SELECT scripting?, How do I make a one-click SELECT? |
SELECT scripting?, How do I make a one-click SELECT? |
jmrathbun |
Aug 10 2011, 06:36 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 8-June 11 Member No.: 14,726 |
A couple of apps I've written recently contain HTML SELECT forms, and I'm taking guff from beta testers because they have to click twice: once to make a selection and once to send it to the server. Is there a way to make an HTML SELECT form active as soon as the user clicks a selection?
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Darin McGrew |
Aug 10 2011, 06:42 PM
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#2
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WDG Member Group: Root Admin Posts: 8,365 Joined: 4-August 06 From: Mountain View, CA Member No.: 3 |
I recommend not making HTML forms submit automatically as soon as the select element is changed. Non-standard GUI controls are at the top of the list in Jakob Nielsen's Top-10 Application-Design Mistakes. If you need the browser to act upon the choice immediately, then use a button or a link or some other element that normally has an immediate effect. Don't use a select element or a radio button or a checkbox or some other element that normally has no effect until the form is submitted.
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Christian J |
Aug 11 2011, 05:41 AM
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#3
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. Group: WDG Moderators Posts: 9,667 Joined: 10-August 06 Member No.: 7 |
A couple of apps I've written recently contain HTML SELECT forms Does the form contain other form elements (text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons) besides a SELECT menu? Then you can't submit the form automatically when a selection is made, since the other elements may still be empty/unused (unless the elements are mutually exclusive). QUOTE Is there a way to make an HTML SELECT form active as soon as the user clicks a selection? You can let an onchange event capture the selected option value and then submit the form with javascript. But I agree with Darin and Jakob about the usability problems. |
jmrathbun |
Aug 11 2011, 06:41 AM
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#4
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 8-June 11 Member No.: 14,726 |
The form has no other element and is not practical for buttons as there are over 100 options.
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Darin McGrew |
Aug 11 2011, 12:08 PM
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#5
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WDG Member Group: Root Admin Posts: 8,365 Joined: 4-August 06 From: Mountain View, CA Member No.: 3 |
With more than 100 options, I would argue that it isn't practical as a select element either.
When I've encountered a select element with that many options, I often find myself selecting an option that looks good, and then continuing my search looking for a more appropriate option. I'd hate to have the form automatically act on my tentative selection... |
pandy |
Aug 11 2011, 12:26 PM
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#6
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🌟Computer says no🌟 Group: WDG Moderators Posts: 20,734 Joined: 9-August 06 Member No.: 6 |
Yeah, 4 rows with 25 radio buttons each ain't that bad. A whole lot easier to find what you want than with SELECT. But that's me....
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Brian Chandler |
Aug 11 2011, 12:33 PM
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#7
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Jocular coder Group: Members Posts: 2,460 Joined: 31-August 06 Member No.: 43 |
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