Drop down box that populates another form control

tonyyeb · 17 May 2007 at 17:50

Hi all

You've probably seen these on websites like Autotrader. When you choose the make of car (Ford, BMW etc...) then it automatically populates the next field with the model (Focus, Fiesta, 3 Series etc...). Anyone got a link of how to do that in either Java or ASP? I want the contents to be database driven.

Thanks in advance

Clarkey · 17 May 2007 at 19:27

is done with javascript, fairly simple.

Jaffa_Cake · 17 May 2007 at 20:06

Clarkey said:
is done with javascript, fairly simple.

I would output the js using PHP so you don't have to use Java. That or you can AJAX it with some flashing lights etc

tonyyeb · 17 May 2007 at 21:10

Clarkey said:
is done with javascript, fairly simple.

Thanks but got a link for some example code?

Jaffa_Cake said:
I would output the js using PHP so you don't have to use Java. That or you can AJAX it with some flashing lights etc

Errrrr.....

tonyyeb said:
Anyone got a link of how to do that in either Java or ASP?

No PHP.... just Java and/or ASP. Got a link for the Java?

Jaffa_Cake · 17 May 2007 at 22:12

Just confirming you know java and javascript are different things?

Errrrr.....

If you want it to be database driven you have a PHP file which gets the list of options from the database then

Code:

echo "<option id='" . $row['id'] . "'>" . $row['text'] . "</option";

MSN me if you need some help with it :-)

tonyyeb · 17 May 2007 at 22:26

Jaffa_Cake said:
Just confirming you know java and javascript are different things?

If you want it to be database driven you have a PHP file which gets the list of options from the database then

Code:

echo "<option id='" . $row['id'] . "'>" . $row['text'] . "</option";

MSN me if you need some help with it

Hi - yes javascript is what im after - and no i don't want PHP code. From your PHP example you have not understood what i want. I want it so that when you choose the first drop down box, the second drop down box is populated with the data determined from the first one. The second drop down box is hence dynamic and relates to the users selection of an item in drop downbox 1. Look at http://www.autotrader.co.uk for a working example of what i want.

Jaffa_Cake · 17 May 2007 at 22:57

Its impossible to make it database driven if you don't use a server side scripting language such as PHP

You can do it with JS only easily enough if you update your JS file everytime you want to add a new option.

Sorry im not being much help here. Its difficult to get an example without first establishing exactly what you want

toString · 18 May 2007 at 10:46

Yeah you could do it with just javaSCRIPT, but it wouldn't really be dynamic. It's still static.
All the info is on that page you posted:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/nvs/js/NewCarMakesModels.js
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/common/_newcars.js

Just gonna be a real pain to replicated what they have!

tonyyeb · 18 May 2007 at 11:09

Jaffa_Cake said:
Its impossible to make it database driven if you don't use a server side scripting language such as PHP

Hello?!?! I said I will be using ASP.

I think i've found what i need anyway.

http://javascript.internet.com/forms/auto-drop-down.html

Just shove some ASP in and away i go.