combobox

[Dropstengel]

Hi
I have a simple form that just contains 1 combobox with several options.
There is no onSelect event that I can handle, right?
How can I implement this? The user selects one option and a new pops up...
When user select same option a new must pop up.

Frank

[Michael Winter]

Re: combobox

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 09:17:37 +0200, Dropstengel <ik@haat.spam > wrote:

I'll spare you the lecture of why pop-ups are bad. I'm sure you already
know it.
[color=blue]
> I have a simple form that just contains 1 combobox with several options.
> There is no onSelect event that I can handle, right?[/color]

The select event is fired when the user selects text. The usual change and
click events apply to SELECT elements.
[color=blue]
> How can I implement this? The user selects one option and a new pops
> up...
> When user select same option a new must pop up.[/color]

Don't do that. The only elements that should cause an action, such as
navigation, are buttons. The user doesn't usually expect something to
happen just by selecting a value from a list.

In addition, just because the user has made a selection doesn't mean
that's actually their chosen value. Why? Users make mistakes. Moreover,
there are more ways to select from a SELECT element than just clicking a
value. Once the element has focus, the user can press a key to jump to the
first option that begins with that letter. In a list of countries, for
example, that first option is not likely to be the final choice. The user
can also use the cursor keys and the mouse wheel to scroll through the
list. Each one of these situations will act like a selection, but none of
them will be.

The solution? Use a button. Not only will this activate irrespective of
whether the value has changed, but it also provides a more concrete
interface.

Mike

--
Michael Winter
Replace ".invalid" with ".uk" to reply by e-mail

[Dropstengel]

Re: combobox


"Michael Winter" <M.Winter@bluey onder.co.invali d> wrote in message
news:opscw674si x13kvk@atlantis ...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 09:17:37 +0200, Dropstengel <ik@haat.spam > wrote:
>
> I'll spare you the lecture of why pop-ups are bad. I'm sure you already
> know it.
>[color=green]
> > I have a simple form that just contains 1 combobox with several options.
> > There is no onSelect event that I can handle, right?[/color]
>
> The select event is fired when the user selects text. The usual change and
> click events apply to SELECT elements.
>[color=green]
> > How can I implement this? The user selects one option and a new pops
> > up...
> > When user select same option a new must pop up.[/color]
>
> Don't do that. The only elements that should cause an action, such as
> navigation, are buttons. The user doesn't usually expect something to
> happen just by selecting a value from a list.
>
> In addition, just because the user has made a selection doesn't mean
> that's actually their chosen value. Why? Users make mistakes. Moreover,
> there are more ways to select from a SELECT element than just clicking a
> value. Once the element has focus, the user can press a key to jump to the
> first option that begins with that letter. In a list of countries, for
> example, that first option is not likely to be the final choice. The user
> can also use the cursor keys and the mouse wheel to scroll through the
> list. Each one of these situations will act like a selection, but none of
> them will be.
>
> The solution? Use a button. Not only will this activate irrespective of
> whether the value has changed, but it also provides a more concrete
> interface.
>
> Mike
>
> --
> Michael Winter
> Replace ".invalid" with ".uk" to reply by e-mail[/color]

Thanks, I completely agree (I normally develop C++ applications for Windows
where UI forms about 60% of the whole application).
But, for my sister in law I'm writing some JavaScript code because it's part
of her study. And that excersise tells me to do this strange behaviour.....

Frank

[Michael Winter]

Re: combobox

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:09:00 +0200, Dropstengel <ik@haat.spam > wrote:

[snipped lecture on usability]
[color=blue]
> Thanks, I completely agree (I normally develop C++ applications for
> Windows where UI forms about 60% of the whole application).[/color]

Yes, I know. It's a pain in the ass. :)
[color=blue]
> But, for my sister in law I'm writing some JavaScript code because it's
> part of her study. And that excersise tells me to do this strange
> behaviour.....[/color]

In that case, using the click event is probably the best way to go so that
the event fires on every selection.

I hope this "study" isn't a web design course. If it is, it's teaching bad
practice.

Good luck to you both,
Mike

--
Michael Winter
Replace ".invalid" with ".uk" to reply by e-mail

[Dropstengel]

Re: combobox


"Michael Winter" <M.Winter@bluey onder.co.invali d> wrote in message
news:opscxb5pvz x13kvk@atlantis ...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:09:00 +0200, Dropstengel <ik@haat.spam > wrote:
>[/color]
[color=blue]
>
> I hope this "study" isn't a web design course. If it is, it's teaching bad
> practice.[/color]

No, something like "Informationser vice-and management"
(Informatiedien stverlening en management in Dutch).
Horrible...
[color=blue]
>
> Good luck to you both,
> Mike
>[/color]
Frank