Rails - Jun 2008 - clear search box the first time it's selected

Hi - I''m trying to implement a search box that has a pre-filled
message "enter search text."  The first time it''s selected,
I''d like
it to clear out, but after that, I''d like it to remain.  I imagine
lots of people have done this, any ideas how to accomplish this?

Thanks,
Dino
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Ruby on Rails: Talk" group.
To post to this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-unsubscribe-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Not sure exactly what you mean by "The first time it''s selected,
I''d
like
it to clear out, but after that, I''d like it to remain", but I do
much
the same functionality with this line:

<%= text_field ''model_name'',
''column_name'',  :value => "Enter search
text...", :onclick => ''if (this.value=="Enter search
text...")
{this.value=""; }'' %>

This clears it out.  You could also do something on lost of focus and
set the value to Enter search text... if it''s blank.

On Jun 18, 8:54 am, "dino d."
<dinodorr...-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>
wrote:
> Hi - I''m trying to implement a search box that has a pre-filled
> message "enter search text."  The first time it''s
selected, I''d like
> it to clear out, but after that, I''d like it to remain.  I imagine
> lots of people have done this, any ideas how to accomplish this?
>
> Thanks,
> Dino
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Ruby on Rails: Talk" group.
To post to this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

You can use _value=''your pre filled message''_ in your search
input to
set a pre-fillled message.

Then you can use onfocus and onblur (javascript) to clear our and  re- 
fill your search box

_Aurélien Bottazini_
http://www.mycashgarden.com

that''s pretty much what I did.  I have several search forms that I
want to have the functionality you''re looking for.  I give the search
forms a class "searchform".  The search text is always named
"q" and I
have a hidden field called hint to customize the hint text.  I am
using lowpro (google it) to separate the code from my view.

In view:

<form class="searchform" .... >
<input name="q" type="text" class="search" ...
/>
<input type="hidden" name="hint" value="Enter
product name or # to
search" />
</form>

is js:

function notempty(fld) {
  return fld.value!=null && fld.value.match(/\S/)!=null;
}

Event.addBehavior({
  ''.searchform:submit'': function() {
   // is query text not empty and not the hint text?
    if (notempty(this.q) && this.q.value!=this.hint.value) {
      elems = this.elements;
      // remove the hint and empty fields so they don''t show in the
query string (optional)
      for( i=elems.length-1;i>=0;i--)
        if (elems[i].value=="" ||
elems[i].name==''hint'')
elems[i].remove();
      return true;
    }
   // you may want to display an alert instead of just returning false
    return false;
  },

  ''input.search:blur'': function() {
    if (notempty(this)) return;
    this.style.color=''#444'';
    this.value=this.form.hint.value;
  },

  ''input.search:focus'': function() {
    this.style.color=''#000'';
    if (this.value == this.form.hint.value) this.value='''';
else
this.select();
  },
});

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Ruby on Rails: Talk" group.
To post to this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-unsubscribe-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

sorry, I left out a couple of details.  in body onload, I have to loop
thru the search form and put the hint value in the text box.  Add this
to Event.addBehavior above

''body'': function() {
    $$(''form.searchform'').each( function( frm) {
      if (empty(frm.q)) { frm.q.value = frm.hint.value;
frm.q.style.color="#444";}
    });
},

Also, in my view, add any existing query param in the search text
(optional)

<input type="text" name="q" value="params[:q]"
/>
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Ruby on Rails: Talk" group.
To post to this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rubyonrails-talk-unsubscribe-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---