Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : populating a drop down from a text file


mcslemon
03-11-2003, 10:42 AM
currently this code populates the drop down boxes from info within the web page. Is there anyway to get it to connect and populate from a text file.

I'd want the first selection to refer to a text file then have it populate the second selection with the info in the text file.

You can see it in action here. http://www.geocities.com/mcslemon/dropdown_test2.htm

the code is:

<HEAD>

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

<!-- Begin
var arrItems1 = new Array();
var arrItemsGrp1 = new Array();

arrItems1[3] = "Truck";
arrItemsGrp1[3] = 1;
arrItems1[4] = "Train";
arrItemsGrp1[4] = 1;
arrItems1[5] = "Car";
arrItemsGrp1[5] = 1;

arrItems1[6] = "Boat";
arrItemsGrp1[6] = 2;
arrItems1[7] = "Submarine";
arrItemsGrp1[7] = 2;

arrItems1[0] = "Planes";
arrItemsGrp1[0] = 3;
arrItems1[1] = "Ultralight";
arrItemsGrp1[1] = 3;
arrItems1[2] = "Glider";
arrItemsGrp1[2] = 3;

var arrItems2 = new Array();
var arrItemsGrp2 = new Array();

arrItems2[21] = "747";
arrItemsGrp2[21] = 0
arrItems2[22] = "Cessna";
arrItemsGrp2[22] = 0

arrItems2[31] = "Kolb Flyer";
arrItemsGrp2[31] = 1
arrItems2[34] = "Kitfox";
arrItemsGrp2[34] = 1

arrItems2[35] = "Schwietzer Glider";
arrItemsGrp2[35] = 2

arrItems2[99] = "Chevy Malibu";
arrItemsGrp2[99] = 5
arrItems2[100] = "Lincoln LS";
arrItemsGrp2[100] = 5
arrItems2[57] = "BMW Z3";
arrItemsGrp2[57] = 5

arrItems2[101] = "F-150";
arrItemsGrp2[101] = 3
arrItems2[102] = "Tahoe";
arrItemsGrp2[102] = 3

arrItems2[103] = "Freight Train";
arrItemsGrp2[103] = 4
arrItems2[104] = "Passenger Train";
arrItemsGrp2[104] = 4

arrItems2[105] = "Oil Tanker";
arrItemsGrp2[105] = 6
arrItems2[106] = "Fishing Boat";
arrItemsGrp2[106] = 6

arrItems2[200] = "Los Angelas Class";
arrItemsGrp2[200] = 7
arrItems2[201] = "Kilo Class";
arrItemsGrp2[201] = 7
arrItems2[203] = "Seawolf Class";
arrItemsGrp2[203] = 7

function selectChange(control, controlToPopulate, ItemArray, GroupArray)
{
var myEle ;
var x ;
// Empty the second drop down box of any choices
for (var q=controlToPopulate.options.length;q>=0;q--) controlToPopulate.options[q]=null;
if (control.name == "firstChoice")
// Empty the third drop down box of any choices

// ADD Default Choice - in case there are no values
myEle = document.createElement("option") ;
myEle.value = 0 ;
myEle.text = "[SELECT]" ;
controlToPopulate.add(myEle) ;
// Now loop through the array of individual items
// Any containing the same child id are added to
// the second dropdown box
for ( x = 0 ; x < ItemArray.length ; x++ )
{
if ( GroupArray[x] == control.value )
{
myEle = document.createElement("option") ;
myEle.value = x ;
myEle.text = ItemArray[x] ;
controlToPopulate.add(myEle) ;
}
}
}
// End -->
</script>

</HEAD>



<BODY>

<form name=myChoices>
<table align="center">
<tr>
<td>
<SELECT id=firstChoice name=firstChoice onchange="selectChange(this, myChoices.secondChoice, arrItems1, arrItemsGrp1);">
<option value=0 SELECTED>[SELECT]</option>
<option value=1>FOT</option>
<option value=2>MAS</option>
<option value=3>SBS</option>
</SELECT>
</TD><TD>
<SELECT id=secondChoice name=secondChoice>
</SELECT>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</form>

</body>
</html>

Cheers for any help
:) Neil.

pyro
03-11-2003, 10:58 AM
You are going to have to use server side coding to read the text file. What do you have available? PHP?

mcslemon
03-12-2003, 03:17 AM
Yes, I have an ASP server.

Reason I put the demo is on geo is that the server I use is an internal one.

Neil. :)

pyro
03-12-2003, 07:08 AM
Ah. I know nothing about ASP, it's PHP for me...

You may want to post this up in the ASP forums, as it is really an ASP question. I'm sure there are people there who can help you.