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Last Modified: 2012-06-21

JavaScript - adding/removing items from a ListBox inside a web user control

Hello Experts

I am looking at the question and answer:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Web/Web_Languages/Q_20916437.html

I created a web form (.aspx) playing around with the examples given in the question above; its working fantastically.

Now I want to use the same example in a web user control (.ascx) form. Im new at this and cant find how you set the object variable: “var formObject = document.testForm”

I get the following error “Microsoft JScript runtime error: 'ListBox' is null or not an object”.

Thank for the help in advance.
Deon

deon001

Asked: 2004-08-04

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Web Languages and Standards

1 Solution

LVL 7

nepaliCommented: 2004-08-05

u have to use the user control with a fixed ID on the aspx page. because javascript on the user control will work with cient side ids of the server controls.

deon001Author Commented: 2004-08-07

In the example the line: “var formObject = document.testForm” looks at the form id. I’m new at this so help me if I have it wrong; so “testForm” is the form id, but a user control does not have a “<form></form>” so there is no id?

How would I change this example to work as a user control?
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Web/Web_Languages/Q_20916437.html)

Thank for the help!

LVL 7

nepaliCommented: 2004-08-09

HI deon, here are the guide lines...
1) The aspx pages have a form id.. u place the user control in the aspx page and inside the <form></form> body.
2) Now the javascript acting on the controls is in the user control. hence to access the controls u will need to use
a)document.<formid>.<elementid> or
b)document.getElementByID(<elementid>).
3) Normally (a) is used. Hence u need to hardcode the form name in the user control and in all the aspx pages where u have used the user control their respective forms should have the same form id.

Regards
Mahendra

deon001Author Commented: 2004-08-10

Thanks for all the help it’s working great after I added the same form id to the user control as the page where the user control is on.

I have one quick question: Can I load the list from the server and then use JavaScript to remove items? (The moment I add - runat="server" the JavaScript gives problems) How do I approach this problem?

LVL 7

nepaliCommented: 2004-08-10

Hi Deon,
Javascript doesn't understand runat=server. The problems usually u might face face are the events for a server control are by default on the server side. so even if say onclick=abc() for a server control the abc event method will be looked on the server side and not on the client side. So if there is an event problem with javascript on server controls then u can use either of the following cases.

1) either use an HTML Server control i.e <select id=aa runat=server></select> instead of <asp:dropdownlist>
or
if u r using <asp:dropdownlist> for features like autopostback an others then whenever the server control loads use the Attributes property to add client side events to the server control.

Regards
Mahendra

deon001Author Commented: 2004-08-10

Hi Mahendra, Thanks again for the quick help :-)

All I want to do is delete an item from the list when the button is clicked. But is gives me the next error: “Microsoft JScript runtime error: 'fruitList.selectedIndex' is null or not an object.”
It works when I remove the runat=“server” and populate the listbox inside the HTLM code?

Private Sub Page_Load(.......
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 1")
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 2")
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 3")
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 4")
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 5")
Me.fruitListID.Items.Add("Item 6")
End Sub

-------------------------------------------------------------

<HTML>
      <HEAD>
<script type="text/javascript">
function deleteOption(selectObject,optionRank)
{
if (selectObject.options.length!=0)
{
            selectObject.options[optionRank]=null
}
}
function testDelete()
{
var formObject = document.Main
if (formObject.fruitList.selectedIndex!=-1)
{
deleteOption(formObject.fruitList,formObject.fruitList.selectedIndex)
}
else
{
alert("Select an option and click Delete")
}
}
</script>
      </HEAD>
      <BODY>
            <FORM id="Main">
                  <select size="10" name="fruitList" id="fruitListID" runat="server">
                  </select>
                  <input onclick="testDelete()" type="button" value="Delete"></TD>
            </FORM>
      </BODY>
</HTML>

LVL 7

nepaliCommented: 2004-08-10

u have to use fruitListID and not fruitList
Whenever u get a "null or not an object"...error try to put alert on the object name and see where javascript is able to recognize the object or not...

Regards
Mahendra

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