Can't get my list to getFocus()

[TriffidGirl]

Hi,

I am working on Alpha v12.4.5.4.5, build 5221. I have a search text box that is then triggering a search in a list object on the KeyUp event of the box checking for the 'enter'. Inside the lists 'afterSearchComplete' event I have

{dialog.object}.setFocus('LIST_CUSTS');

The behaviour I want and am expecting is for the user then to be able to use the cursor keys to navigate through the list. This isn't happening and the focus is staying the the search text box. Can anyone shed some light on this please?

Many thanks
Georgina

[Davidk]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

First, look at your List Property "Capture focus". Ensure this is checked.

If that property is enabled, it looks like this behaviour may be broken. .setFocus() specifically looks after Lists... in order to do just what you want to do... according to the doc. However, I'm not seeing any way to set focus to a List control.
You should report this. If it's a bug, you should request a hotfix to correct build 5221 so that you don't have to move into the world of pre-releases.

[jgrannis]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

Finally figured it out! I knew it must have been possible because, of course, if you click in a row of the list, the "list" (well, actually the list.CONTROL hidden input field) gets focus. Also you can tab to the list to get focus.
In any case, you have to be able to programmatically be able to do it or creating automated tests wouldn't be very useful except in simple cases.

Anyway, what does getting "focus" mean? I suppose it could be at least these 3 things: triggering events on focus and then on blur, making the control look like it is in focus in the cases where you want it to, and watching/listening for other events.
To address only the one you want, in the list event where you want, try this:

	{dialog.object}.setFocus('LIST_CUSTS');
	var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST_CUSTS'); 
	lObj._keyWatch.on();

But you'll have to turn it off with lObj._keyWatch.off(); at some point if you don't want it to interfere with other controls.

[jgrannis]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

Now that I know what I'm looking for....
A much cleaner way:

	var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST1');
	lObj._focus('click');

I don't think you'll break anything with this method versus a little mess you could make using my 1st suggestion.

[Davidk]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

Now that I know what I'm looking for....
A much cleaner way:

	var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST1');
	lObj._focus('click');

I don't think you'll break anything with this method versus a little mess you could make using my 1st suggestion.

Jeff... this is very cool... but... are you seeing the same behaviour I see when using your code? It does work... but even though focus is with the List Control (in that you can cursor through rows) focus is still actually with the search field. The cursor is still in the search field and typing anything goes into the search field.

This is a nice workaround, but it seems like there is a bug in .setFocus() for the List Control.

[jgrannis]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

I hadn't seen it because I had used a button next to the textbox to fire off a client side filter and then had the above code in afterClientSideFilter.
So I guess my button click outside the textbox made it a nice proper blur.

[jgrannis]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

I changed it in order to use the onKeyUp in the textbox.
Before running my list filter code, I added:

var ele = {dialog.object}.getPointer('LIST1.CONTROL.FOCUSCATCHER');
ele.focus();

Seems to remove the cursor from the textbox. But unless I rushed through the tests and missed something, I still needed:

var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST1');
lObj._focus('click');

[Davidk]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

That's much better... and it's probably what Alpha is missing in their .setFocus() for a List Control. I find I don't need the .getControl() stuff. Here's my full code that works... and looks... good. Nice sleuthing Jeff.

if(event.keyCode==13){
	var searchValue = {dialog.Object}.getValue('txtSearch');
	var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('list1');
	lObj.filterListClientSide(searchValue);
	var ele = {dialog.object}.getPointer('LIST1.CONTROL.FOCUSCATCHER');
	ele.focus();
}

[TriffidGirl]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

Hi David and Jeff,

Thank you for your replies. I have got CaptureFocus checked on the list. I have taken what you have done and implemented it as below in the KEYUP event of the search text box and it still isn't working (the cursor is in the search text box and I can arrow up or down on the list). Any ideas please?

var keycode = event.keyCode;

if (keycode == 13) //enter key
{
         //this does the filtering
	{dialog.object}.buttonClick('BUTTON_LISTSEARCH_LIST_CUSTS');
}
if (keycode == 40) //arrow down
{
	var ele = {dialog.object}.getPointer('LIST_CUSTS.CONTROL.FOCUSCATCHER');
	ele.focus();
	var lObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST_CUSTS');
	lObj._focus('click');
}

If not then I will alert Alpha to the issue and hope that they fix it at some point. The users will have to use their mouse instead of the keyboard.

Many thanks
Georgina

[Davidk]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

There is a problem with .setFocus() and the List Control. You should report it.

Regardless, looking at your code it's unclear what your intention is. Your original post was about setting focus to the List Control using the onKeyUp event after an Enter. You've now introduced arrow down.

This works for me...

if (event.keyCode == 13) //enter key
{
         //this calls a button click which does the filtering
	{dialog.object}.buttonClick('BUTTON_LISTSEARCH_LIST_CUSTS');
	var ele = {dialog.object}.getPointer('LIST_CUSTS.CONTROL.FOCUSCATCHER');
	ele.focus();
}

[TriffidGirl]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

My apologies, I added the second key press as I wondered if the delay of doing the search was causing the issue (in that it was running the command to get the focus before the list data has been returned). I have removed that code and have copied and pasted your code in. Sadly it still doesn't work. I must have something ticked somewhere that is stopping it from getting the focus.

Maybe the list has the focus and the issue is that I haven't got something set on the list to enable the movement up and down using the arrow keys. Is there such a setting?

Many thanks again for your assistance.
Georgina

[Davidk]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

The only way to see what's going on is for you to post a sample UX.

[jgrannis]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

On my side, I was doing a client-side filter. With the server-side search getting fired before the list getting focus, I'm thinking that the response gets sent back to the client with information about the state of the UX before the focus change. That is to say, maybe the response includes information saying that the textbox is supposed to get focus after the update.

I think I would set the focus to the list's focuscatcher first then fire off the search by converting the code behind the button to a Javascript Action.
As in:

if (event.keyCode == 13) //enter key
{
        var ele = {dialog.object}.getPointer('LIST_CUSTS.CONTROL.FOCUSCATCHER');
	ele.focus();

        {dialog.object}.runAction('LISTSEARCH_LIST_CUSTS');

         //this calls a button click which does the filtering
	//{dialog.object}.buttonClick('BUTTON_LISTSEARCH_LIST_CUSTS');

}

If you want to keep the button, have the button do the runAction() also.


EDIT: or just

if (event.keyCode == 13) //enter key
{
        {dialog.object}.runAction('LISTSEARCH_LIST_CUSTS');

}

and then start your Javascript Action off with putting focus on the list's focuscatcher. That way, if you keep the button and let the user do either (start the search via hitting 'enter' or clicking the button) the list should get focus in both cases.


Another EDIT: or move the focuscatcher stuff to an event after the search is done...
And if you want to make sure that the list is configured correctly to be able to use the arrow keys once the list has focus, clicking on any row in the list or tabbing to the list should give it focus. Then using the arrow keys should confirm that all is good as far as that point is concerned.

[TriffidGirl]

Re: Can't get my list to getFocus()

Thank you again for your help. Sadly it still isn't working. I have reported the issue to Alpha so hopefully it will be rectified soon. In the meantime the business has decided that they user can just use their mouse until this is fixed.

Georgina