How can I set 'selected' value for an option which has square brackets in it id name?

Question

I want to read the value of the select tag which has [] in its id.

<select id="jobtype[]" class="dropDown" size="4" multiple="multiple" name="jobtype[]">
<option value="28">Activity staff/ Resort Rep</option>
<option value="1">Admin/ Secretarial/ Clerical</option>
<option value="2">Advertising/ Marketing/ PR</option>
<option value="29">Art/ Design</option>
<option value="30">Au Pair/ Nanny</option>

I am using the function below for setting 'selected':

$("#jobtype\\[\\] option").each(function()
            {
                //if ($(this).val() == 39)
                { 
                    $(this).attr('selected', 'selected');
                }

            });
}

Your code works as-is (if you fix the syntax errors around the brackets), but there are no options with a value of 39. http://jsfiddle.net/w7vRv/ — Kevin B, May 03 '13 at 17:13
Take a look at this for why it shouldn't have square brackets: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/70579/what-are-valid-values-for-the-id-attribute-in-html — Jason, May 03 '13 at 17:14
yes there are no options with value = 39.. i just gave an example dude... — Manojkumar, May 03 '13 at 17:16
As of HTML5, the only requirement for ID's is it must contain at least one character, and it can't contain any spaces. It doesn't say thing about not using `[]` — Kevin B, May 03 '13 at 17:17
@ManojKumar In that case your code works as-is, if you fix the mis-matched brackets. — Kevin B, May 03 '13 at 17:17
@adeneo following w3c html specs, but like Kevin said html5 is more permisive. But i'm sure you know that :) — A. Wolff, May 03 '13 at 17:17
@roasted - In this day and age, hopefully everyone is using the HTML5 doctype, where it's completely valid with brackets in the ID selector. Should you use it just for fun, probably not, but some frameworks seems to do it all the same. — adeneo, May 03 '13 at 17:21

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 03 '13 at 17:10

1

Yes, escaping the brackets should work just fine :

$("#jobtype\\[\\] option[value=39]").prop('selected', true);

FIDDLE

answered May 03 '13 at 17:10

adeneo

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I am able to get values of all the – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:12
In what version of jQuery? And you do of course have an option with that value, see my fiddle ? – adeneo May 03 '13 at 17:13
I am using jQuery JavaScript Library v1.4.2 – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:22
I have put this code in a function and on change of a drop down menu, i am calling this function. – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:23
1

Then you're using terribly outdated code, and I refuse to help you until you upgrade to a newer version. – adeneo May 03 '13 at 17:23
I will try out with the latest version now.. Thanks... – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:25
Thanks a lot Adeneo.... Its working now...!!!! – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:33

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '13 at 17:14

0

It should work like this: http://jsfiddle.net/2e3tY/1/, so there are other problems:

Try:

The select tag should be closed
The jquery function should be wrapped in $(function() { } ); so it is called on doc ready.

answered May 03 '13 at 17:14

Tallmaris

7,485
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yes I agree .. select tag is to be closed.. I am just giving an example. It is closed actually. – Manojkumar May 03 '13 at 17:17

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 03 '13 at 17:14

0

Your code seems to work just fine, here is the fiddle. http://jsfiddle.net/LxKrS/1/

$("#jobtype\\[\\] option").each(function() {
    if ($(this).val() == 29) { 
        $(this).attr('selected', 'selected');
    }    
});

answered May 03 '13 at 17:14

Jose Vega

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How can I set 'selected' value for an option which has square brackets in it id name?

3 Answers3