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Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference, 2rd Ed.Dynamic HTML: The Definitive ReferenceSearch this book

Appendix D. Internet Explorer Commands

Internet Explorer includes a set of commands that work directly with the document and (Win32 only) TextRange objects. In many cases, these commands mimic the functionality available through setting properties or invoking methods of the objects. Some of the newer commands operate within the context of the MSHTML Edit Mode. All of these commands exist outside of the primary document object model and are therefore treated separately in this appendix.

Access to these commands is through a set of document and TextRange object methods that are described in Chapter 9. These commands and syntax are:

execCommand("commandName"[, UIFlag[, value]])
queryCommandEnabled("commandName")
queryCommandIndeterm("commandName")
queryCommandState("commandName")
queryCommandSupported("commandName")
queryCommandText("commandName")

This appendix focuses on the commands and values that may be applied to the execCommand( ) method (the commands may also be applied to the other methods).

Some commands work on the current selection in a document, which means that the selection must be made manually by the user or via a script and the TextRange object. For example, the following function locates every instance of a string passed as a parameter and turns its text color to red:

function redden(txt) {
    var rng = document.body.createTextRange( );
    for (var i = 0; rng.findText(txt) != false; i++) {
        rng.select( );
        document.execCommand("ForeColor","false","red") ;
        rng.collapse(false);
        rng.select( );
    }
}

The process is iterative. After creating a text range for the entire document body, the function repeatedly looks for a match of the string. Whenever there is a match, the matched word is selected, and the execCommand( ) method invokes the ForeColor command, passing the value red as the color. To continue searching through the range, the range is collapsed after the previously found item, and the selection is removed (by selecting a range of zero length).

In general, I recommend using a regular object model method or property setting when one exists for the action you wish to take. Because these commands tend to work only with IE on Win32 operating systems, you may be forced to avoid them if your audience has a wider browser base.

Command

Description

Parameter

2D-Position

Makes absolute-positioned element inherently draggable (IE 5.5 or later)

Boolean to enable (true) or disable (false) dragging

AbsolutePosition

Sets style.position property to absolute (IE 5.5 or later)

Boolean to enable (true) or disable (false) setting

BackColor

Sets background color of current selection

Color value (name or hex triplet)

Bold

Wraps a <b> tag around the range

None

Copy

Copies the range to the Clipboard

None

CreateBookmark

Wraps an <a name=> tag around the range or modifies an existing <a> tag

A string of the anchor name; tag is removed if value is omitted

CreateLink

Wraps an <a href=...> tag around the current selection

A string of a complete or relative URL

Cut

Copies the range to the Clipboard, then deletes range

None

Delete

Deletes the range

None

FontName

Sets the font of current selection

A string of the face attribute

FontSize

Sets the font size of current selection

A string of the font size

ForeColor

Sets the foreground (text) color of current selection

Color value (name or hex triplet)

FormatBlock

Wraps a block tag around the current object

Unknown

Indent

Indents current selection

None

InsertButton

Inserts a <button> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertFieldset

Inserts a <fieldset> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertHorizontalRule

Inserts <hr> at current insertion point

A string of the rule size (not working)

InsertIFrame

Inserts an <iframe> tag at current insertion point

A string of a URL for the src property

InsertImage

Inserts an <img> tag at current text selection (IE 5 or later)

A string of a URL for the src property

InsertInputButton

Inserts an <input type="button"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputCheckbox

Inserts an <input type="checkbox"> tag at the current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputFileUpload

Inserts an <input type="file"> tag at the current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputHidden

Inserts an <input type="hidden"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputImage

Inserts an <input type="image"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputPassword

Inserts an <input type="password"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputRadio

Inserts an <input type="radio"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputReset

Inserts an <input type="reset"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputSubmit

Inserts an <input type="submit"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertInputText

Inserts an <input type="text"> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertMarquee

Inserts a <marquee> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertOrderedList

Inserts an <ol> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertParagraph

Inserts a <p> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertSelectDropdown

Inserts a <select> tag whose type is select-one at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertSelectListbox

Inserts a <select> tag whose type is select-multiple at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertTextArea

Inserts a <textarea> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

InsertUnorderedList

Inserts a <ul> tag at current insertion point

A string for the element ID

Italic

Wraps an <i> tag around the range

None

JustifyCenter

Full justifies the current selection

None

JustifyLeft

Left justifies the current selection

None

JustifyRight

Right justifies the current selection

None

LiveResize

Dynamically refresh element resizing in edit mode (IE 5.5 or later)

Boolean to enable (true) or disable (false) setting

MultipleSelection

Allow multiple element selections in edit mode (IE 5.5 or later)

Boolean to enable (true) or disable (false) setting

Outdent

Outdents the current selection

None

OverWrite

Sets the input-typing mode to overwrite or insert

Boolean (true if mode is overwrite)

Paste

Pastes contents of the Clipboard at current insertion point or over the current selection

None

Print

Displays Print dialog box (IE 5.5 or later)

None

Refresh

Reloads the current document

None

RemoveFormat

Removes formatting from current selection

None

SaveAs

Saves the page as a local file (optional file dialog)

A string of a URL for the path

SelectAll

Selects entire text of the document

None

UnBookmark

Removes anchor tags from the selection or text range

None

Underline

Wraps a <u> tag around the range

None

Unlink

Removes a link from the selection or text range

None

Unselect

Clears a selection from the document

None



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