resetting an HTML combo box

Richard Haygreen · Oct 1, 2004

I have an HTML form which includes a combo box with 4 options, which is used
to select a method of contact (phone, email etc...). If the user selects an
invalid option (for example, they have selected phone, but have not supplied
a phone number) an alert box pops up. How do I reset the combo box so it
displays the first option in the combo box (which is the default)??

Many thanks in advance.

McKirahan · Oct 1, 2004

Richard Haygreen said:
I have an HTML form which includes a combo box with 4 options, which is used
to select a method of contact (phone, email etc...). If the user selects an
invalid option (for example, they have selected phone, but have not supplied
a phone number) an alert box pops up. How do I reset the combo box so it
displays the first option in the combo box (which is the default)??

Many thanks in advance.

document.{form_name}.{select_name}.selectedIndex = -1;

For example, watch for word-wrap.

<html>
<head>
<title>selreset.htm</title>
<script type="text/javascript">
function selected(that) {
var form1 = document.form1;
// substitute your validation below.
if (1==1) {
alert("Invalid selection!");
that.selectedIndex = -1;
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form name="form1">
<select name="ContactMethod"
onchange="selected(this)">
<option>
<option>Phone
<option>Email
<option>Pager
<option>Other
</select>
</form>
</body>
</html>

Fred Oz · Oct 1, 2004

Richard said:
I have an HTML form which includes a combo box with 4 options, which is used
to select a method of contact (phone, email etc...). If the user selects an
invalid option (for example, they have selected phone, but have not supplied
a phone number) an alert box pops up. How do I reset the combo box so it
displays the first option in the combo box (which is the default)??

Many thanks in advance.

I would think carefully about re-setting it. If the user's input fails
validation, you are going to clear their selection and (presumably)
whatever they typed in. So as punishment for maybe one bad keystroke,
they now have to re-select (say) e-mail and type in maybe 15 characters
all over again.

Maybe what you are doing is fine, but just think about it from your
users' perspective.

Cheers, Fred.

Michael Winter · Oct 1, 2004

How do I reset the combo box so it displays the first option in the
combo box (which is the default)??

Click to expand...

[snip]

document.{form_name}.{select_name}.selectedIndex = -1;

The OP asked for the first option. That removes any selection.

document.forms['formName'].elements['elementName'].selectedIndex = 0;

[snip]

Mike

Richard Haygreen · Oct 1, 2004

I would think carefully about re-setting it. If the user's input fails

validation, you are going to clear their selection and (presumably)
whatever they typed in. So as punishment for maybe one bad keystroke,
they now have to re-select (say) e-mail and type in maybe 15 characters
all over again.

Maybe what you are doing is fine, but just think about it from your users'
perspective.

Cheers, Fred.

Yes, I would agree with you, my intention is not to punish the user, but to
force them to make a selection. If they select phone, and have not entered a
phone number I want to reset the combo box; leaving them two choices: select
a different option or enter a phone number. At the moment the page tells the
user they have errored, but does nothing about it. I am trying to build in a
fail safe.

Many thanks for all your help.

How to reference one combo box from another combo box	2	Apr 28, 2007
resetting multiple SELECT values	10	Apr 20, 2011
Multiple dynamic combo boxes	3	Mar 9, 2005
How to create a JSON array with values from DOM(HTML TABLE) when I click a button using JQuery/Javascript?	0	May 1, 2023
VB6 Combo box text property equivalent in HTML Select control	1	Nov 13, 2007
How can I remove the specific error message after regex validation is done?	1	Jan 25, 2023
How to create a JSON array with values from DOM(HTML TABLE) when I click a button using JQuery/Javascript?	0	May 1, 2023
Form validation and combo boxes	2	Nov 22, 2006

resetting an HTML combo box

Richard Haygreen

McKirahan

Fred Oz

Michael Winter

Richard Haygreen

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Members online

Forum statistics

Latest Threads