() not working

[Craig]

Hi

I have some code that validates a field. The code is called using the
onchange event for the input field. The code is;

function CheckDate(ObjectName)
{ if(!isDate(ObjectName))
{ msg = 'Date is not valid.';
alert(msg);
ObjectName.select();
ObjectName.focus();
}
}

The select() and focus() are not working. I suspect the problem is the
order of events. If I enter invalid data and press TAB, the warning
appears, but the cursor moves to the next field. I think the select() and
focus() may be working, but the key press (the TAB) is executed after the
script, so the focus moves to the next field. If I use the onblur event
instead of the onchange event, the code works. I'm guessing this is becuase
the onblur happens after the key press is executed. I can't use the onblur
event for other reasons. Is there anyway to get the onchange event working
with validation code that moves the focus?

Thanks for your help.

[Frederiek]

Hi Craig,

Have you tried to set the focus() first and then the select()?
Try, and if it doesn't work, post the URL of a sample page.

BTW, in which browser/platform have you checked?

cya
Frederiek

[Craig]

Yes, I've tried changing the order of the focus() and select() commands, but
get the same result. It only seems to happen if the next object is a text
box.

I'm using IIS4 as the web server and the application is for IE4+ only.
Unfortunately I can't post a test site, as I'm working for a client who is
behind a firewall (I don't have permissions to make changes to their
external web server).

Let me know if you would like me to post a small HTML page here that gives
an example of the problem.

Thanks a lot for your help.

"Frederiek" <fourwaysstreet@chello.be> wrote in message
news:3a114a3e$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Hi Craig,
>
> Have you tried to set the focus() first and then the select()?
> Try, and if it doesn't work, post the URL of a sample page.
>
> BTW, in which browser/platform have you checked?
>
> cya
> Frederiek

[Glenn]

Craig,

I'm not sure if this is supported in IE4, but it is in IE5, but try using
the window.setTimeout method to set the focus back on your control. If it's
true that the blur caused by the tab key is being fired after your Focus
method, this solution would seem to work.

So it's something like this (I'm basically a vbScript dude, not a lot of
JavaScript experience, so the syntax might need some work):

function CheckDate(ObjectName)
{ if(!isDate(ObjectName))
{ msg = 'Date is not valid.';
alert(msg);
window.setTimeout ('FocusOnControl ObjectName', 1)
}
}
function FocusOnControl(ObjectName)
{ ObjectName.select();
ObjectName.focus();
}

The "1" represents the time, in milliseconds, that the browser should wait
before performing the operation.

Note also that you may have to move your alert from the CheckDate function
to the FocusOnControl function, don't know.

"Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hi
>
>I have some code that validates a field. The code is called using the
>onchange event for the input field. The code is;
>
>function CheckDate(ObjectName)
>{ if(!isDate(ObjectName))
> { msg = 'Date is not valid.';
> alert(msg);
> ObjectName.select();
> ObjectName.focus();
> }
>}
>
>The select() and focus() are not working. I suspect the problem is the
>order of events. If I enter invalid data and press TAB, the warning
>appears, but the cursor moves to the next field. I think the select() and
>focus() may be working, but the key press (the TAB) is executed after the
>script, so the focus moves to the next field. If I use the onblur event
>instead of the onchange event, the code works. I'm guessing this is becuase
>the onblur happens after the key press is executed. I can't use the onblur
>event for other reasons. Is there anyway to get the onchange event working
>with validation code that moves the focus?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>

[Frederiek]

I don't know about any IIS4 server. And I wonder why you would want to make
an application for IE only.

The following is a simple test page I made, with only one field. Type anything
*but* the "@" sign in the field.

<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
<script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript">
<!--
function CheckDate(ObjectName) {
if (!check_email(ObjectName.value)) {//
msg = 'Date is not valid.';
alert(msg);
ObjectName.focus();
ObjectName.select();
return false;
}
return true;
}

function check_email(address) {
if (address.indexOf ('@') == -1)
return false;
return true;
}
//-->
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form name="form" action="mailto:" method="post" enctype="text/plain" onsubmit="return
CheckDate(document.form.MAIL)">
<input name="MAIL" value=""><br>
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="send">
</form>
</body>
</html>

Works in both NS 4.75 and IE 5.0 on Mac (I don't have a PC).
Surely you call upon the ObjectName differently, having several more checks
in the function. But this was just about getting the select() and focus()
to work.

If this doesn't help, then post the code of a sample page.

cya
Frederiek


"Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
>Yes, I've tried changing the order of the focus() and select() commands,
but
>get the same result. It only seems to happen if the next object is a text
>box.
>
>I'm using IIS4 as the web server and the application is for IE4+ only.
>Unfortunately I can't post a test site, as I'm working for a client who
is
>behind a firewall (I don't have permissions to make changes to their
>external web server).
>
>Let me know if you would like me to post a small HTML page here that gives
>an example of the problem.
>
>Thanks a lot for your help.

[Craig]

My problem only occurs if there's a text input directly after the field I'm
testing. Here's some sample code that exhibits the problem on my server
(ps. this is an IE only application because it's for an Intranet where the
company has standardised on IE4+);

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Test</TITLE>
<SCRIPT ID=clientEventHandlersJS LANGUAGE=javascript>
<!--

function text1_onchange()
{
if (document.test.text1.value != '@')
{
alert('Invalid value.');
document.test.text1.focus();
document.test.text1.select();
}
}

function text2_onchange()
{
if (document.test.text2.value != '@')
{
alert('Invalid value.');
document.test.text2.select();
document.test.text2.focus();
}
}

//-->
</SCRIPT>
</HEAD>
<BODY>


<form name=test method=post action="dosomething.asp">

<TABLE border=1 cellPadding=1 cellSpacing=1>

<TR>
<TD>First Field:</TD>
<TD><INPUT id=text1 name=text1 LANGUAGE=javascript onchange="return
text1_onchange()"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Second Field:</TD>
<TD><INPUT id=text2 name=text2 LANGUAGE=javascript onchange="return
text2_onchange()"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Third Field:</TD>
<TD><INPUT id=text3 name=text3></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><INPUT id=submit1 name=submit1 type=submit value=Submit></TD></TR>

</TABLE>

</form>

</BODY>
</HTML>
"Frederiek" <fourwaysstreet@chello.be> wrote in message
news:3a150f37$1@news.devx.com...
>
> I don't know about any IIS4 server. And I wonder why you would want to
make
> an application for IE only.
>
> The following is a simple test page I made, with only one field. Type
anything
> *but* the "@" sign in the field.
>
> <html>
> <head>
> <title>Test</title>
> <script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript">
> <!--
> function CheckDate(ObjectName) {
> if (!check_email(ObjectName.value)) {//
> msg = 'Date is not valid.';
> alert(msg);
> ObjectName.focus();
> ObjectName.select();
> return false;
> }
> return true;
> }
>
> function check_email(address) {
> if (address.indexOf ('@') == -1)
> return false;
> return true;
> }
> //-->
> </script>
> </head>
> <body>
> <form name="form" action="mailto:" method="post" enctype="text/plain"
onsubmit="return
> CheckDate(document.form.MAIL)">
> <input name="MAIL" value=""><br>
> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="send">
> </form>
> </body>
> </html>
>
> Works in both NS 4.75 and IE 5.0 on Mac (I don't have a PC).
> Surely you call upon the ObjectName differently, having several more
checks
> in the function. But this was just about getting the select() and focus()
> to work.
>
> If this doesn't help, then post the code of a sample page.
>
> cya
> Frederiek
>
>
> "Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
> >Yes, I've tried changing the order of the focus() and select() commands,
> but
> >get the same result. It only seems to happen if the next object is a
text
> >box.
> >
> >I'm using IIS4 as the web server and the application is for IE4+ only.
> >Unfortunately I can't post a test site, as I'm working for a client who
> is
> >behind a firewall (I don't have permissions to make changes to their
> >external web server).
> >
> >Let me know if you would like me to post a small HTML page here that
gives
> >an example of the problem.
> >
> >Thanks a lot for your help.
>
>

[Frederiek]

Your script worked perfectly well in IE 5.0 on Mac. I don't have IE 4 anymore,
as on installing IE 5, extensions get overwritten, so IE 4 would use the
libraries of IE 5, which wouldn't be a correct test. And I don't have a PC.
I put something in the third field first, then in the second field and the
alert did fire and the select occurred. The same goes for starting off in
the second field first and then the first field.

The only thing is that, after the alert I am able to pick another field without
the alert firing again. Surely that's not what you're after; the field *has*
to be valid before being able to continue (right?). In that case, I'd change
the "onchange=..." into "onblur=...". Cause if you then try to continue anyway,
the alert will be fired each time you try.

<INPUT id="text1" name="text1" onblur="return text1_onchange()">

BTW, I don't quite see what "LANGUAGE=javascript" has to do in the following
line:
<INPUT id=text1 name=text1 LANGUAGE=javascript onchange="return text1_onchange()">,
nor the script id in the starting script tag.
And I'd quote the attribute values, as in the next HTML versions (XML) they
are required.

cya
Frederiek

"Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
>My problem only occurs if there's a text input directly after the field
I'm
>testing. Here's some sample code that exhibits the problem on my server
>(ps. this is an IE only application because it's for an Intranet where the
>company has standardised on IE4+);
>
> ...

[Paul Gabriel]

The problem is with the logic. When the use moves from text1 to text2 and
text1 is invalid, your script takes the user back to text1. This by itself
is fine. However, your script caused the focus to leave text2 which isn't
valid (yet) which fires that event. The user can't fix both at the same time
and the script is running both checks simultaneously. (This doesnt happen
on the Mac since it is single tasking)

I seem to remember something about a deadlock from back in school...

The answer is to either call one validation script for the whole form on
submit, or chain you logic so as to prevent this deadlock.

hope this helps.

Paul

"Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
>My problem only occurs if there's a text input directly after the field
I'm
>testing. Here's some sample code that exhibits the problem on my server
>(ps. this is an IE only application because it's for an Intranet where the
>company has standardised on IE4+);
>
><HTML>
><HEAD>
><TITLE>Test</TITLE>
><SCRIPT ID=clientEventHandlersJS LANGUAGE=javascript>
><!--
>
>function text1_onchange()
>{
> if (document.test.text1.value != '@')
> {
> alert('Invalid value.');
> document.test.text1.focus();
> document.test.text1.select();
> }
>}
>
>function text2_onchange()
>{
> if (document.test.text2.value != '@')
> {
> alert('Invalid value.');
> document.test.text2.select();
> document.test.text2.focus();
> }
>}
>
>//-->
></SCRIPT>
></HEAD>
><BODY>
>
>
><form name=test method=post action="dosomething.asp">
>
><TABLE border=1 cellPadding=1 cellSpacing=1>
>
> <TR>
> <TD>First Field:</TD>
> <TD><INPUT id=text1 name=text1 LANGUAGE=javascript onchange="return
>text1_onchange()"></TD></TR>
> <TR>
> <TD>Second Field:</TD>
> <TD><INPUT id=text2 name=text2 LANGUAGE=javascript onchange="return
>text2_onchange()"></TD></TR>
> <TR>
> <TD>Third Field:</TD>
> <TD><INPUT id=text3 name=text3></TD></TR>
> <TR>
> <TD></TD>
> <TD><INPUT id=submit1 name=submit1 type=submit value=Submit></TD></TR>
>
></TABLE>
>
></form>
>
></BODY>
></HTML>
>"Frederiek" <fourwaysstreet@chello.be> wrote in message
>news:3a150f37$1@news.devx.com...
>>
>> I don't know about any IIS4 server. And I wonder why you would want to
>make
>> an application for IE only.
>>
>> The following is a simple test page I made, with only one field. Type
>anything
>> *but* the "@" sign in the field.
>>
>> <html>
>> <head>
>> <title>Test</title>
>> <script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript">
>> <!--
>> function CheckDate(ObjectName) {
>> if (!check_email(ObjectName.value)) {//
>> msg = 'Date is not valid.';
>> alert(msg);
>> ObjectName.focus();
>> ObjectName.select();
>> return false;
>> }
>> return true;
>> }
>>
>> function check_email(address) {
>> if (address.indexOf ('@') == -1)
>> return false;
>> return true;
>> }
>> //-->
>> </script>
>> </head>
>> <body>
>> <form name="form" action="mailto:" method="post" enctype="text/plain"
>onsubmit="return
>> CheckDate(document.form.MAIL)">
>> <input name="MAIL" value=""><br>
>> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="send">
>> </form>
>> </body>
>> </html>
>>
>> Works in both NS 4.75 and IE 5.0 on Mac (I don't have a PC).
>> Surely you call upon the ObjectName differently, having several more
>checks
>> in the function. But this was just about getting the select() and focus()
>> to work.
>>
>> If this doesn't help, then post the code of a sample page.
>>
>> cya
>> Frederiek
>>
>>
>> "Craig" <cjewiss@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >Yes, I've tried changing the order of the focus() and select() commands,
>> but
>> >get the same result. It only seems to happen if the next object is a
>text
>> >box.
>> >
>> >I'm using IIS4 as the web server and the application is for IE4+ only.
>> >Unfortunately I can't post a test site, as I'm working for a client who
>> is
>> >behind a firewall (I don't have permissions to make changes to their
>> >external web server).
>> >
>> >Let me know if you would like me to post a small HTML page here that
>gives
>> >an example of the problem.
>> >
>> >Thanks a lot for your help.
>>
>>
>
>