Question

I would like to be able to insert a dropdown box where I have specified with option that should be selected as default.

Something like the code below, where the first should insert a dropdown box with default selected “BBB” (val2 ~ BBB).

This JSFiddle almost does what I need, but the problem with it is:

• it should be possible to define which option should be selected as default
• the JavaScript/JQuery should be generic and not hardcoded to a specific ID

What I would like is something like this

<select>
    <script type='text/javascript'>
        insert_dropdown("val2");
    </script>
</select>

<select>
    <script type='text/javascript'>
        insert_dropdown("val3");
    </script>
</select>

How should such a function be made?

Answer 1

Try this

//Assuming options is an array of code/value pair
    insert_dropdown(options, default, $("#select1"));

function insert_dropdown(options, default, container){
  $.each(options, function(){
    container.append("<option value='"+this.code+"'>"+this.value+"</option>");
  });
  container.val(default);//This will select the default option
}