Question

I am creating a website with four textarea forms. Each form has a word limit.

• textarea1: 250 word limit
• textarea2: 500 word limit
• textarea3: 500 word limit
• textarea4: 250 word limit

I have tried using existing examples that I have found when trying to fix this problem but nothing seems to work.

   <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6.4/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script>
var maxwords = 250;
//
function check_length(obj, cnt, rem)
{
    var ary = obj.value.split(" "); // doubled spaces will throw this off
    var len = ary.length;
    cnt.innerHTML = len;
    rem.innerHTML = maxwords - len;
    if (len > maxwords) {
        alert("Message in '" + obj.name + "' limited to " + maxwords + " words.");
        ary = ary.slice(0,maxwords-1);
        obj.value = ary.join(" "); // truncate additional words
        cnt.innerHTML = maxwords;
        rem.innerHTML = 0;
        return false;
    }
    return true;
} 

</script>

HTML

   <textarea name="Message 1" onkeypress="
 return check_length(this,
 document.getElementById('count1'),
 document.getElementById('remaining1'));"></textarea>
Word count: <span id="count1">0</span> &nbsp;
Words remaining: <span id="remaining1">250</span>

<textarea name="Message 2" onkeypress="
 return check_length(this,
 document.getElementById('count2'),
 document.getElementById('remaining2'));"></textarea>
Word count: <span id="count2">0</span> &nbsp;
Words remaining: <span id="remaining2">500</span>

Does anyone know a solution to this problem?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

Answer 1

Add an extra parameter to your function, and send it the maxWords from each function call:

function check_length(obj, cnt, rem, maxwords)
{
//... rest of the function would stay the same

and when you call it, include the max words

<textarea name="Message 2" onkeypress="
 return check_length(this,
 document.getElementById('count2'),
 document.getElementById('remaining2'), 250);"></textarea>
Word count: <span id="count2">0</span> &nbsp;
Words remaining: <span id="remaining2">500</span>

To remove the words remaining,

function check_length(obj, cnt, maxwords)
{
    var ary = obj.value.split(" "); // doubled spaces will throw this off
    var len = ary.length;
    cnt.innerHTML = len;

    if (len > maxwords) {
        alert("Message in '" + obj.name + "' limited to " + maxwords + " words.");
        ary = ary.slice(0,maxwords-1);
        obj.value = ary.join(" "); // truncate additional words
        cnt.innerHTML = maxwords;
        return false;
    }
    return true;
} 

and in your HTML,

<textarea name="Message 1" onkeypress="
return check_length(this,
document.getElementById('count1'),250);"></textarea>
Word count: <span id="count1">0</span> &nbsp;