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http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html

Editable Dropdown / Listbox ( ComboBox )

HTML / JavaScript

DropDown with any one option as Editable (like a textbox) and the rest as readonly.
Free Open Source code. Works best on Internet Explorer. Compatible with Netscape and Firefox.

Author: Subrata Chakrabarty (http://chakrabarty.com)

Official Website (kindly spread the word):

http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html
Note: Many other websites (such as webdeveloper.com and faqts.com) have older versions of my code. Hence, it is better to stick to the above webpage for my latest version. Thanks.
My other website that hosted this webpage for many years: http://www.geocities.com/chakrabartys/pp_editable_dropdown.html

DECLARATION:

Update History(DD/MMM/YYYY):

03/Jan/2003 (First Version) - Internet Explorer compatible.
01/May/2003 (Modified)
29/July/2003 (Modified)
30/Oct/2003 (Modified)
25/Nov/2003 (Modified)
10/Oct/2004 (Modified - made Netscape compatible!
25/Feb/2006 (Modified)
09/Jun/2006 (Modified) - made Firefox compatible!
01/Feb/2008

Information for free use

You may wish to integrate the code provided here with your desired needs, but kindly retain my name among the Author(s) for the sections where my code (or portions of my code) is being used.

If possible, kindly provide a link to this webpage, so that future programmers can find the original source easily.

http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html

Thanks a lot for your time and kind support. I greatly appreciate it.

Subrata Chakrabarty

DEMONSTRATION: First Option Editable

The FIRST option ( default : " --?-- " ) is Editable !! ... type in whatever you want!

Left Aligned,
VARIABLE WIDTH,
Left To Right Flow

Left Aligned,
FIXED WIDTH ...(on IE only),
Left To Right Flow

RIGHT Aligned,
FIXED Width ...(on IE only),
RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW

DEMONSTRATION: Last Option Editable

The LAST option ( default : " --?-- " ) is Editable !! ... type in whatever you want!

Left Aligned,
VARIABLE WIDTH,
Left To Right Flow

Left Aligned,
FIXED WIDTH ...(on IE only),
Left To Right Flow

RIGHT Aligned,
FIXED Width ...(on IE only),
RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW

FEATURES:


Hi,

I have written a set of javascript functions for an "Editable Dropdown (/Listbox/Combobox)"...


FEATURES:

1.Any one of the dropdown options can be made Editable (for example either the first or last option can be made editable).

2.Rest of the options are read-only (as in a normal dropdown).

3.Press [ <- ] and [ -> ] arrow keys on the keyboard to change alignment/flow.
  ...go to Start : Press  [ <- ] Arrow Key
  ...go to End : Press [ -> ] Arrow Key
  (In Internet Explorer: this is useful when the edited-text content exceeds the fixed-width of the dropdown. This is Not useful in Netscape)

4.Editable Option: Press "BackSpace" to remove the last typed character .

5.Editable Option: Press "Delete" to remove all typed characters .

6.The Editable Dropdown can be customized to the following formats:

    --------------------------------------------
    (a)   Left Aligned,
          VARIABLE WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow
    --------------------------------------------
    (b)   Left Aligned,
          FIXED WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow
    --------------------------------------------
    (c)   RIGHT Aligned,
          Variable Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)
    --------------------------------------------
    (d)   RIGHT Aligned,
          FIXED Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)
    --------------------------------------------

7.Does not tolerate the famous "Backspace" bug or "automatic Jump" bug.

8.The characters to be allowed/disallowed in Editable Option can be customized.

9.Overcomes all the bugs I have come across in other logic/codes for Editable dropdowns.

It works beautifully !!!

These set of functions do NOT have the following bugs
commonly associated with "Editable Drop-downs" :

1. "Backspace" bug :
    A "Backspace" keypress in the dropdown works like a BACK button on the Browser !!
    (...hence editing is hampered )

2. The "automatic Jump" bug:
   If a alphabet is entered (while editing)
   ... which is contained as a first character
   ... in one of the read-only options
   ... the focus automatically "jumps" to the read-only option
   (* this is a common property of normal dropdowns
    ..but..is undesirable while editing).

3. CAPS bug :
   Values Entered are always displayed in CAPS ....lower case not possible.

4. Javascript error when dropdown is empty and a key is pressed.

5. Doesn't allow the certain special characters..
   (this can be customized in my code)


The new set of functions I have written do not have any of these bugs,also the various characters allowable for entry into Editable option..may be customized by minor modifications in the code (you need to know the keycode/ASCII value of the  character to be allowed/disallowed).

Hope you will find this code useful.

THANKING YOU,
WITH REGARDS,

Subrata Chakrabarty.

ChakrabartyS @ yahoo.com

INSTALLATION and OPERATION:

***************************************************************

STEPS TO INSTALL EDITABLE DROP DOWN - Subrata Chakrabarty.:

(See SCRIPT section below. Select and Copy from there.)

1.  Copy the first part of the coding (javascript) into the HEAD of your HTML document

2.  Add the last part of code (HTML) into the BODY of your HTML document


STEPS TO MANIPULATE/OPERATE EDITABLE DROP DOWN - Subrata Chakrabarty.:

1. IMPORTANT: Deciding which option is "Editable"...

  Two Global Variables required to be SET by programmer:

  var vEditableOptionIndex...;

    Give Index of Editable option in the dropdown.
    For eg.
     if first option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 0;
     if second option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 1;
     if third option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 2;
     if last option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = (length of dropdown - 1).
     Note: the value of vEditableOptionIndex cannot be greater than (length of dropdown - 1)

  var vEditableOptionText...;

     Give the default text of the Editable option in the dropdown.
     For eg.
     if the editable option is <option ...>--?--</option>,
     then set vEditableOptionText = "--?--";


3. Setting the Width, Alignment and Flow features of the dropdown:

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

  (a) The code available below will give the
    Editable Dropdown in the format:

        Left Aligned,
        VARIABLE WIDTH,
        Left To Right Flow

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

  (b) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

        Left Aligned,
        FIXED WIDTH,
        Left To Right Flow

    in the SELECT option (in the BODY of your HTML document),
    give style="width:150px;".

    <SELECT  style="width:150px;"

    * Not giving the width style will make it 'variable'.
    * You may vary the fixed width by altering width in the style="width:150px;"

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

  (c) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

        RIGHT Aligned,
        Variable Width,
        RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
        (Content flows right to left)

    add / include

        style="direction:rtl;"

    into the SELECT option
    (in the BODY of your HTML document), i.e.,

      <SELECT  style="direction:rtl;"

    ... leaving the rest of the parameters as they are.

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

  (d) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

        RIGHT Aligned,
        FIXED Width,
        RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
        (Content flows right to left)

    add / include

        style="width:150px;direction:rtl;"

    into the SELECT option
    (in the BODY of your HTML document), i.e.,

      <SELECT  style="width:150px;direction:rtl;"

    ... leaving the rest of the parameters as they are.

    ( you may vary the fixed width by altering the style="width:150px;" )

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

***************************************************************
** Note : you may wish to simply select-all and copy the entire
contents of this script and save it as a html for testing etc..
***************************************************************
***************************************************************

SCRIPT: First Option Editable

Free Download: editable_dropdown_samplecode.html (right click -> save target/link as)

See Demo: http://chakrabarty.com/combobox.html

Or, create your own file:

Select All the code in the box below (right click below -> Select All, or use button above),

Copy the code (right click below -> Copy),

Paste the code into a notepad or any text editor file, and save the file as "editable_dropdown_samplecode.html" file.

Open "editable_dropdown_samplecode.html" file using an internet browser (Internet explorer or Firefox).




<!--
***************************************************************

Hi,

I have written a set of javascript functions for "Editable Dropdowns"...

FEATURES:

1.Any one of the dropdown options can be made Editable (for example either the first or last option can be made editable).

2.Rest of the options are read-only (as in a normal dropdown).

3.Press [ <- ] and [ -> ] arrow keys on the keyboard to change alignment/flow.
  ...go to Start : Press  [ <- ] Arrow Key
  ...go to End : Press [ -> ] Arrow Key
  (In Internet Explorer: this is useful when the edited-text content exceeds the fixed-width of the dropdown. This is not useful in Netscape)

4.Editable Option: Press "BackSpace" to remove last typed character .

5.Editable Option: Press "Delete" to remove all typed characters .

6.The Editable Dropdown can be customized to the following formats:

    --------------------------------------------
    (a)   Left Aligned,
          VARIABLE WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow
    --------------------------------------------
    (b)   Left Aligned,
          FIXED WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow
    --------------------------------------------
    (c)   RIGHT Aligned,
          Variable Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)
    --------------------------------------------
    (d)   RIGHT Aligned,
          FIXED Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)
    --------------------------------------------

7.Does not tolerate the famous "Backspace" bug or "automatic Jump" bug.

8.The characters to be allowed/disallowed in Editable Option can be customized.

9.Overcomes all the bugs I have come across in other logic/codes for Editable dropdowns.

It works beautifully !!!

These set of functions do NOT have the following bugs
commonly associated with "Editable Drop-downs" :

1. "Backspace" bug :
    A "Backspace" keypress in the dropdown works like a BACK button on the Browser !!
    (...hence editing is hampered )

2. The "automatic Jump" bug:
   If a alphabet is entered (while editing)
   ... which is contained as a first character
   ... in one of the read-only options
   ... the focus automatically "jumps" to the read-only option
   (* this is a common property of normal dropdowns
    ..but..is undesirable while editing).

3. CAPS bug :
   Values Entered are always displayed in CAPS ....lower case not possible.

4. Javascript error when dropdown is empty and key is pressed.

5. Doesn't allow the certain special characters..
   (this can be customized in my code)


The new set of functions I have written do not have any of these bugs,also the various characters allowable for entry into Editable option..may be customized by minor modifications in the code (you need to know the keycode/ASCII value of the  character to be allowed/disallowed).

Hope you will find this code useful.

THANKING YOU,
WITH REGARDS,

Subrata Chakrabarty.

ChakrabartyS @ yahoo.com
-->

<!--
***************************************************************

TWO STEPS TO INSTALL EDITABLE DROP DOWN - Subrata Chakrabarty.:

1.  Copy the first part of the coding (javascript) into the HEAD of your HTML document

2.  Add the last part of code (HTML) into the BODY of your HTML document


STEPS TO MANIPULATE/OPERATE EDITABLE DROP DOWN - Subrata Chakrabarty.:

1. IMPORTANT: Deciding which option is "Editable"...

  Two Global Variables required to be SET by programmer:

  var vEditableOptionIndex...;

    Give Index of Editable option in the dropdown.
    For eg.
     if first option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 0;
     if second option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 1;
     if third option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = 2;
     if last option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex = (length of dropdown - 1).
     Note: the value of vEditableOptionIndex cannot be greater than (length of dropdown - 1)

  var vEditableOptionText...;

     Give the default text of the Editable option in the dropdown.
     For eg.
     if the editable option is <option ...>--?--</option>,
     then set vEditableOptionText = "--?--";


2. Setting the Width, Alignment and Flow features of the dropdown:

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

    (a) The code available below will give the
      Editable Dropdown in the format:

          Left Aligned,
          VARIABLE WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow

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

    (b) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

          Left Aligned,
          FIXED WIDTH,
          Left To Right Flow

      in the SELECT option (in the BODY of your HTML document),
      give style="width:150px;".

      <SELECT  style="width:150px;"

      * Not giving the width style will make it 'variable'.
      * You may vary the fixed width by altering width in the style="width:150px;"

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

    (c) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

          RIGHT Aligned,
          Variable Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)

      add / include

          style="direction:rtl;"

      into the SELECT option
      (in the BODY of your HTML document), i.e.,

        <SELECT  style="direction:rtl;"

      ... leaving the rest of the parameters as they are.

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

    (d) To Change the Editable Dropdown to the format:

          RIGHT Aligned,
          FIXED Width,
          RIGHT TO LEFT FLOW
          (Content flows right to left)

      add / include

          style="width:150px;direction:rtl;"

      into the SELECT option
      (in the BODY of your HTML document), i.e.,

        <SELECT  style="width:150px;direction:rtl;"

      ... leaving the rest of the parameters as they are.

      ( you may vary the fixed width by altering the style="width:150px;" )

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

***************************************************************
** Note : you may wish to simply select-all and copy the entire
contents of this script and save it as a html for testing etc..
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
-->







<!--

************************************************************
************************************************************

STEP ONE:   Paste the following code into
            the HEAD of your HTML document

************************************************************
************************************************************

-->


<!--******* Start of "HTML" document  *******-->
<HTML>


<!--******* Start of "HEAD" (of HTML document)  *******-->
<HEAD>

<TITLE>Editable Dropdown / Listbox / Combobox - HTML, JavaScript - Subrata Chakrabarty </TITLE>

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> //Common functions for all dropdowns

  /*----------------------------------------------
  The Common functions used for all dropdowns are:
  -----------------------------------------------
  -- function fnKeyDownHandler(getdropdown, e)
  -- function fnLeftToRight(getdropdown)
  -- function fnRightToLeft(getdropdown)
  -- function fnDelete(getdropdown)
  -- function FindKeyCode(e)
  -- function FindKeyChar(e)
  -- function fnSanityCheck(getdropdown)

  --------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty */

  function fnKeyDownHandler(getdropdown, e)
  {
    fnSanityCheck(getdropdown);

    // Press [ <- ] and [ -> ] arrow keys on the keyboard to change alignment/flow.
    // ...go to Start : Press  [ <- ] Arrow Key
    // ...go to End : Press [ -> ] Arrow Key
    // (this is useful when the edited-text content exceeds the ListBox-fixed-width)
    // This works best on Internet Explorer, and not on Netscape

    var vEventKeyCode = FindKeyCode(e);

    // Press left/right arrow keys
    if(vEventKeyCode == 37)
    {
    fnLeftToRight(getdropdown);
    }
    if(vEventKeyCode == 39)
    {
    fnRightToLeft(getdropdown);
    }

    // Delete key pressed
    if(vEventKeyCode == 46)
    {
    fnDelete(getdropdown);
    }

    // backspace key pressed
    if(vEventKeyCode == 8 || vEventKeyCode==127)
    {
    if(e.which) //Netscape
    {
      //e.which = ''; //this property has only a getter.
    }
    else //Internet Explorer
    {
      //To prevent backspace from activating the -Back- button of the browser
      e.keyCode = '';
      if(window.event.keyCode)
      {
      window.event.keyCode = '';
      }
    }
    return true;
    }

    // Tab key pressed, use code below to reorient to Left-To-Right flow, if needed
    //if(vEventKeyCode == 9)
    //{
    //  fnLeftToRight(getdropdown);
    //}
  }

  function fnLeftToRight(getdropdown)
  {
    getdropdown.style.direction = "ltr";
  }

  function fnRightToLeft(getdropdown)
  {
    getdropdown.style.direction = "rtl";
  }

  function fnDelete(getdropdown)
  {
    if(getdropdown.options.length != 0)
    // if dropdown is not empty
    {
    if (getdropdown.options.selectedIndex == vEditableOptionIndex_A)
    // if option the Editable field
    {
      getdropdown.options[getdropdown.options.selectedIndex].text = '';
      getdropdown.options[getdropdown.options.selectedIndex].value = '';
    }
    }
  }


  /*
  Since Internet Explorer and Netscape have different
  ways of returning the key code, displaying keys
  browser-independently is a bit harder.
  However, you can create a script that displays keys
  for either browser.
  The following function will display each key
  in the status line:

  The "FindKey.." function receives the "event" object
  from the event handler and stores it in the variable "e".
  It checks whether the "e.which" property exists (for Netscape),
  and stores it in the "keycode" variable if present.
  Otherwise, it assumes the browser is Internet Explorer
  and assigns to keycode the "e.keyCode" property.
  */

  function FindKeyCode(e)
  {
    if(e.which)
    {
    keycode=e.which;  //Netscape
    }
    else
    {
    keycode=e.keyCode; //Internet Explorer
    }

    //alert("FindKeyCode"+ keycode);
    return keycode;
  }

  function FindKeyChar(e)
  {
    keycode = FindKeyCode(e);
    if((keycode==8)||(keycode==127))
    {
    character="backspace"
    }
    else if((keycode==46))
    {
    character="delete"
    }
    else
    {
    character=String.fromCharCode(keycode);
    }
    //alert("FindKey"+ character);
    return character;
  }

  function fnSanityCheck(getdropdown)
  {
    if(vEditableOptionIndex_A>(getdropdown.options.length-1))
    {
    alert("PROGRAMMING ERROR: The value of variable vEditableOptionIndex_... cannot be greater than (length of dropdown - 1)");
    return false;
    }
  }
</SCRIPT>

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> //Dropdown specific functions, which manipulate dropdown specific global variables

  /*----------------------------------------------
  Dropdown specific global variables are:
  -----------------------------------------------
  1) vEditableOptionIndex_A   --> this needs to be set by Programmer!! See explanation.
  2) vEditableOptionText_A    --> this needs to be set by Programmer!! See explanation.
  3) vPreviousSelectIndex_A
  4) vSelectIndex_A
  5) vSelectChange_A

  --------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty */

  /*----------------------------------------------
  The dropdown specific functions
  (which manipulate dropdown specific global variables)
  used by all dropdowns are:
  -----------------------------------------------
  1) function fnChangeHandler_A(getdropdown)
  2) function fnKeyPressHandler_A(getdropdown, e)
  3) function fnKeyUpHandler_A(getdropdown, e)

  --------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty */

  /*------------------------------------------------
  IMPORTANT: Global Variable required to be SET by programmer
  -------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty  */

  var vEditableOptionIndex_A = 0;

  // Give Index of Editable option in the dropdown.
  // For eg.
  // if first option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex_A = 0;
  // if second option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex_A = 1;
  // if third option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex_A = 2;
  // if last option is editable then vEditableOptionIndex_A = (length of dropdown - 1).
  // Note: the value of vEditableOptionIndex_A cannot be greater than (length of dropdown - 1)

  var vEditableOptionText_A = "--?--";

  // Give the default text of the Editable option in the dropdown.
  // For eg.
  // if the editable option is <option ...>--?--</option>,
  // then set vEditableOptionText_A = "--?--";

  /*------------------------------------------------
  Global Variables required for
  fnChangeHandler_A(), fnKeyPressHandler_A() and fnKeyUpHandler_A()
  for Editable Dropdowns
  -------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty  */

  var vPreviousSelectIndex_A = 0;
  // Contains the Previously Selected Index, set to 0 by default

  var vSelectIndex_A = 0;
  // Contains the Currently Selected Index, set to 0 by default

  var vSelectChange_A = 'MANUAL_CLICK';
  // Indicates whether Change in dropdown selected option
  // was due to a Manual Click
  // or due to System properties of dropdown.

  // vSelectChange_A = 'MANUAL_CLICK' indicates that
  // the jump to a non-editable option in the dropdown was due
  // to a Manual click (i.e.,changed on purpose by user).

  // vSelectChange_A = 'AUTO_SYSTEM' indicates that
  // the jump to a non-editable option was due to System properties of dropdown
  // (i.e.,user did not change the option in the dropdown;
  // instead an automatic jump happened due to inbuilt
  // dropdown properties of browser on typing of a character )

  /*------------------------------------------------
  Functions required for  Editable Dropdowns
  -------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty  */

  function fnChangeHandler_A(getdropdown)
  {
    fnSanityCheck(getdropdown);

    vPreviousSelectIndex_A = vSelectIndex_A;
    // Contains the Previously Selected Index

    vSelectIndex_A = getdropdown.options.selectedIndex;
    // Contains the Currently Selected Index

    if ((vPreviousSelectIndex_A == (vEditableOptionIndex_A)) && (vSelectIndex_A != (vEditableOptionIndex_A))&&(vSelectChange_A != 'MANUAL_CLICK'))
    // To Set value of Index variables - Subrata Chakrabarty
    {
      getdropdown[(vEditableOptionIndex_A)].selected=true;
      vPreviousSelectIndex_A = vSelectIndex_A;
      vSelectIndex_A = getdropdown.options.selectedIndex;
      vSelectChange_A = 'MANUAL_CLICK';
      // Indicates that the Change in dropdown selected
      // option was due to a Manual Click
    }
  }

  function fnKeyPressHandler_A(getdropdown, e)
  {
    fnSanityCheck(getdropdown);

    keycode = FindKeyCode(e);
    keychar = FindKeyChar(e);

    // Check for allowable Characters
    // The various characters allowable for entry into Editable option..
    // may be customized by minor modifications in the code (if condition below)
    // (you need to know the keycode/ASCII value of the  character to be allowed/disallowed.
    // - Subrata Chakrabarty

    if ((keycode>47 && keycode<59)||(keycode>62 && keycode<127) ||(keycode==32))
    {
      var vAllowableCharacter = "yes";
    }
    else
    {
      var vAllowableCharacter = "no";
    }

    //alert(window); alert(window.event);

    if(getdropdown.options.length != 0)
    // if dropdown is not empty
      if (getdropdown.options.selectedIndex == (vEditableOptionIndex_A))
      // if selected option the Editable option of the dropdown
      {

        var vEditString = getdropdown[vEditableOptionIndex_A].value;

        // make Editable option Null if it is being edited for the first time
        if((vAllowableCharacter == "yes")||(keychar=="backspace"))
        {
          if (vEditString == vEditableOptionText_A)
            vEditString = "";
        }
        if (keychar=="backspace")
        // To handle backspace - Subrata Chakrabarty
        {
          vEditString = vEditString.substring(0,vEditString.length-1);
          // Decrease length of string by one from right

          vSelectChange_A = 'MANUAL_CLICK';
          // Indicates that the Change in dropdown selected
          // option was due to a Manual Click

        }
        //alert("EditString2:"+vEditString);

        if (vAllowableCharacter == "yes")
        // To handle addition of a character - Subrata Chakrabarty
        {
          vEditString+=String.fromCharCode(keycode);
          // Concatenate Enter character to Editable string

          // The following portion handles the "automatic Jump" bug
          // The "automatic Jump" bug (Description):
          //   If a alphabet is entered (while editing)
          //   ...which is contained as a first character in one of the read-only options
          //   ..the focus automatically "jumps" to the read-only option
          //   (-- this is a common property of normal dropdowns
          //    ..but..is undesirable while editing).

          var i=0;
          var vEnteredChar = String.fromCharCode(keycode);
          var vUpperCaseEnteredChar = vEnteredChar;
          var vLowerCaseEnteredChar = vEnteredChar;


          if(((keycode)>=97)&&((keycode)<=122))
          // if vEnteredChar lowercase
            vUpperCaseEnteredChar = String.fromCharCode(keycode - 32);
            // This is UpperCase


          if(((keycode)>=65)&&((keycode)<=90))
          // if vEnteredChar is UpperCase
            vLowerCaseEnteredChar = String.fromCharCode(keycode + 32);
            // This is lowercase

          if(e.which) //For Netscape
          {
            // Compare the typed character (into the editable option)
            // with the first character of all the other
            // options (non-editable).

            // To note if the jump to the non-editable option was due
            // to a Manual click (i.e.,changed on purpose by user)
            // or due to System properties of dropdown
            // (i.e.,user did not change the option in the dropdown;
            // instead an automatic jump happened due to inbuilt
            // dropdown properties of browser on typing of a character )

            for (i=0;i<=(getdropdown.options.length-1);i++)
            {
              if(i!=vEditableOptionIndex_A)
              {
                var vReadOnlyString = getdropdown[i].value;
                var vFirstChar = vReadOnlyString.substring(0,1);
                if((vFirstChar == vUpperCaseEnteredChar)||(vFirstChar == vLowerCaseEnteredChar))
                {
                  vSelectChange_A = 'AUTO_SYSTEM';
                  // Indicates that the Change in dropdown selected
                  // option was due to System properties of dropdown
                  break;
                }
                else
                {
                  vSelectChange_A = 'MANUAL_CLICK';
                  // Indicates that the Change in dropdown selected
                  // option was due to a Manual Click
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }

        // Set the new edited string into the Editable option
        getdropdown.options[vEditableOptionIndex_A].text = vEditString;
        getdropdown.options[vEditableOptionIndex_A].value = vEditString;

        return false;
      }
    return true;
  }

  function fnKeyUpHandler_A(getdropdown, e)
  {
    fnSanityCheck(getdropdown);

    if(e.which) // Netscape
    {
      if(vSelectChange_A == 'AUTO_SYSTEM')
      {
        // if editable dropdown option jumped while editing
        // (due to typing of a character which is the first character of some other option)
        // then go back to the editable option.
        getdropdown[(vEditableOptionIndex_A)].selected=true;
      }

      var vEventKeyCode = FindKeyCode(e);
      // if [ <- ] or [ -> ] arrow keys are pressed, select the editable option
      if((vEventKeyCode == 37)||(vEventKeyCode == 39))
      {
        getdropdown[vEditableOptionIndex_A].selected=true;
      }
    }
  }

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subrata Chakrabarty */

</SCRIPT>  <!--end of script for dropdown lstDropDown_A -->


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STEP TWO:   Copy the following code into
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<BODY>



<FORM name="frmName" method="post">
<center>

<br>
<font style="text-decoration:underline;color:blue;">
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">COMBOBOX</a>
in
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">HTML</a>
:
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">Editable</a>
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">DropDown</a>
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">Listbox</a>
with any one
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">select</a>
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">option</a>
as
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">Editable</a>
(like a
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" target="_top">textbox</a>
) and the rest as readonly.
</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The FIRST option ( default : " --?-- " ) is Editable !! ... type in whatever you want!
<br>
<br>
<SELECT name="lstDropDown_A" id="lstDropDown_A" style="" onKeyDown="fnKeyDownHandler(this, event);" onKeyUp="fnKeyUpHandler_A(this, event); return false;" onKeyPress = "return fnKeyPressHandler_A(this, event);"  onChange="fnChangeHandler_A(this, event);">

  <OPTION value="" style="COLOR:#ff0000;BACKGROUND-COLOR:#ffff00;">--?--</OPTION> <!-- This is the Editable Option -->
  <option>Subrata</option>
  <option>Chakrabarty</option>
  <option>Tiger</option>
  <option>Software</option>
  <option>India</option>
</SELECT>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Note: Your browser needs to have Javascript Scripting enabled.
<br>
<br>
For more information, kindly refer (and feel free to distribute the link):
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_top">
http://chakrabarty.com/pp_editable_dropdown.html
</a>
<br>
<br>
Author: Subrata Chakrabarty
<br>
</center>

</FORM>





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-- End of Webpage. Hope you find the free coode useful. Thank You ! --