Ajax calls ajax (PHP)

[sbrohee]

Dear all,

I am certainly not a web developer nor a computer scientist but a little biologist. I developed my tool to analyze some high-throughput biological results and I'd like to make it available online.

My prototype : http://homes.esat.kuleuven.be/~sbrohee/test/new_gsea/php/

Just to make it simple, the user must have the choice between analyzing a custom organism (in this case, he has to provide his own dataset) or an organism available on the website (at the moment, the only mouse is available). In this case, he can compare his results (textarea on the left) to all available reference dataset (time consuming) or to only one dataset. In this second case, the user has to enter the name of the class he is interested in.

So, why do I bother you with all this?

As you can see when following the link above. When you select "mouse", via Ajax, radio buttons and a text field opens allowing to enter the name of the class of interest. However, the form is not working as the text field should be able to propose autocompletion. This autocompletion is also supposed to work via Ajax (I use the actb package available from here).

I think that the problem is that I have an Ajax call in an Ajax call? Do some of you have already encounter this. Would some of you some know how I can solve this issue?

I thank you all very much for reading this.

Many thanks,

Sylvain

My complete code is available from here.

Some copy paste of the code, however

The index.php file contains these functions to display or not the form within the div having id txtHint.

<script type="text/javascript">
    function whichTaxa(str) {
      if (str=="") {
	document.getElementById("txtHint").innerHTML="";
	return;
      }
      if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {// code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
	xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
      } else {// code for IE6, IE5
	xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      }
      xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
	if (xmlhttp.readyState==4 && xmlhttp.status==200) {
	  document.getElementById("txtHint").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;
	}
      }
      xmlhttp.open("GET","whichForm.php?f="+str,true);
      xmlhttp.send();
    }
    </script>
    
     <script type="text/javascript">
  function findValue(li) {
  	if( li == null ) return alert("No match!");

  	// if coming from an AJAX call, let's use the CityId as the value
  	if( !!li.extra ) var sValue = li.extra[0];

  	// otherwise, let's just display the value in the text box
  	else var sValue = li.selectValue;

  	//alert("The value you selected was: " + sValue);
  }

  function selectItem(li) {
    	findValue(li);
  }

  function formatItem(row) {
    	return row[1];
  }

  function lookupAjax(){
  	var oSuggest = $("#CityAjax")[0].autocompleter;
    oSuggest.findValue();
  	return false;
  }

  function lookupLocal(){
    	var oSuggest = $("#CityLocal")[0].autocompleter;

    	oSuggest.findValue();

    	return false;
  }
  
  
    $("#CityAjax").autocomplete(
      "autocomplete.php",
      {
  			delay:10,
  			minChars:2,
  			matchSubset:1,
  			matchContains:1,
  			cacheLength:10,
  			onItemSelect:selectItem,
  			onFindValue:findValue,
  			formatItem:formatItem,
  			autoFill:true
  		}
    );
  
</script>

This calls the whichForm.php file which in turn returns the following text if an organism is specifid

<input type = 'radio' name='GO' value='all' checked> All Gene ontology<br>
    <input type = 'radio' name='GO' value='one'> One class :
<input type='text' style='font-family:verdana;width:300px;font-size:12px' id='tb' value=''/> 
<script>
var obj = actb(document.getElementById('tb'),customarray);
</script>

actb.js file

function actb(obj,ca){
	/* ---- Public Variables ---- */
	this.actb_timeOut = -1; // Autocomplete Timeout in ms (-1: autocomplete never time out)
	this.actb_lim = 4;    // Number of elements autocomplete can show (-1: no limit)
	this.actb_firstText = false; // should the auto complete be limited to the beginning of keyword?
	this.actb_mouse = true; // Enable Mouse Support
	this.actb_delimiter = new Array(';',',');  // Delimiter for multiple autocomplete. Set it to empty array for single autocomplete
	this.actb_startcheck = 1; // Show widget only after this number of characters is typed in.
	/* ---- Public Variables ---- */

	/* --- Styles --- */
	this.actb_bgColor = '#888888';
	this.actb_textColor = '#FFFFFF';
	this.actb_hColor = '#000000';
	this.actb_fFamily = 'Verdana';
	this.actb_fSize = '11px';
	this.actb_hStyle = 'text-decoration:underline;font-weight="bold"';
	/* --- Styles --- */

	/* ---- Private Variables ---- */
	var actb_delimwords = new Array();
	var actb_cdelimword = 0;
	var actb_delimchar = new Array();
	var actb_display = false;
	var actb_pos = 0;
	var actb_total = 0;
	var actb_curr = null;
	var actb_rangeu = 0;
	var actb_ranged = 0;
	var actb_bool = new Array();
	var actb_pre = 0;
	var actb_toid;
	var actb_tomake = false;
	var actb_getpre = "";
	var actb_mouse_on_list = 1;
	var actb_kwcount = 0;
	var actb_caretmove = false;
	this.actb_keywords = new Array();
	/* ---- Private Variables---- */
	
	this.actb_keywords = ca;
	var actb_self = this;

	actb_curr = obj;
	
	addEvent(actb_curr,"focus",actb_setup);
	function actb_setup(){
		addEvent(document,"keydown",actb_checkkey);
		addEvent(actb_curr,"blur",actb_clear);
		addEvent(document,"keypress",actb_keypress);
	}

	function actb_clear(evt){
		if (!evt) evt = event;
		removeEvent(document,"keydown",actb_checkkey);
		removeEvent(actb_curr,"blur",actb_clear);
		removeEvent(document,"keypress",actb_keypress);
		actb_removedisp();
	}
	function actb_parse(n){
		if (actb_self.actb_delimiter.length > 0){
			var t = actb_delimwords[actb_cdelimword].trim().addslashes();
			var plen = actb_delimwords[actb_cdelimword].trim().length;
		}else{
			var t = actb_curr.value.addslashes();
			var plen = actb_curr.value.length;
		}
		var tobuild = '';
		var i;

		if (actb_self.actb_firstText){
			var re = new RegExp("^" + t, "i");
		}else{
			var re = new RegExp(t, "i");
		}
		var p = n.search(re);
				
		for (i=0;i<p;i++){
			tobuild += n.substr(i,1);
		}
		tobuild += "<font style='"+(actb_self.actb_hStyle)+"'>"
		for (i=p;i<plen+p;i++){
			tobuild += n.substr(i,1);
		}
		tobuild += "</font>";
			for (i=plen+p;i<n.length;i++){
			tobuild += n.substr(i,1);
		}
		return tobuild;
	}
	function actb_generate(){
		if (document.getElementById('tat_table')){ actb_display = false;document.body.removeChild(document.getElementById('tat_table')); } 
		if (actb_kwcount == 0){
			actb_display = false;
			return;
		}
		a = document.createElement('table');
		a.cellSpacing='1px';
		a.cellPadding='2px';
		a.style.position='absolute';
		a.style.top = eval(curTop(actb_curr) + actb_curr.offsetHeight) + "px";
		a.style.left = curLeft(actb_curr) + "px";
		a.style.backgroundColor=actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		a.id = 'tat_table';
		document.body.appendChild(a);
		var i;
		var first = true;
		var j = 1;
		if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
			a.onmouseout = actb_table_unfocus;
			a.onmouseover = actb_table_focus;
		}
		var counter = 0;
		for (i=0;i<actb_self.actb_keywords.length;i++){
			if (actb_bool[i]){
				counter++;
				r = a.insertRow(-1);
				if (first && !actb_tomake){
					r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
					first = false;
					actb_pos = counter;
				}else if(actb_pre == i){
					r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
					first = false;
					actb_pos = counter;
				}else{
					r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
				}
				r.id = 'tat_tr'+(j);
				c = r.insertCell(-1);
				c.style.color = actb_self.actb_textColor;
				c.style.fontFamily = actb_self.actb_fFamily;
				c.style.fontSize = actb_self.actb_fSize;
				c.innerHTML = actb_parse(actb_self.actb_keywords[i]);
				c.id = 'tat_td'+(j);
				c.setAttribute('pos',j);
				if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
					c.style.cursor = 'pointer';
					c.onclick=actb_mouseclick;
					c.onmouseover = actb_table_highlight;
				}
				j++;
			}
			if (j - 1 == actb_self.actb_lim && j < actb_total){
				r = a.insertRow(-1);
				r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
				c = r.insertCell(-1);
				c.style.color = actb_self.actb_textColor;
				c.style.fontFamily = 'arial narrow';
				c.style.fontSize = actb_self.actb_fSize;
				c.align='center';
				replaceHTML(c,'\\/');
				if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
					c.style.cursor = 'pointer';
					c.onclick = actb_mouse_down;
				}
				break;
			}
		}
		actb_rangeu = 1;
		actb_ranged = j-1;
		actb_display = true;
		if (actb_pos <= 0) actb_pos = 1;
	}
	function actb_remake(){
		document.body.removeChild(document.getElementById('tat_table'));
		a = document.createElement('table');
		a.cellSpacing='1px';
		a.cellPadding='2px';
		a.style.position='absolute';
		a.style.top = eval(curTop(actb_curr) + actb_curr.offsetHeight) + "px";
		a.style.left = curLeft(actb_curr) + "px";
		a.style.backgroundColor=actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		a.id = 'tat_table';
		if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
			a.onmouseout= actb_table_unfocus;
			a.onmouseover=actb_table_focus;
		}
		document.body.appendChild(a);
		var i;
		var first = true;
		var j = 1;
		if (actb_rangeu > 1){
			r = a.insertRow(-1);
			r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
			c = r.insertCell(-1);
			c.style.color = actb_self.actb_textColor;
			c.style.fontFamily = 'arial narrow';
			c.style.fontSize = actb_self.actb_fSize;
			c.align='center';
			replaceHTML(c,'/\\');
			if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
				c.style.cursor = 'pointer';
				c.onclick = actb_mouse_up;
			}
		}
		for (i=0;i<actb_self.actb_keywords.length;i++){
			if (actb_bool[i]){
				if (j >= actb_rangeu && j <= actb_ranged){
					r = a.insertRow(-1);
					r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
					r.id = 'tat_tr'+(j);
					c = r.insertCell(-1);
					c.style.color = actb_self.actb_textColor;
					c.style.fontFamily = actb_self.actb_fFamily;
					c.style.fontSize = actb_self.actb_fSize;
					c.innerHTML = actb_parse(actb_self.actb_keywords[i]);
					c.id = 'tat_td'+(j);
					c.setAttribute('pos',j);
					if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
						c.style.cursor = 'pointer';
						c.onclick=actb_mouseclick;
						c.onmouseover = actb_table_highlight;
					}
					j++;
				}else{
					j++;
				}
			}
			if (j > actb_ranged) break;
		}
		if (j-1 < actb_total){
			r = a.insertRow(-1);
			r.style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
			c = r.insertCell(-1);
			c.style.color = actb_self.actb_textColor;
			c.style.fontFamily = 'arial narrow';
			c.style.fontSize = actb_self.actb_fSize;
			c.align='center';
			replaceHTML(c,'\\/');
			if (actb_self.actb_mouse){
				c.style.cursor = 'pointer';
				c.onclick = actb_mouse_down;
			}
		}
	}
	function actb_goup(){
		if (!actb_display) return;
		if (actb_pos == 1) return;
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		actb_pos--;
		if (actb_pos < actb_rangeu) actb_moveup();
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list=0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	function actb_godown(){
		if (!actb_display) return;
		if (actb_pos == actb_total) return;
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		actb_pos++;
		if (actb_pos > actb_ranged) actb_movedown();
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list=0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	function actb_movedown(){
		actb_rangeu++;
		actb_ranged++;
		actb_remake();
	}
	function actb_moveup(){
		actb_rangeu--;
		actb_ranged--;
		actb_remake();
	}

	/* Mouse */
	function actb_mouse_down(){
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		actb_pos++;
		actb_movedown();
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
		actb_curr.focus();
		actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list=0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	function actb_mouse_up(evt){
		if (!evt) evt = event;
		if (evt.stopPropagation){
			evt.stopPropagation();
		}else{
			evt.cancelBubble = true;
		}
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		actb_pos--;
		actb_moveup();
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
		actb_curr.focus();
		actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list=0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	function actb_mouseclick(evt){
		if (!evt) evt = event;
		if (!actb_display) return;
		actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
		actb_pos = this.getAttribute('pos');
		actb_penter();
	}
	function actb_table_focus(){
		actb_mouse_on_list = 1;
	}
	function actb_table_unfocus(){
		actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list = 0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	function actb_table_highlight(){
		actb_mouse_on_list = 1;
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_bgColor;
		actb_pos = this.getAttribute('pos');
		while (actb_pos < actb_rangeu) actb_moveup();
		while (actb_pos > actb_ranged) actb_movedown();
		document.getElementById('tat_tr'+actb_pos).style.backgroundColor = actb_self.actb_hColor;
		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list = 0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
	}
	/* ---- */

	function actb_insertword(a){
		if (actb_self.actb_delimiter.length > 0){
			str = '';
			l=0;
			for (i=0;i<actb_delimwords.length;i++){
				if (actb_cdelimword == i){
					prespace = postspace = '';
					gotbreak = false;
					for (j=0;j<actb_delimwords[i].length;++j){
						if (actb_delimwords[i].charAt(j) != ' '){
							gotbreak = true;
							break;
						}
						prespace += ' ';
					}
					for (j=actb_delimwords[i].length-1;j>=0;--j){
						if (actb_delimwords[i].charAt(j) != ' ') break;
						postspace += ' ';
					}
					str += prespace;
					str += a;
					l = str.length;
					if (gotbreak) str += postspace;
				}else{
					str += actb_delimwords[i];
				}
				if (i != actb_delimwords.length - 1){
					str += actb_delimchar[i];
				}
			}
			actb_curr.value = str;
			setCaret(actb_curr,l);
		}else{
			actb_curr.value = a;
		}
		actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
		actb_removedisp();
	}
	function actb_penter(){
		if (!actb_display) return;
		actb_display = false;
		var word = '';
		var c = 0;
		for (var i=0;i<=actb_self.actb_keywords.length;i++){
			if (actb_bool[i]) c++;
			if (c == actb_pos){
				word = actb_self.actb_keywords[i];
				break;
			}
		}
		actb_insertword(word);
		l = getCaretStart(actb_curr);
	}
	function actb_removedisp(){
		if (actb_mouse_on_list==0){
			actb_display = 0;
			if (document.getElementById('tat_table')){ document.body.removeChild(document.getElementById('tat_table')); }
			if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		}
	}
	function actb_keypress(e){
		if (actb_caretmove) stopEvent(e);
		return !actb_caretmove;
	}
	function actb_checkkey(evt){
		if (!evt) evt = event;
		a = evt.keyCode;
		caret_pos_start = getCaretStart(actb_curr);
		actb_caretmove = 0;
		switch (a){
			case 38:
				actb_goup();
				actb_caretmove = 1;
				return false;
				break;
			case 40:
				actb_godown();
				actb_caretmove = 1;
				return false;
				break;
			case 13: case 9:
				if (actb_display){
					actb_caretmove = 1;
					actb_penter();
					return false;
				}else{
					return true;
				}
				break;
			default:
				setTimeout(function(){actb_tocomplete(a)},50);
				break;
		}
	}

	function actb_tocomplete(kc){
		if (kc == 38 || kc == 40 || kc == 13) return;
		var i;
		if (actb_display){ 
			var word = 0;
			var c = 0;
			for (var i=0;i<=actb_self.actb_keywords.length;i++){
				if (actb_bool[i]) c++;
				if (c == actb_pos){
					word = i;
					break;
				}
			}
			actb_pre = word;
		}else{ actb_pre = -1};
		
		if (actb_curr.value == ''){
			actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
			actb_removedisp();
			return;
		}
		if (actb_self.actb_delimiter.length > 0){
			caret_pos_start = getCaretStart(actb_curr);
			caret_pos_end = getCaretEnd(actb_curr);
			
			delim_split = '';
			for (i=0;i<actb_self.actb_delimiter.length;i++){
				delim_split += actb_self.actb_delimiter[i];
			}
			delim_split = delim_split.addslashes();
			delim_split_rx = new RegExp("(["+delim_split+"])");
			c = 0;
			actb_delimwords = new Array();
			actb_delimwords[0] = '';
			for (i=0,j=actb_curr.value.length;i<actb_curr.value.length;i++,j--){
				if (actb_curr.value.substr(i,j).search(delim_split_rx) == 0){
					ma = actb_curr.value.substr(i,j).match(delim_split_rx);
					actb_delimchar[c] = ma[1];
					c++;
					actb_delimwords[c] = '';
				}else{
					actb_delimwords[c] += actb_curr.value.charAt(i);
				}
			}

			var l = 0;
			actb_cdelimword = -1;
			for (i=0;i<actb_delimwords.length;i++){
				if (caret_pos_end >= l && caret_pos_end <= l + actb_delimwords[i].length){
					actb_cdelimword = i;
				}
				l+=actb_delimwords[i].length + 1;
			}
			var ot = actb_delimwords[actb_cdelimword].trim(); 
			var t = actb_delimwords[actb_cdelimword].addslashes().trim();
		}else{
			var ot = actb_curr.value;
			var t = actb_curr.value.addslashes();
		}
		if (ot.length == 0){
			actb_mouse_on_list = 0;
			actb_removedisp();
		}
		if (ot.length < actb_self.actb_startcheck) return this;
		if (actb_self.actb_firstText){
			var re = new RegExp("^" + t, "i");
		}else{
			var re = new RegExp(t, "i");
		}

		actb_total = 0;
		actb_tomake = false;
		actb_kwcount = 0;
		for (i=0;i<actb_self.actb_keywords.length;i++){
			actb_bool[i] = false;
			if (re.test(actb_self.actb_keywords[i])){
				actb_total++;
				actb_bool[i] = true;
				actb_kwcount++;
				if (actb_pre == i) actb_tomake = true;
			}
		}

		if (actb_toid) clearTimeout(actb_toid);
		if (actb_self.actb_timeOut > 0) actb_toid = setTimeout(function(){actb_mouse_on_list = 0;actb_removedisp();},actb_self.actb_timeOut);
		actb_generate();
	}
	return this;
}

common.js file

/* Event Functions */

// Add an event to the obj given
// event_name refers to the event trigger, without the "on", like click or mouseover
// func_name refers to the function callback when event is triggered
function addEvent(obj,event_name,func_name){
	if (obj.attachEvent){
		obj.attachEvent("on"+event_name, func_name);
	}else if(obj.addEventListener){
		obj.addEventListener(event_name,func_name,true);
	}else{
		obj["on"+event_name] = func_name;
	}
}

// Removes an event from the object
function removeEvent(obj,event_name,func_name){
	if (obj.detachEvent){
		obj.detachEvent("on"+event_name,func_name);
	}else if(obj.removeEventListener){
		obj.removeEventListener(event_name,func_name,true);
	}else{
		obj["on"+event_name] = null;
	}
}

// Stop an event from bubbling up the event DOM
function stopEvent(evt){
	evt || window.event;
	if (evt.stopPropagation){
		evt.stopPropagation();
		evt.preventDefault();
	}else if(typeof evt.cancelBubble != "undefined"){
		evt.cancelBubble = true;
		evt.returnValue = false;
	}
	return false;
}

// Get the obj that starts the event
function getElement(evt){
	if (window.event){
		return window.event.srcElement;
	}else{
		return evt.currentTarget;
	}
}
// Get the obj that triggers off the event
function getTargetElement(evt){
	if (window.event){
		return window.event.srcElement;
	}else{
		return evt.target;
	}
}
// For IE only, stops the obj from being selected
function stopSelect(obj){
	if (typeof obj.onselectstart != 'undefined'){
		addEvent(obj,"selectstart",function(){ return false;});
	}
}

/*    Caret Functions     */

// Get the end position of the caret in the object. Note that the obj needs to be in focus first
function getCaretEnd(obj){
	if(typeof obj.selectionEnd != "undefined"){
		return obj.selectionEnd;
	}else if(document.selection&&document.selection.createRange){
		var M=document.selection.createRange();
		try{
			var Lp = M.duplicate();
			Lp.moveToElementText(obj);
		}catch(e){
			var Lp=obj.createTextRange();
		}
		Lp.setEndPoint("EndToEnd",M);
		var rb=Lp.text.length;
		if(rb>obj.value.length){
			return -1;
		}
		return rb;
	}
}
// Get the start position of the caret in the object
function getCaretStart(obj){
	if(typeof obj.selectionStart != "undefined"){
		return obj.selectionStart;
	}else if(document.selection&&document.selection.createRange){
		var M=document.selection.createRange();
		try{
			var Lp = M.duplicate();
			Lp.moveToElementText(obj);
		}catch(e){
			var Lp=obj.createTextRange();
		}
		Lp.setEndPoint("EndToStart",M);
		var rb=Lp.text.length;
		if(rb>obj.value.length){
			return -1;
		}
		return rb;
	}
}
// sets the caret position to l in the object
function setCaret(obj,l){
	obj.focus();
	if (obj.setSelectionRange){
		obj.setSelectionRange(l,l);
	}else if(obj.createTextRange){
		m = obj.createTextRange();		
		m.moveStart('character',l);
		m.collapse();
		m.select();
	}
}
// sets the caret selection from s to e in the object
function setSelection(obj,s,e){
	obj.focus();
	if (obj.setSelectionRange){
		obj.setSelectionRange(s,e);
	}else if(obj.createTextRange){
		m = obj.createTextRange();		
		m.moveStart('character',s);
		m.moveEnd('character',e);
		m.select();
	}
}

/*    Escape function   */
String.prototype.addslashes = function(){
	return this.replace(/(["\\\.\|\[\]\^\*\+\?\$\(\)])/g, '\\$1');
}
String.prototype.trim = function () {
    return this.replace(/^\s*(\S*(\s+\S+)*)\s*$/, "$1");
};
/* --- Escape --- */

/* Offset position from top of the screen */
function curTop(obj){
	toreturn = 0;
	while(obj){
		toreturn += obj.offsetTop;
		obj = obj.offsetParent;
	}
	return toreturn;
}
function curLeft(obj){
	toreturn = 0;
	while(obj){
		toreturn += obj.offsetLeft;
		obj = obj.offsetParent;
	}
	return toreturn;
}
/* ------ End of Offset function ------- */

/* Types Function */

// is a given input a number?
function isNumber(a) {
    return typeof a == 'number' && isFinite(a);
}

/* Object Functions */

function replaceHTML(obj,text){
	while(el = obj.childNodes[0]){
		obj.removeChild(el);
	};
	obj.appendChild(document.createTextNode(text));
}

[Airshow]

It seems that you don't really need server-side data to compose the form.

If so, then the easiest approach would be to ditch whichForm.php in favour of some javascript/jQuery to compose the form dynamically client-side or to show/hide hard-coded variants.

Whichever method you choose, the form's ajax functionality needs to be attached after the form is created.

Airshow

[sbrohee]

Dear Airshow,

Thanks a lot for answering (I was a bit desperate that nobody was going to do this).

I am very sorry but I am bit confused by your answer. As I told you, I am far from being an expert in the web development field. So, if I understood you correctly, you would advice me to remove whichForm.php and to replace it by some code that would create this form automatically?

If I use jquery (which I have to learn from scratch but I hope this is not too complicated), it would be to make the right form appear at the right place, isn't it?(e.g. when selecting "mouse", the double choice between "all Gene Ontology" or "One class" appears). But, however, I would keep the actb.js (autocomplete part)?

Thanks for your valuable ideas!

Cheers,

Sylvain

[Airshow]

Yes exactly so, at least in one of my suggested approaches.

Approach 1:
If the number of form variants is large, then implement your form creation logic in javascript (with or without jQuery) instead of PHP. This approach is otherwise very similar to what you already have.

Approach 2:
If the number of form variants is small, then hard-code each of them in HTML with CSS display:none to ensure that they are initially hidden. Then simply show the correct one when the user selects an organism.

It is difficult to know what to advise about jQuery. The solution would ultimately be simpler in jQuery but you should really take time to learn raw javascript before learning jQuery.

Airshow

[sbrohee]

Many many thanks. You solved my issue!

As I had only two options (defined organism - undefined) and two types of form, I selected the "Approach 2" and I played a bit with JavaScript which seems far from being that complicated (at least at this level).

Again many thanks!

[Airshow]

Sylvain,

Excellent.

It's a pleasure to help someone new to JS. You clearly have a natural talent because I didn't give very much detail.

Please come again if you have any more questions (probably best to start a new thread).

Airshow