message box layout

[zeb]

I was wondering... Is it possible to make the 'message' text area (where I am now typing this...) a bit bigger? If not, how about a lot bigger?

It would just make it a bit easier to read as you type, especially when there are a lot of tags...

[zeb]

sorry, I didn't see this thread (http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10413) when I posted this one...

[djn1]

Zeb, you probably already do this, but I find with longer posts that I often use the preview button to read the post through then trawl through the small edit box to find which bit needs editing. I agree though, a bigger text entry box would be better.

[zeb]

Originally posted by djn1
Zeb, you probably already do this, but I find with longer posts that I often use the preview button to read the post through then trawl through the small edit box to find which bit needs editing. I agree though, a bigger text entry box would be better.
Yes, I do use the preview button (every time in fact), but it's usually because the text box is so small... Not really a complaint... just a suggestion.

[djn1]

I looked at the code and it shoud be easy enough to change, i.e. it's a simple textarea tag:

<textarea name="message" rows="20" cols="40" wrap="virtual" tabindex="2"></textarea>

I would have thought that doubling those values would just about do it.

[griffman]

Actually, it's not quite that simple (well, it's actually easier). What you see is built dynamically by PHP, and the values are chosen based on your window width and browser of choice (Netscape apparently interprets the tag diffrently).

In any event, I've widened it a bit, hopefully that helps somewhat.

Personally, what I do is write everything in BBEdit, then just paste it in :-)

-rob.

[djn1]

Originally posted by griffman
Personally, what I do is write everything in BBEdit, then just paste it in :-)
Yep, that's a bit better. Personally I'd still prefer it a bit wider (and deeper) but that's a definite improvement. Now all I need to make me happy is for the search page to give focus to the keyword searchbox when the page loads ... my life would be complete ;)

[griffman]

I've got no clue how to do such a thing; is it an option with the <textarea> tag somehow?

-rob.

[djn1]

Rob,

I could send you an amended version of the page that contains the necessary changes if you like. Basically, there are two changes. The first is that you need to name the form:

<form action="search.php" method="post" name="mainForm">

Note that the addition is 'name="mainForm"'

Second you need to include the following in the body tag:

onload="document.mainForm.query.focus()"

The first step is necessary so that you can specify the form in the onload command.

Both those changes will result in the main seach box being given focus when the page loads. Let me know if you'd like me to email you a copy of the amended page.

[griffman]

Well, sorry, that won't be possible then -- modifying the main files isn't really possible. Well, it's possible, but it makes it too hard to maintain the site when new versions of vBulletin come out. If it were just an added element, we could do that, but adding javascript to the body would cause me many more headaches in the future...

Sorry!

-rob.

[djn1]

Originally posted by griffman
adding javascript to the body would cause me many more headaches in the future...
OK, no worries.

[zeb]

Originally posted by griffman
In any event, I've widened it a bit, hopefully that helps somewhat.
Yes! Much better! Ahhhhh.... B R E A T H I N G R O O M !

Still couldn't park a Cadillac in here, but my Dakota will fit nicely.

Thanks!