Making default entry in search text box disappear on click

[spence]

Hi All

How do I make it so that when a user clicks in a search text field, the
default entry (in this case "Search") is removed automatically - they
are then faced with a blank search box and can type straight away

Thanks in advance

[Philip Ronan]

"spence" wrote:

Hi All

How do I make it so that when a user clicks in a search text field, the
default entry (in this case "Search") is removed automatically - they
are then faced with a blank search box and can type straight away

Thanks in advance

<INPUT type="text" value="Search" onfocus="if
(this.value==th is.defaultValue ) this.value='';" >

--
phil [dot] ronan @ virgin [dot] net
http://vzone.virgin.net/phil.ronan/

[spence]

Brilliant. Thanks philip.

I tried searching other groups but couldn't find a thing! Perhaps it
was my search criteria? Anyway, it's here now if anyone uses the same
search criteria I was using!

Thanks again

[Jukka K. Korpela]

"spence" <be***********@ gmail.com> wrote:

Brilliant.
Really? You got a wrong answer. That's what you usually get by asking
in a wrong group. Dynamic modification of a field's content is not an
HTML matter.
I tried searching other groups but couldn't find a thing! Perhaps it
was my search criteria? Anyway, it's here now if anyone uses the same
search criteria I was using!

Well, maybe I then need to mention that the answer is wrong.

It is wrong because it relies on security holes in browsers (it does
not work if the browser has client-side scripting disabled), for doing
something that need not be done at all. A search box should have
initial content only if the initial content is a _meaningful and useful
default_. It would then be absurd to wipe it out.

--
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/
Pages about Web authoring: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html

[Benjamin Niemann]

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

"spence" <be***********@ gmail.com> wrote:

Brilliant.

Really? You got a wrong answer. That's what you usually get by asking
in a wrong group. Dynamic modification of a field's content is not an
HTML matter.

I tried searching other groups but couldn't find a thing! Perhaps it
was my search criteria? Anyway, it's here now if anyone uses the same
search criteria I was using!

Well, maybe I then need to mention that the answer is wrong.

It is wrong because it relies on security holes in browsers (it does
not work if the browser has client-side scripting disabled), for doing
something that need not be done at all. A search box should have
initial content only if the initial content is a _meaningful and useful
default_. It would then be absurd to wipe it out.

If (and only if) there's really a good reason to do something like this, the
'default' (which is probably not a default at all..) should be removed and
*inserted* using scripting, so non-scripted clients just get a blank input.
I've seen too many form submissions like 'Your NameFred Smith' or 'Your
Em*******@examp le.com' (that was my hard way to learn that this is a bad
idea).
--
Benjamin Niemann
Email: pink at odahoda dot de
WWW: http://www.odahoda.de/

[Philip Ronan]

"Jukka K. Korpela" wrote:

It is wrong because it relies on security holes in browsers (it does
not work if the browser has client-side scripting disabled), for doing
something that need not be done at all.

Get real. This has nothing to do with security holes.

If Javascript is disabled, then the user can delete it with a single
keypress. So what's the problem? Spare us the dogma, please!!

--
phil [dot] ronan @ virgin [dot] net
http://vzone.virgin.net/phil.ronan/

[Jukka K. Korpela]

Philip Ronan <in*****@invali d.invalid> wrote:

"Jukka K. Korpela" wrote:

It is wrong because it relies on security holes in browsers (it
does not work if the browser has client-side scripting disabled),
for doing something that need not be done at all.
Get real. This has nothing to do with security holes.

You never heard of such holes? Not very real.
If Javascript is disabled, then the user can delete it with a
single keypress.
Can he? Are you sure?
So what's the problem?
There was no problem before someone created it by using a default entry
that ain't no default entry but just an annoyance.
Spare us the dogma, please!!

Did you have something to say about HTML authoring for the WWW?

--
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/
Pages about Web authoring: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html

[Philip Ronan]

"Jukka K. Korpela" wrote:

Philip Ronan <in*****@invali d.invalid> wrote:

"Jukka K. Korpela" wrote:

It is wrong because it relies on security holes in browsers (it
does not work if the browser has client-side scripting disabled),
for doing something that need not be done at all.

Get real. This has nothing to do with security holes.

You never heard of such holes? Not very real.

OK please explain what's so insecure about using Javascript to clear the
initial contents of a search box.

If Javascript is disabled, then the user can delete it with a
single keypress.

Can he? Are you sure?

OK, I have to admit I haven't tested this functionality in every single
browser. I've got better things to do, as it happens. But from my experience
most browsers select the contents of text boxes when they receive focus. If
not, then the user just has to hold the key down a bit longer until the
auto-repeat kicks in. Or if the user is really pressed for time, perhaps
control+delete might do it, or (gasp) control-A, delete. This isn't really a
big deal.

So what's the problem?

There was no problem before someone created it by using a default entry
that ain't no default entry but just an annoyance.

An annoyance to you perhaps, but you seem to be the sort of person that gets
annoyed very easily.

Spare us the dogma, please!!

Did you have something to say about HTML authoring for the WWW?

Sure. If you want to add a search box to your web pages but you don't have
much space available, here's something you could try: Create a form with a
single INPUT box containing "Search" as the initial text. That way you can
indicate the purpose of the search box without cluttering your design with
additional LABEL or LEGEND elements. You can even use Javascript to clear
this initial text when the text box receives the focus. Just don't tell
anyone at c.i.w.a.h what you've done.

Will that do?

--
phil [dot] ronan @ virgin [dot] net
http://vzone.virgin.net/phil.ronan/

[Alan J. Flavell]

On Wed, 6 Jul 2005, Philip Ronan wrote:

"Jukka K. Korpela" wrote:

You never heard of such holes? Not very real.

OK please explain what's so insecure about using Javascript to clear the
initial contents of a search box.

What's insecure is allowing an untrusted site to execute javascript on
one's browser. The intended purpose is irrelevant for this. If you
don't yet know this, then you aren't in a position to argue about it.

[Philip Ronan]

"Alan J. Flavell" wrote:

You're very rude.
I'm sorry you think that way. I'm not *trying* to be rude. I'm just trying
to understand your point of view. I'm still confused.

You joined this thread by remarking that
What's insecure is allowing an untrusted site to execute javascript on
one's browser. The intended purpose is irrelevant for this. If you
don't yet know this, then you aren't in a position to argue about it.
Then you "clarified" your position by stating that
I'm saying that the design should never
*rely* on javascript being successfully executed. Using it to provide
optional extra conveniences is perfectly fine.

Those viewpoints just aren't consistent. If you check back through this
thread, I think you'll find that my suggested solution to the OP's problem
doesn't *rely* on the availability of Javascript, because the initial text
can easily be deleted by other means. It also provides extra convenience for
users by eliminating the need for LABEL and LEGEND elements that might, in
some cases, have an adverse effect on the design of a web page.

So can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong and why I'm not in a position
to comment on this topic?

--
phil [dot] ronan @ virgin [dot] net
http://vzone.virgin.net/phil.ronan/