How to javascript to display hints on form fields?

[JE2009]

I have looked for over an hour on this forum and had not much sucess, so I had to create a new thread.

I have a sidebox login and I want hints (email address and password) to appear in the form fields, so customers know what to type in the fields. I know this is done with javascript but don't know where or how to put it in zen cart.

Any ideas?

JE

[bunyip]

You don't need to use javascript - just populate the entry field with the text you want.
If you're using the function zen_draw_input_field to draw the entry box, you probably have php code like:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', '', '30') 

You can put the text Email Address in there like this:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', 'Email Address', '30') 

[JE2009]

You don't need to use javascript - just populate the entry field with the text you want.
If you're using the function zen_draw_input_field to draw the entry box, you probably have php code like:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', '', '30') 

You can put the text Email Address in there like this:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', 'Email Address', '30') 

Yes! this helps.

I get the hints on the form fields, but they (the hints) don't disappear when I clicks inside the field. In other words, if the customer is not paying attention and erases the hint, they could type their email after email address hint. so the info being send woul be be email [email protected]. This goes the same for the password. which obviously would cause logging in problems.

With Javascript, the moment the user click the form field, the hint phrase dissappears.

Your answer is great, just trying to make it less frustating for customers.

Could this be done?

[JE2009]

You don't need to use javascript - just populate the entry field with the text you want.
If you're using the function zen_draw_input_field to draw the entry box, you probably have php code like:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', '', '30') 

You can put the text Email Address in there like this:

zen_draw_input_field('email_address', 'Email Address', '30') 

I just realized the hints now appear everywhere those form fields are located. Is there a way to localized the hint to just the sideboxes?

Thanks for your help! it's definately appreciated!

[bunyip]

You should only be changing the code within the template files where your specific entry fields are being displayed - not in the function file itself. You could use a single javascript to delete the internal field text when the customer clicks within the field.

[JE2009]

You could use a single javascript to delete the internal field text when the customer clicks within the field.

Thanks,

Yeah I did not realized, I change the core file instead of just the file for the sidebox. Great that's fix.

Sorry newbie here, but what javascript command and where do I put it?