Question

Selectable images using Javascript/CSS (swap classes onclick)

Asked by: xill2678

I have groups of images that I'd like people to be able to select.

Image Group One:
There's four images, 3 are assigned the css class "select-off", one is assigned the css class "select-on". I have corresponding CSS written, but that's not relevant to what I'm trying to do right now. What I want is when someone clicks on one of the images, the css class is swapped. This will in turn swap the other classes for the other images as well. So only one image from the group can be selected at a time. This works exactly like the radio button of an html form.

Image Group Two:
there's four images, 3 are assigned the css class "select-off", one is assigned the css class "select-on", just as the group described above. The difference with this group, is that multiple images can be selected within the same group. Clicking the image will swap the class from the current class to the opposite. Clicking again will swap again. These work exactly like selecting/unselecting checkboxes in an html form.

Since all of the images in the different groups are different from each other, I need to be able to swap classes, not images. Also, I have many different instances of both Group One and Group Two on the same page.

Ive tried adjusting many different javascripts I've found around the Net, but with no luck. I know this is very simple, and I've come close to what I want on my own, but my js skills just arent very good. Does anyone know of a script available that I can use for this without modifications? Or does anyone perhaps already have a script they care to share? Thanks :)

A final quick note, selecting an image should NOT refresh the page. Links that require href="#" in the tag to operate properly wont help me, as that would conflict with the way I have the page already setup. I need the link tag that wraps the image to not contain href at all. The images are being selected, but not actually linking to anything.

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Asked On: 2008-05-05 at 12:00:49ID23377344
Tags: Javascript, CSS
,; all
,; none
Topics: JavaScript
,; Dynamic HTML (DHTML)
,; Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
Participating Experts: 1
Points: 500
Comments: 12

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Answers

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 15:12:35ID: 21503443

done with spans because it's easier for now, just convert to images:

<style>
span{
      border:1px solid blue;
}
.class1{
      background-color: yellow;
}
.class2{
      background-color: gray;
}
</style>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2">
      <span id="initial">test1</span>
      <span>test2</span>
      <span>test3</span>
      <span>test4</span>
</div>
<script>
function selectItem(ev){
      ev = ev || window.event;
      var item = ev.target || ev.srcElement;

      var par = item.parentNode;
      var iCls = par.getAttribute('instanceClass');
      var gCls = par.getAttribute('generalClass');

      var child = par.getElementsByTagName('SPAN');
      for(var i=0; i<child.length; i++){
            child[i].className = child[i]==item?iCls:gCls;
      }
}

function prepItems(items){
      for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++){
            items[i].onclick = selectItem;
      }
}

prepItems(document.getElementsByTagName('SPAN'));
</script>

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 15:14:09ID: 21503457

as for group #2:

<img onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
...repeat

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 16:42:09ID: 21503853

Thank you cwolves. This is a great help! i'm having a bit of trouble with it though. I changed the spans to images, and added the code in your second post to the "checkbox-style" images, but they're acting the same as the "radio-style" images. Also, if any other image is clicked in the page, it clears the selection of all image groups. I've attached the code snippet I'm using (i've used the same image as placeholders here, but they will actually all be different images, but same sizes):

<style>
#buttons img {display:block; float:left; margin:0 3px 0 0; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; cursor:pointer; width:30px; height:30px;}
#buttons img.class1 {border:2px solid #0066FF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer;}
#buttons img.class2 {border:2px solid #FFFFFF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer;}
</style>
</head>
<body>
 
RADIO-STYLE 1<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" class="class1">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
	  <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
</div>
<br><br><br>
RADIO-STYLE 2<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" class="class1">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
	  <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
</div>
<br><br><br>
CHECKBOX STYLE 1<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')" class="class1">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
</div>
<br><br><br>
CHECKBOX STYLE 2<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')" class="class1">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
</div>
<br><br><br>
REGULAR IMAGES<br>
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<br><br><br>
<script>
function selectItem(ev){
      ev = ev || window.event;
      var item = ev.target || ev.srcElement;
      var par  = item.parentNode;
      var iCls = par.getAttribute('instanceClass');
      var gCls = par.getAttribute('generalClass');
      var child = par.getElementsByTagName('img');
      for(var i=0; i<child.length; i++){
            child[i].className = child[i]==item?iCls:gCls;
      }
}
 
function prepItems(items){
      for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++){
            items[i].onclick = selectItem;
      }
}
prepItems(document.getElementsByTagName('img'));
</script>
 
</body>

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Select all Open in new window

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 16:58:00ID: 21503904

the problem is with the prepItems function call which is basically preparing ALL images on the page for this.

Try calling it once on each div that you want to function like this:

prepItems(document.getElementById('parentDiv1').getElementsByTagName('img'));

where 'parentDiv1' is the ID of a 'radio-style' div. You need to change the id's from 'buttons' to 'buttons1', 'buttons2', etc.

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 17:26:49ID: 21503996

thanks a million cwolves, it works perfectly now in all browsers. I'm still having trouble with the checkbox-style images though. they act the same as the radio-style buttons instead of allowing toggling back and forth regardless of what other images are selected.

I put the code you gave in the img tag like this:

<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">

is this not correct? I noticed the "?" in the code snippet, never seen that before so I'm not sure if that's suppose to be a ? or if its a character that my pc isnt recognizing.....

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 17:54:17ID: 21504088

no, it's correct. Are you calling prepItems on the "checkbox" div? If so, you shouldn't be.

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 17:56:58ID: 21504097

no i call it from the bottom of the js. attached is my entire code

<style>
#buttons1 img {display:block; float:left; margin:0 3px 0 0; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; cursor:pointer; width:30px; height:30px; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
#buttons1 img.class1 {border:2px solid #0066FF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:1.0;filter:alpha(opacity=100);}
#buttons1 img.class2 {border:2px solid #FFFFFF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
 
#buttons2 img {display:block; float:left; margin:0 3px 0 0; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; cursor:pointer; width:30px; height:30px; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
#buttons2 img.class1 {border:2px solid #0066FF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:1.0;filter:alpha(opacity=100);}
#buttons2 img.class2 {border:2px solid #FFFFFF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
 
#buttons3 img {display:block; float:left; margin:0 3px 0 0; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; cursor:pointer; width:30px; height:30px; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
#buttons3 img.class1 {border:2px solid #0066FF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:1.0;filter:alpha(opacity=100);}
#buttons3 img.class2 {border:2px solid #FFFFFF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
 
#buttons4 img {display:block; float:left; margin:0 3px 0 0; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; cursor:pointer; width:30px; height:30px; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
#buttons4 img.class1 {border:2px solid #0066FF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:1.0;filter:alpha(opacity=100);}
#buttons4 img.class2 {border:2px solid #FFFFFF; width:30px; height:30px; cursor:pointer; opacity:0.15;filter:alpha(opacity=15);}
</style>
</head>
 
<body>
 
RADIO-STYLE 1<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons1">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" class="class1">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
	  <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
</div>
<br><br><br>
RADIO-STYLE 2<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons2">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" class="class1">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
      <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
	  <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
</div>
<br><br><br>
CHECKBOX STYLE 1<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons3">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')" class="class1">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
</div>
<br><br><br>
CHECKBOX STYLE 2<br>
<div instanceClass="class1" generalClass="class2" id="buttons4">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')" class="class1">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
	 <img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30" onclick="this.className=(this.className=='class1'?'class2':'class1')">
</div>
<br><br><br>
REGULAR IMAGES<br>
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<img src="images/customize-repeat-across.gif" width="30" height="30">
<br><br><br>
<script>
function selectItem(ev){
      ev = ev || window.event;
      var item = ev.target || ev.srcElement;
      var par  = item.parentNode;
      var iCls = par.getAttribute('instanceClass');
      var gCls = par.getAttribute('generalClass');
      var child = par.getElementsByTagName('img');
      for(var i=0; i<child.length; i++){
            child[i].className = child[i]==item?iCls:gCls;
      }
}
 
function prepItems(items){
      for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++){
            items[i].onclick = selectItem;
      }
}
prepItems(document.getElementById('buttons1').getElementsByTagName('img'));
prepItems(document.getElementById('buttons2').getElementsByTagName('img'));
prepItems(document.getElementById('buttons3').getElementsByTagName('img'));
prepItems(document.getElementById('buttons4').getElementsByTagName('img'));
</script>
 
</body>
</html>

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Select all Open in new window

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 18:01:39ID: 21504111

I'm saying do -not- call it on 3 & 4.

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 18:25:00ID: 21504191

oh I see! I thought you were asking if i had added the snippets directly inside the div tags. my mistake. it's working beautifully now! thanks alot! you cured my three-day headache :)

by: cwolvesPosted on 2008-05-05 at 18:25:37ID: 21504192

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 18:27:09ID: 31455192

thanks again :)

by: xill2678Posted on 2008-05-05 at 20:48:27ID: 21504633

I've run into another problem and posted it as a different question with new points. i thought you might want to take a look since you were the one to help with the first part of this ;)

The new question is located here:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Languages/Scripting/JavaScript/Q_23378462.html

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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Question

Selectable images using Javascript/CSS (swap classes onclick)

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Javascript, CSS

all

none

JavaScript

Dynamic HTML (DHTML)

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

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