Clicked Link Countdown

Question

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster

18 Years Ago

Is it possible to have a script on my site which says something like:
"Please click on at least 3 of the links below to continue to the download."

Then, when the user clicks one of the specified links it opens in a new window and this page says:
"Please click on at least 2 more of the links below."

Then, when the user clicks another of the specified links it opens in a new window and this page says:
"Please click on at least 1 more of the links below."

Then, when the user clicks on a third of the specified links it opens in a new window and this page says:
"Thank you, you may now click here to download the file"

Would it also be possible for the script to only count clicks on certain links?

Hope you can help!
Martin

web-design

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Latest Post 18 Years Ago Latest Post by martinkorner

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry

18 Years Ago

Of course. Set the onclick attribute of these links to run a script. That script can increment a counter, alter the text within a control, open windows, etc.

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry

18 Years Ago

I have no idea. Let me politely urge you to BECOME advanced enough. This isn't the "where can I download scripts" forum, it's the "how do I write scripts" forum. You'll get plenty of help, from me and others. Let's start by defining the tasks your script needs to accomplish:

maintain a counter
alter the contents of an element
open a new window

There. The task seems more managable, now, doesn't it?

Let's write some HTML markup as a test harness. We just need some simple hyperlinks. When the user clicks a link, all we want to do is task #1, increment a counter.

First, the HTML:

<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>

<a href="#" id="link_01">Hyperlink 1</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_02">Hyperlink 2</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_03">Hyperlink 3</a>

</body>
</html>

Simple enough. We don't want these links to go anywhere... the script will eventually do that for us. So, we set the HREF property to a hash-mark, which is essentially the top of the page.

Now, let's implement a counter, by adding to our HTML:

<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">

var counter = 0;
function link_click()
{
  counter++;
  alert(counter);

}

</script>
</head>
<body>

<a href="#" id="link_01" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 1</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_02" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 2</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_03" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 3</a>


</body>
</html>

When the user clicks a link, it runs the script. The script increments the counter and displays the current value of the counter via an alert.

Digest that, ask any questions you have, and let me know when you're ready to move onto step #2.

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry

18 Years Ago

You're on the right track... "document.write()" is deprecated, meaning, it's old and newer browsers may eventually stop supporting it. I doubt it, frankly, but it's best to use a newer method. So, onward to step 2.

One such method is to use the .innerHTML property of an element. Note, this works in all major browsers, but isn't technically part of an HTML specification. I'm showing it to you because it makes the concept very clear. In the final script, it should be changed to one of the DOM methods. Just file that away for "stuff to learn later".

Consider this version of our test page:

<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">

var counter = 3;
function link_click()
{
  counter--;
  if (counter != 0)
  {
	document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Please click on at least " + counter + " of the links below.";
  }
  else
  {
	document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Proceed to download.";
  }
}

</script>
</head>
<body>

<p id="myMessage">Please click on at least 3 of the links below.</p>

<a href="#" id="link_01" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 1</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_02" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 2</a><br />
<a href="#" id="link_03" onclick="link_click();">Hyperlink 3</a><br />

</body>
</html>

We've added a paragraph. Our script decrements the counter, and dynamically changes the text of the paragraph, using the value of our counter inside the text.

If the counter reaches zero, we change the paragraph completely.

You should research "document.getElementById()" and ".innerHTML", as they are the keys to this functionality.

Digest that, and we'll move on to step 3.

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry

18 Years Ago

Next is to open a window. In this version, we add back our HREF's so the links actually go somewhere.

Notice the new onclick attributes. It now looks like: return link_click(this); What that does is tell the link that we expect the function to "return" a true or false. If a "false" is returned, then we "cancel" the click. Why? Because we will do the navigation in our script, we don't want the actual hyperlink to do what it would normally do: navigate to the page.

We also pass in a parameter called "this". "This" is a special keyword that passes in the current object, which is our hyperlink. Notice the function? It will store "this" in a variable, "x".

We added a "window.open()" statement. You need to research that. We pass in a URL. What URL? x.href, the URL value from the hyperlink's HREF attribute.

That will open the page in a new window.

Lastly, we return false, to cancel the hyperlink click. If we didn't do that, our main page would ALSO navigate, which we don't want to do.

<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">

var counter = 3;
function link_click(x)
{
  counter--;
  if (counter != 0)
  {
	document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Please click on at least " + counter + " of the links below.";
  }
  else
  {
	document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Proceed to download.";
  }

  window.open(x.href,'');
  return false;
}

</script>
</head>
<body>

<p id="myMessage">Please click on at least 3 of the links below.</p>

<a href="http://www.tgreer.com" id="link_01" onclick="return link_click(this);">T.Greer's Site</a><br />
<a href="http://www.daniweb.com" id="link_02" onclick="return link_click(this);">Daniweb</a><br />
<a href="http://www.google.com" id="link_03" onclick="return link_click(this);">Search Engine</a><br />

</body>
</html>

DanceInstructor commented: Above and beyond the call of duty :P +1

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry

18 Years Ago

WOW - Thanks alot for all the help so far!!! :lol:
So I would put:
document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Thank you, You may now click " + "<a href='download.html'>here</a>" + " to proceed to the " + "<a href='download.html'>download</a>" + ".";
to make a link to the downloads page.

That should work. Test it. You can place any string as the value of ".innerHTML", so play with your tags etc. until you get what you want.

1) How do I make the script write the "proceed to download" text even when there are -1 clicks needed or -2 etc.

You would alter this line if (counter != 0) . The part inside the parantheses is called an "expression". Right now the expression tests to see if counter is not equal to 0. You would change the expression to test to see if counter is less than or equal to 0: if (counter <= 0) .

2) Would it be possible to open the new windows in the background - so my page will stay on top until the user clicks on the tab at the bottom of the screen to view the page.

Maybe, but don't. Users don't expect that, and doing anything contrary to what users expect irritates them. Research the "onblur" event handler and the "focus()" method. It might be possible to add something to your body tag: <body onblur="self.focus();"> I haven't tested that, you'll need to experiment.

3) Will this script work in all browsers, or will I have to provide another link directly to the download for certain browsers?

All modern browsers, yes.

To further enhance your script, research JavaScript arrays. As each link is clicked, you could store it's ID in an array. Then, check to see if the current ID (x.id) is alreadly in the array. If it is, they've already clicked that link. Change the text to read "please click a different link" or something like that.

You can also remove links they've already clicked. Check into "CSS visibility".

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martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 1 · 2006-02-16T02:38:08+00:00

Where could I get a script that would do that (I'm not advanced enough to write my own yet)?

Thanks
Martin

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 2 · 2006-02-16T21:01:09+00:00

Right - that's all digested!

To make the counter start at 3 would I change:

var counter = 0;

to

var counter = 3;

And to make the counter count down from 3 change:

counter++;

to

counter--;

And to change the message:

alert(counter);

to

alert("Please click on at least " + (counter) + " more links to continue to your download.");

I've tried all these changes and they do work! :lol:

Then to make the script write it on the page I would put in:

document.write("Please click on at least " + (counter) + " more links to continue to your download.");

under the "alert" command - but this overwrites the links.

So I could put:

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
  document.write("Please click on at least " + (counter) + " more links to continue to your download.");
// -->
</script>

in the body of the page - but this stays at 3 when I click on a link.

How do I do this bit??? :?: ???

Thanks for the help so far...
Martin

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 3 · 2006-02-17T22:19:09+00:00

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster

18 Years Ago

Right...next:lol:

Martin

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 4 · 2006-02-18T02:40:19+00:00

WOW - Thanks alot for all the help so far!!! :lol:

So I would put:

document.getElementById("myMessage").innerHTML = "Thank you, You may now click " + "<a href='download.html'>here</a>" + " to proceed to the " + "<a href='download.html'>download</a>" + ".";

to make a link to the downloads page.

A few more questions:
1) How do I make the script write the "proceed to download" text even when there are -1 clicks needed or -2 etc.

2) Would it be possible to open the new windows in the background - so my page will stay on top until the user clicks on the tab at the bottom of the screen to view the page.

3) Will this script work in all browsers, or will I have to provide another link directly to the download for certain browsers?

Thanks
Martin

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 5 · 2006-02-18T19:31:30+00:00

To further enhance your script, research JavaScript arrays. As each link is clicked, you could store it's ID in an array. Then, check to see if the current ID (x.id) is alreadly in the array. If it is, they've already clicked that link. Change the text to read "please click a different link" or something like that.
You can also remove links they've already clicked. Check into "CSS visibility".

Would I use "OnClick" for these?

If yes, how do I have 3 functions in one OnClick?

If no, please help.

Sorry I'm stupid :o
Martin

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry Team Colleague · Answer 6 · 2006-02-20T21:37:40+00:00

You can pack as many JavaScript statements as you like into a single function.

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 7 · 2006-02-21T04:10:03+00:00

How do insert the css visibility command?
I tried putting it straight into javascript but this didn't work:

<script type="text/javascript">
function visibility()
{
visibility: hidden
}
</script>

and

<a href="#" id="link_04" onclick="visibility();return link_click(this);">Search Engine</a><br />

but this didn't work - how would I do this?

Thanks
Martin

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry Team Colleague · Answer 8 · 2006-02-21T21:17:46+00:00

CSS declarations don't go in your scripts. They are in a separate "style" section entirely. However, your script can change a style.

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 9 · 2006-02-22T01:48:35+00:00

CSS declarations don't go in your scripts. They are in a separate "style" section entirely. However, your script can change a style.

I've got this code in the head:

<script language="JavaScript">
	function toggleVisibility(me){
		if (me.style.visibility=="hidden"){
			me.style.visibility="visible";
			}
		else {
			me.style.visibility="hidden";
			}
		}
</script>

And in the body I've got:

<a href="#" id="link_04" onclick="toggleVisibility(this)" style="position:absolute">Search Engine</a>

This makes the link invisible when it's clicked, but it still takes up the space.

Is it possible to remove the space it took up when it was visible aswell?

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 10 · 2006-02-22T04:06:47+00:00

OK - Ignore the previous post.

I just worked it out!

In the head I put:

<script language="JavaScript">
	function toggleDisplay(me){
		if (me.style.display=="none"){
			me.style.display="inline";
			}
		else {
			me.style.display="none";
			}
		}
</script>

And in the Link I put:

<a href="http://www.google.com" id="link_04" onclick="toggleDisplay(this);return link_click(this);" style="display:block">Search Engine</a>

WOW - I'm quite proud of myself for working that out!

Thanks for all your help in this thread tgreer!:lol:
Martin

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry Team Colleague · Answer 11 · 2006-02-22T04:26:56+00:00

Note, though, that completely removes the link, instead of just making it invisible. A subtle difference. Try using "style.visibility=visible" and "style.visibility=hidden" instead. Compare the differences, and decide which you'd like to use, "visibility" or "display".

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 12 · 2006-02-23T03:01:04+00:00

Note, though, that completely removes the link, instead of just making it invisible. A subtle difference. Try using "style.visibility=visible" and "style.visibility=hidden" instead. Compare the differences, and decide which you'd like to use, "visibility" or "display".

Thanks, but display's the one I want. :cool:

Thanks again
Martin

tgreer 189 Made Her Cry Team Colleague · Answer 13 · 2006-06-28T22:57:34+00:00

Sorry for the late reply. The answer is "yes". Research the CSS "display" attribute. Setting it to display: none; will cause the element to not render, which removes any space it would normally consume on the page.

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster · Answer 14 · 2006-06-29T00:49:29+00:00

martinkorner 0 Junior Poster

18 Years Ago

Thanks..:)

Martin