Popup List and Type Ahead?

[Duane]

We are using a popup list field that has more than 1600 part numbers in it. We are having a problem using this kind of field on Windows in a type ahead mode. That is we want to be able to type in the numbers rather than select them from the menu.

On Macintosh this fields works just fine, in two ways. First is that after tabbing into the field, you can type and the list selection type ahead will begin selecting the correct item. Unfortunately, with such a long list and six digit numbers, one seldom finishes typing the entire number.

The second way is by pressing the "Enter" key (not the "Return" key). This changes the field from a pop up list to regular type into field. This works great for our Macintosh users.

The question is how to do this for our Windows users?

On Windows, the type ahead doesn't work very well. On some keyboards the numeric keypad doesn't work at all. Most of the type the type ahead is very lost and ends up at the end of the list. I suspect it's a timing problem, where the type ahead process is selecting something before typing is complete.

The step we cannot work out is how to change from a popup list to an edit field without using the mouse? The users have to tab into the field, let the popup come up, then click in the field to go to edit mode. What is the equivalent of the "Enter" key functionality for Windows?

Thanks for your help!

...Duane

[SteveB]

You probably can't do much with Windows to make it work the way a Mac does. Look in the Plugins Forum for WebSchools. They have a type-ahead plugin that is only $99 now. Maybe use it instead?

Steve