kylevn
asked on
Textarea maximum characters, also calculating line breaks.
I have a textarea that is the entry point to a database via coldfusion for text that is displayed on a flash interface. I do not want my text to scroll so I need to limit the number of characters in my textarea entry point (600 characters).
My code as of now will display the amount of characters left out of 600 as you type using onkeyup calling javascript event as well as onkeypress calling javascript that will stop you once the 600 character limit has been reached. Here is the gutted code.
<html>
<head>
<script language = "Javascript">
function taLimit() {
var taObj=event.srcElement;
if (taObj.value.length==taObj
}
function taCount(visCnt) {
var taObj=event.srcElement;
if (taObj.value.length>taObj.
if (visCnt) visCnt.innerText=taObj.max
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form action="xxx" name="edit_home" method="POST">
<textarea name="first_column" cols="68" rows="10" onkeypress="return taLimit()" onkeyup="return taCount(myCounter)" maxLength="600"></textarea
<br>
You have <B><SPAN id=myCounter>600</SPAN></B
for your description.
</form>
</body>
</html>
Here is the problem when a line break/carriage return is entered the value is only subtracting 2 characters from the total limit, I would like to know how to have this code also consider and calculate line breaks depending on the location of where the line break has been entered. Just like if instead of hitting Return(2 characters) you hold the spacebar for 10 seconds and get your 15 characters.
Here is an attemted visual example.
textarea through code above
600 minus the following updated as keystrokes are made
--------------------------
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-(2)line break
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-(2)line break
...
--------------------------
I would like it to function like this...
--------------------------
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-(13)line
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-(17)line break
...
--------------------------
This is a toughy. I will be impressed if there is an Expert with this answer. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
My code as of now will display the amount of characters left out of 600 as you type using onkeyup calling javascript event as well as onkeypress calling javascript that will stop you once the 600 character limit has been reached. Here is the gutted code.
<html>
<head>
<script language = "Javascript">
function taLimit() {
var taObj=event.srcElement;
if (taObj.value.length==taObj
}
function taCount(visCnt) {
var taObj=event.srcElement;
if (taObj.value.length>taObj.
if (visCnt) visCnt.innerText=taObj.max
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form action="xxx" name="edit_home" method="POST">
<textarea name="first_column" cols="68" rows="10" onkeypress="return taLimit()" onkeyup="return taCount(myCounter)" maxLength="600"></textarea
<br>
You have <B><SPAN id=myCounter>600</SPAN></B
for your description.
</form>
</body>
</html>
Here is the problem when a line break/carriage return is entered the value is only subtracting 2 characters from the total limit, I would like to know how to have this code also consider and calculate line breaks depending on the location of where the line break has been entered. Just like if instead of hitting Return(2 characters) you hold the spacebar for 10 seconds and get your 15 characters.
Here is an attemted visual example.
textarea through code above
600 minus the following updated as keystrokes are made
--------------------------
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-(2)line break
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-(2)line break
...
--------------------------
I would like it to function like this...
--------------------------
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-(13)line
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
1-1-1-1-1-1-(17)line break
...
--------------------------
This is a toughy. I will be impressed if there is an Expert with this answer. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
ASKER
Thanks for the response.
Our code does the same thing but with different a slightly different approach. Take notice when you hit enter within the textarea it only subtracts 2 characters.
Here is a test, in your textarea example just keep hitting the enter key your text will be a mile long (500 lines to be exact) until it reaches 1000 characters. I cant have my end user enter 4 line breaks and think they still have tons of characters left because once the text is displayed on the front end there is a specific amount of space 400px x 300px. Our counters work great until a line break is entered. I would like to know how to calculate when a line break is entered the counter will subtract the remaining amount of characters left in a line.
Example of how it does not function as needed
__________________________
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. Here is some more| <-- -31 characters
text. | <-- -7 characters with hard return (text.)=5 characters - 2 for the hard return
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. | <-- -13 characters
__________________________
Example of how I need it to calculate
__________________________
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. Here is some more| <-- -31 characters
text. | <-- -5 characters with hard return -25 remaining characters
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. | <-- -13 characters
__________________________
Thanks again.
Our code does the same thing but with different a slightly different approach. Take notice when you hit enter within the textarea it only subtracts 2 characters.
Here is a test, in your textarea example just keep hitting the enter key your text will be a mile long (500 lines to be exact) until it reaches 1000 characters. I cant have my end user enter 4 line breaks and think they still have tons of characters left because once the text is displayed on the front end there is a specific amount of space 400px x 300px. Our counters work great until a line break is entered. I would like to know how to calculate when a line break is entered the counter will subtract the remaining amount of characters left in a line.
Example of how it does not function as needed
__________________________
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. Here is some more| <-- -31 characters
text. | <-- -7 characters with hard return (text.)=5 characters - 2 for the hard return
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. | <-- -13 characters
__________________________
Example of how I need it to calculate
__________________________
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. Here is some more| <-- -31 characters
text. | <-- -5 characters with hard return -25 remaining characters
The quick brown fox jumps over| <--- -30 characters
the lazy dog. | <-- -13 characters
__________________________
Thanks again.
ASKER
I have come up with a different perspective solution, although I would still like to know the answer to my previous question.
I have created the backend using flash (sendAndLoad) to a coldfusion document and used the same size textbox and font size and disabled the ablity to scroll so now the entry point is the same size as the output preventing overflow.
I have created the backend using flash (sendAndLoad) to a coldfusion document and used the same size textbox and font size and disabled the ablity to scroll so now the entry point is the same size as the output preventing overflow.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Beautifly done. I'm impressed.
Only thing, define the variable value=0; to get rid of the syntactical error, other than that it works perfectly.
Thank you for your help.
Only thing, define the variable value=0; to get rid of the syntactical error, other than that it works perfectly.
Thank you for your help.
I have similar code to yours doing the same task and mine works fine:
<html>
<head><script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript"><!-
var maxChars = 1000;
var theCharCounter = 0;
function isIE(){
var detect = navigator.userAgent.toLowe
if (detect.indexOf("msie")!=-
{
return true;
}
else{
return false;
}
}
function textCounter(theField) {
var ieIncrement =0;
for (var i = 0; i < theField.value.length; i++)
{
var strChar = theField.value.substring(i
if (strChar == '\n')
{
if (isIE()){
ieIncrement++;
}
}
}
if (theField.value.length>max
theField.value=theField.va
}
theCharCounter = maxChars - theField.value.length + ieIncrement;
chars.innerHTML = theCharCounter;
}
//--></script>
</head>
<body>
Characters left: <span id="chars"><script type="text/JavaScript">doc
<textarea name="longText" cols='50' wrap='virtual' rows='20' onKeyup="textCounter(this)
</body>
</html>
Maybe seeing an alternative will help? If not try rephrasing the question and I'll see what I can come up with.