Q799 Is it possible to have read only text in a text field?

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Q799 Is it possible to have read only text in a text field?

Only with browsers that support HTML 4.0, currently Internet Explorer 4+ and Netscape Navigator 6+, with:

<FORM>
<INPUT TYPE="TEXT" VALUE="In HTML 4.0 this should be write protected" READONLY>
</FORM>

You can use JavaScript (in Internet Explorer 4) to set the value of the readOnly attribute:

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!--
function toggle() {
    if (document.all) {
        document.myName.myField.readOnly = !document.myName.myField.readOnly;
     }
}
//--></SCRIPT>

<FORM NAME="myForm">
<INPUT NAME="myField" TYPE="TEXT" VALUE="In HTML 4.0 this should be write protected" READONLY>
<INPUT TYPE="BUTTON" VALUE="Toggle readOnly status" onClick="toggle()">
</FORM>

Take a look at the article at http://www.developer.com/journal/techworkshop/webb2/111798_form.html for more techniques of write protecting form fields.

Feedback on 'Q799 Is it possible to have read only text in a text field?'

• November 29, 2002 at 06:50:45: Walter Thyselius
• August 21, 2002 at 02:01:06: n.verschaeren
• 08:26:02 5/11/00 Mukund Doshi