Checking TEXTAREA amount of characters

[gtrufitt]

Hi, this script is meant to make sure a user cannot enter more than 42 characters into a textarea, but it is not working, any help as to why would be great!

 

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!--
  function maxlength(element, maxvalue)
     
     var q = eval("document.pooh."+element+".value.length");
     var r = q - maxvalue;
     var msg = "Sorry, you have input "+q+" characters into the "+
       "text area box you just completed. It can return no more than "+
       maxvalue+" characters to be processed. Please abbreviate "+
       "your text by at least "+r+" characters";
     if (q > maxvalue) alert(msg);
    
//-->
</script>
  <p> 
      <label for name="about">About: </label>
      <textarea cols="30" rows="5" name="about" maxsize="42" onchange="maxlength('about', 42)">I don't want anyone to know about me!</textarea>
    </p>

 

Thanks,

 

Gareth

[fenway]

Seriously?

 

 var q = eval("document.pooh."+element+".value.length");

 

eval() is evil.

 

 var q = document.pooh[element].value.length;

 

And since it's in a form, you should be able to navigate the hierarchy from the form object, no need to go back to document, just takes longer.