how to expand select drop down list on focus

You can do many dynamic things with Javascript and/or CSS+HTML, but the dropdownbox has always been the most handicapped child in the family. What you would need is something to fill the box on the moment somebody clicks on it. This is not possible because that would close the dropdown, making the user clicking again.

A possible solution would be, if it weren't for IE, to use two objects: one to cover the dropdownbox, a simple DIV would do, and when the user click you would show the whole list by making it visible. Unfortunately, MS IE does not allow content on top of a dropdown box (it will always shine through).

Another solution would be to have the list populated already but to make the selected choice unselectable (but you do show it). The other selections would then show in full. This is of course a nasty half breed solution.

Is there nothing you can do? Well, actually there is. Many (ajax/js) libraries contain custom listboxes and dropdown boxes. They mimic the behavior and as such give you a much wider control to it. One such is part of the ajax dotnet library. If you want to go that path, it is more work, but the result gives you more control. It is handy if you have some knowledge of AJAX though.

-- Abel --

rather than a drop down then since as you say ie has problems with it. Could this be done with say a text box or any other item that could resemble the functionality of a drop down or maybe even a hidden div, so that wen you click in the text box the div would appear.... or something to that effect.

Thanks

Look up some examples of the DropDownExtender (here's a very simple and not so pretty example: http://www.asp.net/AJAX/AjaxControlToolkit/Samples/DropDown/DropDown.aspx). It "extends" the functionality of a panel (or a div or whatever) and a label. These two are used for creating the dropdown functionality. it is really quite easy:

<ajax:DropDownExtender ID="ddeMyDropdownExtender" runat="server"
        TargetControlID="lblMyLabel"
        DropDownControlID="pnlMyPanelWithDropDownData" />

Download the library, it will also give you a lot power in other areas you may have been struggling with currently. It's a joy to work with (apart from some apparent bugs, of course...)

I belive the ajax control toolkit is only for asp.net, I am currently working with classic asp, not asp..net

Ah, that's a pity, I didn't notice. Yes, you are right. Then we're back at the beginning. You'll need a javascript library then, something like scriptaculous, but I can't remember from the top of my head which of them contained a dropdown object. It does mean that you will have to do quite a bit more yourself, though. I'll look around for something suitable.