• 0

[jquery] Populate select box from external file?

Asked by Axel,

 Share

Question

Grand Master

Axel

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

I suspect what I'm trying to achieve is relatively simple to some of you experts but I'm stumped.

I want to create a CSV file with a bunch of addresses. The address will be in one column, and the corresponding google maps link in the column next to it.

I then want to populate an option box with the addresses. Then have the relevant google maps link fill a text box below the address that has been selected.

Does this make sense?

Many thanks,

Alex

9 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Grand Master

lnmnky

Posted
Posted

Look up the $.load() in query. That can reference an external file.

Or just $.ajax() and then manipulate the results. Split the string on the comma.

You might be better off with a proper XML file, as it might be easier to grab the nodes. Then you don't have to worry about the NewLines and commas.

Any reason it's a CSV?

  • 0
Grand Master

Axel

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  On 20/05/2013 at 17:36, lunamonkey said:

Any reason it's a CSV?

Only to make it easier for the people in the office to edit the value's if and when they change. I'm definitely not a pro with this stuff so my solution may be a bit arse about face.

I'm trying to create a form to stick on the company's web portal. The idea is that the user (in the office) can fill in the fields which then get loaded into a standard email template and then sent to the client in a standard email format.

i.e.

Hi NAME,

Your appointment is booked on DATE at TIME at LOCATION. etc.

It's all manual at the moment so it's a bit of a nightmare. Anything to streamline to operations!

  • 0
Grand Master

threetonesun

Posted
Posted
  On 20/05/2013 at 17:22, Axel said:

I want to create a CSV file with a bunch of addresses. The address will be in one column, and the corresponding google maps link in the column next to it.

Really? You really want to do this? :laugh:

Sounds like the perfect place to use a database of some sort, be it XML or SQL of some sort. I think, based on your use case, you'll get a very nice implementation up and running with a CSV list, and then someone will ask for a change and it will be a right pain to fix it.

  • 0
Enthusiast

SinsOfCube

Posted
Posted

Instead of CSV or XML you could use JSON, it's very similar to CSV, but a lot easier to work with in javascript.

<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
&lt;script src="jquery-2.0.0.min.js"></script>;script&gt;
//Global variable with some example json entries
var jsondata = [
	{"address":"Some address 1","link":"http://maps.google.com/1"},
	{"address":"Some address 2","link":"http://maps.google.com/2"}
];

$(function(){
	 //Use Jquery's getJSON, it automaticly parses the data into a usable json object
	 $.getJSON( 'file.json', function( data ){
		  //Put the retreived json in the global variable
		  jsondata = data;

		  var mySelect = $('#address');

		  //Go through each object in the jsondata
		  $.each( jsondata, function( index, row ){
			  //The array index as a value of the option
			  mySelect.append( $( '&lt;option&gt;&lt;/option&gt;' ).val( index ).html( row.address ) );
		   });
	 });

	$('#address').change( function(){
		//Get the array index from the select element and use it with the json array
		$('#link').val( jsondata[ $(this).val() ].link );
	});
});
&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/head&gt;
&lt;body&gt;
&lt;select id="address" name="test"&gt;&lt;option disabled&gt;Select Address&lt;/option&gt;&lt;/select&gt;
&lt;input type="text" id="link"&gt;
&lt;/body&gt;
&lt;/html&gt;

More info on json: http://json.org/example.html

The contents of file.json should be as followed:

[
	{"address":"Some address 1","link":"http://maps.google.com/1"},
	{"address":"Some address 2","link":"http://maps.google.com/2"},
    {"address":"Some address 3","link":"http://maps.google.com/3"}
]

  • Axel and lnmnky
  • Like 2
  • 0
Enthusiast

killerninja

Posted
Posted
  On 20/05/2013 at 17:22, Axel said:

Hi all,

I suspect what I'm trying to achieve is relatively simple to some of you experts but I'm stumped.

I want to create a CSV file with a bunch of addresses. The address will be in one column, and the corresponding google maps link in the column next to it.

I then want to populate an option box with the addresses. Then have the relevant google maps link fill a text box below the address that has been selected.

Does this make sense?

Many thanks,

Alex

Just go to settings, click on file type, look at CSV and then punt a dog in the vagina

  • 0
Grand Master

Axel

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the responses. I really like the JSON idea SinsOfCube. For the time being I've just solved it by loading a bunch of addresses from a .txt file and then just generating a google maps link. Dirty solution I know but it seems to work:

&lt;label&gt;Location
&lt;span class="small"&gt;Please select the location&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/label&gt;
&lt;select name="location" id="location" &gt;
&lt;?php
$locationlist = file('locationlist.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
foreach ($locationlist as $value) {
echo "\n";
echo '&lt;option value="'.$value.'"&gt;'.$value.'&lt;/option&gt;';
echo "\n";
}
?&gt;
&lt;/select&gt;


$maplink = 'https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q='.str_replace, "+", $location);

This: 

10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA

Becomes: 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?qA&hl=en&=10+Downing+Street,+London,+SW1A+2AA

If these methods end up failing me then I suppose I'll have to resort to killerninja's advice and punt a dog in the vagina.

  • killerninja
  • Like 1
  • 0
Grand Master

lnmnky

Posted
Posted

Sins has totally just built what I was going to build after I got back from the tip. (But I was going to go longhand with CSV.)

Does the quick-select statement function as expected? Isn't this too shallow to find the correct item?

jsondata[ $(this).val() ].link

Doesn't that expect a one dimensional object? Where-as yours is two objects deep. (I haven't tried it...)

Anyway, dinner time.

  • 0
Enthusiast

SinsOfCube

Posted
Posted

jsondata is an array which holds the objects containing the address and google maps link properties. So jsondata[ x ] returns an object and with the ".propertyName" after it, you get the property value, which is the 2nd dimension. You could also write it as "jsondata[ $(this).val() ][ 'link' ]", which makes it more noticable that it has 2 dimensions.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to question listing

  • Posts

    • 007 First Light's first trailer shows off an action-packed James Bond game

      By pmrd · Posted

      That's not how any of this works.
    • Ancient CD app makes 64-bit comeback to support Windows 11 and probably Windows 10 too

      By Dutchie64 · Posted

      DVD Decrypter & Handbrake. Still works on this end
    • China blocks Apple-Alibaba AI venture in retaliation for the US trade war

      By pmrd · Posted

      The Irony... China wouldn't be what it is today without Apple 😂
    • Microsoft makes it easier to find PC specs in Windows 11 Settings

      By TarasBuria · Posted

      Microsoft makes it easier to find PC specs in Windows 11 Settings by Taras Buria Windows 11 has already received several improvements that make it easier to learn about your computer's specifications. Recently, Microsoft released Spec Cards for the System > About section, which provide basic information about the PC's main components, such as processor, memory, storage, graphics card, and video memory. Now, the Settings app is getting a new way to find your device info. Microsoft wants to display basic device information right on the Home page of the Settings app. The latest preview builds from the Dev and Beta Channels introduced a new "Your device info" card for the Settings' Home page. It displays specs like processor name and speed, graphics card and the amount of video memory, storage, and RAM. The card also has a link to the "About" section, where you will find more information about your computer, its Windows edition, product ID, and the recently introduced FAQ section that answers common hardware-related questions. The "Your device info" card joins the existing cards on the Settings app's home page. While the section offers useful information like quick access to Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi, personalization, and recommended settings, users received it with mixed reactions, as many considered it another way for Microsoft to promote its services and subscriptions like Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and Game Pass (seriously, who thinks about Game Pass when opening Settings?). Now, the Settings' Home page is a bit more useful, as it saves you a few clicks when checking your computer's specs. If you want to test the new "Your device info" card, update your PC to build 26200.5622 or newer (Dev Channel). Just keep in mind that Microsoft is rolling it out gradually, and it requires signing in with a Microsoft Account in the United States. Other changes in build 26200.5622 include a new Settings section for Quick Machine Recovery, widget improvements, more app recommendations in the "Open with" dialog, and more. Check out the full release notes here.
    • 007 First Light's first trailer shows off an action-packed James Bond game

      By pmrd · Posted

      Ponies will finally have good games to play after replaying Last of Us for the 100th time. Oh and I lied, Silent Hill f looks pretty great too, but we already knew about that.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      jbatch earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      Yianis earned a badge
      First Post
    • Rookie
      GTRoberts went up a rank
      Rookie
    • First Post
      James courage Tabla earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      James courage Tabla earned a badge
      Reacting Well

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      397
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      177
    3. 3
      snowy owl
      170
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      167
    5. 5
      Xenon
      134
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!