Hello,

In a PHP script, I would like to create a field as a select field with possibility to write an other value. So, the application should propose some values, but the user could write other value if needed.
My problem is that it's not possible to write something in a normal select field. So, I think that it could be possible to do that with Javascript but I don't know Javascript.
Have you a solution ?

Tanks in advance

Hello jn35, welcome to webmaster-talk!

Do you have a hotmail account? If so, go along to the "Contacts" tab, then select New > Group (on the top bar). The page you then have should have two what looks like select boxes, that has a jazzy little mouse over and click effect. Not only this, but you can pass values back and forward between these boxes. You can also add values to the boxes using the textbox at the bottom of the form.

These are not actually select boxes, but simply a table! Using JavaScript we can pass the values between them.

Is this what you had in mind? As I was slightly confused by your post as to what exactly you meant. If it is, then I already have the solution for you, because I replicated it for my own uses a while ago!

Hello,

Many thanks for your answer.
Sorry, I don't have an hotmail account. Do you have an other example ?
In fact, I would like to allow users to easily fill a form with values already recorded in the table, but with the possibility to add other values.
MSAccess do this automatically with the list type field : a list is proposed, but you can type an other value.
Of course, I could do this by using 2 fields (one text field and one select field), but it's not usefull .

ok dude, i will show you what i mean later on today. I'll put the example of what i was trying to show you up, im pretty sure it's exactly what you need! till later.

Hello " leavethisplace"

I thank you in advance for your help I wait for impatiently ...
I forgot to add an important info : the list of proposed values can be long, so it's necessary to have a scroll button or some thing else ...

Sorry jn35! Almost completely forgot, but i've managed to put it online for you to view what i think you mean. Check this out, it's taken from the back-end of another site which needed to deal with email groups, so i ripped it from hotmail since i knew all the users of my site all had hotmail accounts and were familiar with the layout.

Anyway, I just want to know is this the sort of thing you had in mind? If it it, then i will write a long-*** tutorial on how you can achieve exactly the same thing - as it is pretty complex to look at.

Oh yeah, i know you wanted people to be able to add value that werent there (by having another text box there we can do this) but I will add this feature if i write the tutorial for you.

So, this what you wanted?

Many thanks !
Your idea is good, but it's not really what I mean. Do you have possibility to use MSAccess ?
If yes, you'll find joined a very short example that show what I would like to do.
If you can't, I'll try to explain it better ...

Sorry, I failled to attach the file. (I forgot to zip it) ...

Windows has a 'combo box' widget that does this, but I'm not sure if there is a web form control that does the same...
You might have to settle for a static list box, and a text field to add extras.

Thanks Oberon !
Yes, I know I can use a workaround by puting 2 fields in the form, but it's not elegant !
I think it's possible to do that with Javascript, but I don't know Javascript ...

could i not variate my design that i showed you somehow? I think it looks more elegant than a normal select box...

I'm agry with you : your solution is elegant, but it takes a lot of place. I would like to insert this special select field in a complex form, with a lot of other fields ...
But I think will try put two fields (one text and one select field) with a short explain (otherwise, that can be confuse for novice computer/internet user ...).

Finally, I found a solution (not the best, but not ambiguous for the users) : the selected value go automatically in the text field and is reseted. So the user has not a problem to know what is the good field : only the text one will have a value.

You can test the following :


<form action="post" name="form_name">

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
function update_me(objet_select){

document.form_name.ch1.value = objet_select.value;
objet_select.selectedIndex = 0;

}
</script>

<input type="text" name="ch1" />
<select name="ch2" onChange="update_me(this)">
<option></option>
<option value="valeur">valeur</option>
</select>

</form>


That could be improved if I find a way to reduce the size of the select field WITHOUT reduce the list width when the user click on the field (we can see this some times in menus : the list proposed is often larger than the button in the menu). But I suppose that it's not possible to do this with a Select field ?