How to type on an input box via JavaScript for IE

Question

Trying to figure out how to type (via events not set the value) on an input box for IE8 and 9. I looked at some of the examples on the web - but couldn't get any of they to work. (I don't want to rely on jQuery of other libraries).

Here is what I have so far:

<form>
  <input type="text" id="txtfld" /> 
  <input type="button" onclick="typeKey()" /> 
</form>
<script>

function typeKey(){
    var  txtField = document.getElementById('txtfld');
    var evt= document.createEventObject();
    evt.keyCode=68;
    txtField.fireEvent('onkeypress', evt);
}
</script>

It does not work, and it does not give an error either.

Why do you need to call the event in this way? Could you not just say document.getElementById('txtField').value = U; runEvent() — theedam, Jun 18 '12 at 13:29
@theedam it is just a requirement i have. It should be possible, and I want to learn how to get it working. — GeorgeU, Jun 18 '12 at 14:10
@FlorianMargaine "keypress" does not work on IE. You need onkeypress http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ie/ms536390(v=vs.85).aspx — GeorgeU, Jun 18 '12 at 14:12

Martin Borthiry · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-18T16:15:07.730

0

Try this function, fire(document.getElementById('txtfld'),'keypress',68):

function fire(el,evttype,code) {
   if (document.createEvent) {
     var evt = document.createEvent('HTMLEvents');
     evt.initEvent( evttype, false, false);
     evt.charCode= evt.keyCode = code;
     el.dispatchEvent(evt);
   } else if (document.createEventObject) {
     var evt = document.createEventObject();
     evt.charCode= evt.keyCode = code;
     el.fireEvent('on' + evttype, evt);
   }
}

here an example

good luck :)

edited Jun 18 '12 at 16:15

answered Jun 18 '12 at 14:30

Martin Borthiry

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The code is missing the definition of evt for the "document.createEventObject" case. Even when defining it as: var evt = document.createEventObject; it still does not work – GeorgeU Jun 18 '12 at 15:47
You were right, I forgot to call createEventObject *and pass the evt*. See now the code, I'd tried the example on IE and it's working fine. – Martin Borthiry Jun 18 '12 at 16:16
Are you trying the last example? http://jsfiddle.net/HfU6Q/4/ ? What do you see when you press go button? can i see your code and how are you implementing this function? – Martin Borthiry Jun 19 '12 at 18:23
Actually i tis working.. i was just expecting the textbox would also pick the value, but it is not. – GeorgeU Jun 25 '12 at 23:55

How to type on an input box via JavaScript for IE

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