What are some ways to keep my attention on a validated text box without restricting other text boxes?

Question

What are some ways to keep my attention on a validated text box without restricting other text boxes?

Below is a snippet of a validation method that I currently incorporate:

 if(currentFieldCategory=='e')
    {
        var atpos=currentFieldValue.indexOf("@");
        var dotpos=currentFieldValue.lastIndexOf(".");
        if (atpos<1 || dotpos<atpos+2 || dotpos+2>=currentFieldValue.length) 
        {
            echo('Please enter a valid email address');
    currentField.focus();   
            return 'Please enter a valid email address';
        } 
    }

If a user fails to input a valid email, an error message will be displayed. By utilizing currentField.focus(), the focus remains on the particular text box being validated while restricting access to other text fields until correct information is provided.

I am curious about whether there exists a way to retain the focus on the active text box without preventing interaction with others (for instance, allowing users to click on alternative text boxes). Given that my validation process occurs both during user input and form submission, it is acceptable for users to interact with different text boxes even when the current box contains incorrect data.

If anyone has suggestions or solutions regarding this matter, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Nick

javascript forms validation

Answer 1

Answer №1

Your request presents a dilemma: you cannot "maintain focus" in one input while permitting users to click into other inputs at the same time.

A more conventional validation approach involves using onchange or onblur. If a specific field fails validation, change its background color, display an error message next to it, or something similar. This way, users will know which fields require attention without restricting them from entering other information first.

Alternatively, if you are determined to implement the focus concept, consider setting focus only the first time a user tries to exit the field. Subsequent attempts to leave the field should be allowed.

// Declare a global (or higher scope) variable to track failed fields; assuming your fields have IDs assigned
var invalidFields = {};

// Inside your validation function
if(currentFieldCategory=='e')
{
   var atpos=currentFieldValue.indexOf("@");
   var dotpos=currentFieldValue.lastIndexOf(".");
   if (atpos<1 || dotpos<atpos+2 || dotpos+2>=currentFieldValue.length) 
   {
      echo('Please enter a valid email address');
      // NEW IF TEST
      // Set focus only if this field did not fail validation previously
      if (!invalidFields[currentField.id]) {
        invalidFields[currentField.id] = true;
        currentField.focus();
      }
      return 'Please enter a valid email address';
   }
   invalidFields[currentField.id] = false;
}

Note: In the new if test, !invalidFields[currentField.id], the condition will evaluate to true if there is no defined key in invalidFields for the currentField's id, or if the existing key has a corresponding value of false. This means either the field has never been validated before or passed validation during the last check.

(As a side note, consider using regular expressions to validate format instead of manually comparing the position of "@" and "." in the input.)

Answer 2

Your request presents a dilemma: you cannot "maintain focus" in one input while permitting users to click into other inputs at the same time.

A more conventional validation approach involves using onchange or onblur. If a specific field fails validation, change its background color, display an error message next to it, or something similar. This way, users will know which fields require attention without restricting them from entering other information first.

Alternatively, if you are determined to implement the focus concept, consider setting focus only the first time a user tries to exit the field. Subsequent attempts to leave the field should be allowed.

// Declare a global (or higher scope) variable to track failed fields; assuming your fields have IDs assigned
var invalidFields = {};

// Inside your validation function
if(currentFieldCategory=='e')
{
   var atpos=currentFieldValue.indexOf("@");
   var dotpos=currentFieldValue.lastIndexOf(".");
   if (atpos<1 || dotpos<atpos+2 || dotpos+2>=currentFieldValue.length) 
   {
      echo('Please enter a valid email address');
      // NEW IF TEST
      // Set focus only if this field did not fail validation previously
      if (!invalidFields[currentField.id]) {
        invalidFields[currentField.id] = true;
        currentField.focus();
      }
      return 'Please enter a valid email address';
   }
   invalidFields[currentField.id] = false;
}

Note: In the new if test, !invalidFields[currentField.id], the condition will evaluate to true if there is no defined key in invalidFields for the currentField's id, or if the existing key has a corresponding value of false. This means either the field has never been validated before or passed validation during the last check.

(As a side note, consider using regular expressions to validate format instead of manually comparing the position of "@" and "." in the input.)

What are some ways to keep my attention on a validated text box without restricting other text boxes?

Answer №1

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