Topic: Input Field Text Selection

I'm looking for some direction on how to select patterns of text in an input field as the user enters data into it. So a good example would be a pattern that looks like:

MM/DD/YYYY

When the user enters into the field, MM is selected, then by observing the correct keystrokes, DD is selected, and so on.

Thanks, I would appreciate the help in this!
Karl..

[edit]
I found this:
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/13562/fid/130

(Edited by Karl on 10-04-2008 07:07)

Spammer. Please cease existing.

(Edited by Tyberius Prime on 10-23-2008 10:27)

Karl,
This is not an easy problem to solve. For example, if the user enters 1 in the MM field are they entering a 1 for January or is it the first digit of 10, 11, or 12? You can write JavaScript code to filter the input and make fairly intelligent guesses about what the user wants, but you will always be better off letting the user do more and the computer do less in ambiguous situations.

Start by anaylizing all the possible input patterns for each field and write some simple checks for the boundary conditions. Then you can start adding more intelligence to the filter.

.



-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.


(Edited by hyperbole on 10-27-2008 21:50)

how about having three input boxes?

if it's just dates, why not just have the typical 3 boxes like TP said? Then have them pre-populated with the months and days and year.

Later,

C:\