November 14, 1999 - Read-Only Text Fields | WebReference

November 14, 1999 - Read-Only Text Fields

Yehuda Shiran November 14, 1999
Read-Only Text Fields
Tips: November 1999

Yehuda Shiran, Ph.D.
Doc JavaScript

Using JavaScript's event handlers, we can create a read-only text box in a form:

<FORM>
<INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="output" SIZE="30" onFocus="this.blur()">
</FORM>

This technique is very simple. When the user clicks inside the box (in order to enter text), the onFocus event handler is triggered. We then force the blur() method in order to remove the focus from the box. In conclusion, whenever the text field receives focus, we immediately get rid of the focus so the user cannot enter any text.

Notice the use of the keyword this in the event handler code. When used in a form element's event handler, it references the element itself.