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read only text area or alternative

I have a site where there are conditions in a text area. I have set the text area to read only but noticed when you press the backspace it then takes you to the previous page.

Is there a way to prevent this (non js if possible) or maybe an alternative to textarea? kinda like the box I'm typing in right now but read only.

LZ1

You could just put the content in a div, give it a width and height and then add overflow: visible which will allow it to scroll.

Shawn

ASKER

sounds good. do you have a quick example. never done that before and I'm not too hot with borders in css.

LZ1

Something like this would work:

CSS

	#textArea {
		width:500px; /*Change to suit your needs */
		height:250px;/*Change to suit your needs */
		clear:both;
		border:1px inset #333;
		}

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HTML: 

<div id="textArea">
Your content here 
</div>

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Shawn

ASKER

I get the box and text but the text goes out of the box rather then having the side bar appear.

LZ1

Add overflow:scroll;

Shawn

ASKER

ok, I have the box looking nice now but I still have the same backspace behavior.

LZ1

Unfortunately the only way to completely disable the backspace key would be Javascript. It's a default function of the browser itself, as far as I understand it.

Shawn

ASKER

i suppose I could use js. At least it could change that function. any ideas?

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LZ1

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Shawn

ASKER

it all works perfect now. thank you

LZ1

Glad I could help!