cannot clear default input values

Scruff

Hi,

I am setting default values for a number of input box for when a search is posted, the default value is what was used to do the search for that particular input.
If the user deletes the contents on an input box it doesnt stay deleted, it returns to the default value. They can change it fine but not delete the contents totally.

//input example:
<div class="row">
  <label for="begin">Begin With</label>
  <input type="text" class="txt" id="begin" name="begin"  value="{$value}" onchange="changeTest(this.id);" />
</div>

//this wont allow an empty value either!!
<input type="text" class="txt" id="test" name="test"  value="TEST" onchange="changeTest(this.id);" />

//javascript function example :
function changeTest(id){
  var foo = document.getElementById(id).value;
  if (foo == ''){
    document.getElementById(id).value = '';
  }
}

the only hack around it is to set the value as a single space and trim the posted value which inst what i want to go with.
seems simple but has me flummoxed as to why it aint working!

conorcan2

[PHP]
var foo = document.getElementById(id).value;
if (foo == ''){
document.getElementById(id).value = '';
}[/PHP]

That doesn't do anything.

Same as saying:

If document.getElementById(id).value = ''
then
document.getElementById(id).value = ''


What do you get if you add:

Alert(document.getElementById(id).value);

Scruff

i know, i was just trying to explictly set it in my desperation.
Alert box will say its empty but then the input box goes back to showing the default value again.

conorcan2

What happens if you don't make a call to a function, but embed the clearing code in the onChange handler itself?

Also, the following should return the current text in the input box, if you append letters to it (e.g. start typing 'testingmyinputbox')

[PHP]

var foo = document.getElementById(id).value;
Alert(foo);
[/PHP]

If it shows an empty string then your reference is incorrect for some reason, it should show the current value of the input field.

fasty

I'm new enough to Javascript, but does "this.<attribute name>" work? I thought you need to use

this.getAttribute("id")

Edit: Just tried and apparently your way does work! Pretty cool.

conorcan2

fasty wrote: »

I'm new enough to Javascript, but does "this.<attribute name>" work? I thought you need to use

this.getAttribute("id")

Edit: Just tried and apparently your way does work! Pretty cool.

I'm not sure if it works, but try this in the input field definition:

onChange = "Alert(this.getAttribute("id").value))"

Hopefully it will be showing you the current text in the input field when you try to edit it.

Then try
onChange = "this.getAttribute("id").value = 'should be empty'"

and if that works try:

onChange = "this.getAttribute("id").value = '' "

Be careful with your double quotes: "
and your single quotes: '

Edit: just read your edit!