Textarea code

[Garry Jones]

I have been using this code for sometime. I can use it to show the user how
many remaining characters are reamaining in a text area. Now I need to
develop the code and dont know where to start.

These are the three parts of the working code

1) Javascript

function taLimit() {
var taObj=event.src Element;
if (taObj.value.le ngth==taObj.max Length*1) return false;
}
function taCount(visCnt) {
var taObj=event.src Element;
if (taObj.value.le ngth>taObj.maxL ength*1)
taObj.value=taO bj.value.substr ing(0,taObj.max Length*1);
if (visCnt) visCnt.innerTex t=taObj.maxLeng th-taObj.value.len gth;
}

2) Live output to user
You have max 255 chars. You have <span id=myCounter>25 5</spanremaining
chars

3) Textarea code
<textarea cols=40 rows=7 wrap=virtual onkeypress="ret urn taLimit()"
onkeyup="return taCount(myCount er)" maxLength="255" ></textarea>

The problem is that now I need to show the user some existing text
(contained in a variable) in the textarea which he/she can edit or add to.
The initial number is the number of remaining characters shown by my code is
a static 255. If 120 characters are left and one is added it changes from
255 remaining to 119. (119 is correct).

When the textarea is initially displays I would like it to subtract the
number of characters contained in the variable from "maxlength" and display
the true ammount of remaining characters.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Garry Jones
Sweden

[RobG]

Garry Jones wrote:

I have been using this code for sometime. I can use it to show the user how
many remaining characters are reamaining in a text area. Now I need to
develop the code and dont know where to start.

Here's some (untested) fixes - your code seems very IE-specific. In
general, pass a reference to the textarea from the event handler using
"this". Replace direct calls to the (invalid) maxlength attribute to
ones that use getAttribute('m axLength');

>
These are the three parts of the working code

1) Javascript

function taLimit() {
var taObj=event.src Element;

Pass a reference to the element to the function using 'this', then
ditch the (IE proprietary) event.srcElemen t line:

function taLimit( taObj ) {

if (taObj.value.le ngth==taObj.max Length*1) return false;

or:

return !(taObj.value.l ength == taObj.getAttrib ute('maxlength' ));

}
function taCount(visCnt) {
var taObj=event.src Element;

Again, pass a reference to the element using "this", and get maxLength
only once:

function taCount(taObj, visCnt) {
var maxLength = taObj.getAttrib ute('maxLength' );

if (taObj.value.le ngth>taObj.maxL ength*1)

if (taObj.value.le ngth maxLength)

taObj.value=taO bj.value.substr ing(0,taObj.max Length*1);

There is no need for the *1 bit:

taObj.value=taO bj.value.substr ing(0, maxLength);

and so on...

if (visCnt) visCnt.innerTex t=taObj.maxLeng th-taObj.value.len gth;

Replace innerText with innerHTML, use document.getEle mentById(visCnt )
rather than a direct call using the ID as a global variable.

}

2) Live output to user
You have max 255 chars. You have <span id=myCounter>25 5</spanremaining
chars

3) Textarea code
<textarea cols=40 rows=7 wrap=virtual onkeypress="ret urn taLimit()"

<textarea cols=40 rows=7 wrap=virtual onkeypress="ret urn
taLimit(this)"

Also, cols is a mandatory attribute.

onkeyup="return taCount(myCount er)" maxLength="255" ></textarea>

onkeyup="return taCount(this, 'myCounter')"
maxLength="255" ></textarea>

>
The problem is that now I need to show the user some existing text
(contained in a variable) in the textarea which he/she can edit or add to.
The initial number is the number of remaining characters shown by my code is
a static 255. If 120 characters are left and one is added it changes from
255 remaining to 119. (119 is correct).

Then call the appropriate functions onload.

You might want to investigate a function that runs onload, checks all
the textarea elements and for those that have a maxlength attribute,
add the appropriate onkey functions and then call them so that the
"characters left" message is accurate.

Incidentally, maxlength is not a valid attribute for textarea elements,
rows and cols attributes are mandatory. HTML validators will complain
- but that may not bother you.
--
Rob