JavaScript Forum

**LayneMitch** · 06-21-2008, 03:19 AM

Hello everyone.
I'm currently learning Javascript and doing a few exercises.
One problem I'm working on takes an array of names from an xml file using Ajax and writes it to <select> <options> tags.
This is the code they use:

Code:

function writeSelect (name_group) {
   var this_option; 
   var my_select = document.getElementById("namelist");
   for (var loop = 0; loop < name_group.length; loop++)
      {
        this_option = new Option( );
        this_option.value = the_array[loop];
        this_option.text = the_array[loop]
        my_select.options[loop] = this_option;
      }
}

The parameter for writeSelect() function contains the array of names and the id "namelist" is the id for the select tag in the form element.
This is my first time seeing the new Option() function. Is this the standard for writing arrays to the <select> tag? Or could this have been done another way - if so what this that way?
Any response would be appreciated.

**tripy** · 06-21-2008, 07:26 AM

http://www.comptechdoc.org/independe...avaoption.html
It's a child of the Object base class, which represent an option in a select.

Personally, in those days of DOM scripting, I find this approach a bit "barbaric"...
I prefer go the DOM way:

Code:

var my_select = document.getElementById("namelist");

o=document.createElement('option');
o.value=val;
o.text=txt;

my_select.appendChild(o);

**wayfarer07** · 06-21-2008, 12:39 PM

This is awesome!!!

**LayneMitch** · 06-21-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripy

Personally, in those days of DOM scripting, I find this approach a bit "barbaric"...
I prefer go the DOM way:

Code:

var my_select = document.getElementById("namelist");
 
o=document.createElement('option');
o.value=val;
o.text=txt;
 
my_select.appendChild(o);

Thanks. I really appreciate the response. I'm new to this stuff and I'm reading this book to learn it, but I figured there had to be another way to do it. When you're new to a language, sometimes you get upset that you didn't think of it the same way the book recommends. I'll get over it.

**tripy** · 06-21-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

When you're new to a language, sometimes you get upset that you didn't think of it the same way the book recommends. I'll get over it.

I know how you feel. But don't beat yourself over it.

Simply remember that there are multiple path to achieve the same goal.

**tripy** · 06-21-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayfarer07

This is awesome!!!