Clear form field after select for jQuery UI Autocomplete

Question

I'm developing a form, and using jQuery UI Autocomplete. When the user selects an option, I want the selection to pop into a span appended to the parent <p> tag. Then I want the field to clear rather than be populated with the selection.

I have the span appearing just fine, but I can't get the field to clear.

How do you cancel jQuery UI Autocomplete's default select action?

Here is my code:

var availableTags = ["cheese", "milk", "dairy", "meat", "vegetables", "fruit", "grains"];
$("[id^=item-tag-]").autocomplete({
    source: availableTags,

    select: function(){
        var newTag = $(this).val();
        $(this).val("");
        $(this).parent().append("<span>" + newTag + "<a href=\"#\">[x]</a> </span>");
    }
});

Simply doing $(this).val(""); doesn't work. What is maddening is that almost the exact function works fine if I ignore autocomplete, and just take action when the user types a comma as such:

$('[id^=item-tag-]').keyup(function(e) {
    if(e.keyCode == 188) {
        var newTag = $(this).val().slice(0,-1);
        $(this).val('');
        $(this).parent().append("<span>" + newTag + "<a href=\"#\">[x]</a> </span>");
    }
});

The real end result is to get autocomplete to work with multiple selections. If anybody has any suggestions for that, they would be welcome.

Answer 1

Add $(this).val(''); return false; to the end of your select function to clear the field and cancel the event :)

This will prevent the value from being updated. You can see how it works around line 109 here.

The code in there checks for false specifically:

if ( false !== self._trigger( "select", event, { item: item } ) ) {
  self.element.val( item.value );
}

Answer 2

Instead of return false you could also use event.preventDefault().

select: function(event, ui){
    var newTag = $(this).val();
    $(this).val("");
    $(this).parent().append("<span>" + newTag + "<a href=\"#\">[x]</a> </span>");
    event.preventDefault();
}

Answer 3

return false is needed within the select callback, to empty the field. but if you want to again control the field, i.e. set the value, you have to call a new function to break out of the ui.

Perhaps you have a prompt value such as :

var promptText = "Enter a grocery item here."

Set it as the element's val. (on focus we set to '').

$("selector").val(promptText).focus(function() { $(this).val(''); }).autocomplete({
    source: availableTags,
    select: function(){
        $(this).parent().append("<span>" + ui.item.value + "<a href=\"#\">[x]</a> </span>");
     foo.resetter(); // break out //
    return false;  //gives an empty input field // 
    }
});

foo.resetter = function() {
  $("selector").val(promptText);  //returns to original val
}

Answer 4

It works well for me.

After select event,I used event change.

 change:function(event){
   $("#selector").val("");  
   return false;
 }

I'm a beginner!

Answer 5

Try This

select: function (event, ui) {
    $(this).val('');
    return false;       
}

Answer 6

I just solved it forcing to lose focus:

$('#select_id').blur();
printResult();