Javascript generating tags & body

phyllis posted this at 19:54 — 2nd April 2000.

Joined: Mar 2000

Hi, I need help with Javascript syntax. Here is what I am trying to do: I am working on a webpage that is text-heavy. I want to make use of Netscape's <multicol> tag BUT, since some people don't like multiple columns, I want to make this optional. I also want to make it invisible for IE users. What I have tried to do is write a simple form that allows the person to choose "Multiple columns" or "Single column." I have written a form using "if document (layers)" so that only Netscape displays the form. Then I wrote the body of the text into Javascript so that Netscape generates the text surrounded by "multicol" tags, but IE writes it without the "multicol" tags. I realize that IE would just ignore the tags, BUT I need a third option where Netscape writes it without the "multicol". What I need is the syntax for a statement that says "if the document uses layers AND this radio button is checked then generate this text." I originally tried the following: if (document.forms[0].columns[0].checked) (then I wrote in the text surrounded by <multicol> tags). And then I added: if (document.forms[0].columns[1].checked) (text without <multicol> tags follows). But this didn't work, and it also gave an error in Internet Explorer (I think because Explorer couldn't find the form object). Here is my webpage & here is its source text. (This page isn't "live" so links don't work & this is dummy text/photos.) Does anyone know how I can write the if-then statement above to make this form actually do something? And is there a way I can write the body of text into a variable so I only have to spell out the whole text once? I'm afraid JavaScript isn't my strong point. Help would be appreciated! Thanks, Phyllis

A few hours later....
I realized I needed to use the "onClick" event handler to make this form work. Here is a new webpage & source text. This actually works except that it writes the text into a new document instead of the current page. Help!

[This message has been edited by phyllis (edited 02 April 2000).]

Lloyd Hassell posted this at 05:59 — 3rd April 2000.

They have: 231 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

Here is my suggestion. Instead of using a form, use a confirm box as the page is loading to ask Netscape users if they want multiple columns.

code:

if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) {
   if (confirm("Would you like multiple columns?")) {
      // write body text with muliplte columns
      }
   else {
      // write single column text
      }
   }[/code]

To store your body text in a variable do this:

code:var bodyText = "";
bodyText += "<p>text here</p>";
bodyText += "<hr>....";[/code]

:: Lloyd Hassell :: http://www14.brinkster.com/lloydh ::

phyllis posted this at 13:09 — 3rd April 2000.

They have: 59 posts

Joined: Mar 2000

Thanks for the suggestion! I will give that a try. I could see why my own attempts wouldn't work but not how to fix them. I had hoped to somehow combine a script for show/hide layers with a function to write single or multiple columns, but I guess that's over my head -- I'm only just learning JavaScript. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion!

Phyllis