How can I get the onChangeEvent _sooner_?

Question

I'm using GWT to monitor changes to a TextArea. When the user types, I catch KeyPressEvents and update my logic accordingly.

However, when the user uses the mouse to change the value of the TextArea (e.g. cut & paste or drag) I do not get KeyPressEvents (of course). I still want to update immediately. I tried ChangeEvents, but it seems that they are only fired much later, when the TextArea loses focus.

I could listen for all ClickEvents, but is there a more logical mechanism that will alert my code right after the text in a textarea changes for any reason?

I guess there is not. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3184648/instant-value-change-handler-on-a-gwt-textbox/4085371#4085371 is what I did when I came across the need to get instant feedback. Maybe helpful in your case as well. — z00bs, Dec 07 '10 at 19:27
You want to get events when the mouse is clicked, but you don't want to listen for ClickEvents? I don't get it. — Dusty Campbell, Dec 08 '10 at 01:00
Not all possible `ClickEvents` on the `TextArea` cause the content to change so @Riley is not really interested in all of them since only content changes matter. Listening to all `ClickEvents` and checking for changes would be a workaround but is no ideal solution. — z00bs, Dec 09 '10 at 10:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 07 '10 at 20:05

1

You could use setTimeout:

var ta = document.getElementById("yourTextarea");
var value = ta.value;

function check() {
    if ( ta.value !== value ) {
        // value has changed
        value = ta.value;
    }
    setTimeout(check, 100);
}

check();

answered Dec 07 '10 at 20:05

Šime Vidas

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score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 22 '12 at 21:17

0

Seems like catching the paste & cut events directly is the best way - there's no "changed-at-all" event.

answered Mar 22 '12 at 21:17

Riley Lark

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How can I get the onChangeEvent _sooner_?

2 Answers2