Radios to Checkboxes--can it be done?

E

EPPack

FP2003

Is it possible to make checkboxes exhibit the same kind of behavior as a set
of radio buttons? That is, only be able to click on one at a time instead of
multiple ones? My user prefers checkboxes to radios, but naming the
checkboxes the same name, as radios are, doesn't let us select only one at a
time, you can click on any or all of them.

I could have sworn I've seen this around the web here or there, but not
sure. I realize I can edit the results to ensure only one is selected, but
it's better if they can only select one at a time. I was hoping this could
be done easily, not with scripting, but that may be how it was done, dunno.

TIA
 
M

Mark Fitzpatrick

Unfortunately, no. The intrinsic way they behave is a checkbox is a one-shot
item, the item is checked or it isn't. A readio button is a collection of
similar items any of which can be selected with a particular value asa
result. You could do this with server-side scripting, but you would have to
constantly be checking to ensure only one item is checked and let the user
know otherwise. Basically though this is a bad idea because the entire
concept of radio-buttons and checkboxes are understood by the masses of
users and it would cause too many problems for them to suddently be faced
with one page where the generally assumed behavior has been over-ridden.

Hope this helps,
Mark Fitzpatrick
Microsoft MVP -FrontPage
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

You need to explain to your client the different between radio buttons and checkboxes, see:

http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/interact/forms.html

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
E

EPPack

The user understands the difference quite well, but he wants what he wants
:) I'm just doing the research but given Mr. Fitzpatrick's response, I'm
gonna tell him it can't be done :) Not easily anyway.

elaine
 
E

EPPack

Thanks, Mark. I was afraid of this, but good to have it confirmed. I'm not
concerned about the misunderstanding issue, true as it is, because this
particular application is strictly in-house for a controlled audience. That
said, I'm gonna tell them it can't be done :)

elaine
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

If your client understood the differences, he wouldn't be asking for this. :)

The link I provided explain the functionality of both of these form elements.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
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