fields are a little more tricky. Here's the code I use to do it. This is a
simple tip but used on almost all my web forms.
You need to get the value of the list first with the following sample function.
<script>
form = document.forms[0];
function GetStateVal()
{
with(window.form.State)//State is the field on //the form we are validating.
{
state=options[selectedIndex].text; //state is a variable.
}
}
function ValidateField()
if(state=="Select a State")//Select a State is //the default value in the State
field
{
alert("Please put a value in the State field");
form.State.focus();
}
else
form.submit();
}
</script>
// Call the GetStateVal() function first and then //the ValidateField()on the
OnClick event of your //submit button.
//I code the submit button with HTML in 4.6 like //the following:
<LEFT><INPUT TYPE = "BUTTON" VALUE = " Submit " onClick = "GetStateVal();
ValidateField()"></LEFT>
// or in R5, create a hotspot button and use the //OnClick javascript event to
call GetStateVal() //and ValidateField() functions.
This was first published in November 2000