Question

Well, i have such-like code that prevent “select all” action from keyboard:

$(document).keydown(function(e){
   // CTRL key
   if ( e.which == '17' || e.which == '224' ){
      window.isCtrlHold = true;
   }
   // A key
   // Prevent from select all from a page ( ctrl + a )
   if ( e.which == '65' && window.isCtrlHold ){
     e.preventDefault();
   }
});

Another script called from another place that escape preventing off preview code:

$('input').focus(function(){
   window.inSearch = true;
});
$(document).keydown(function(e){
   // A ( "ctrl + a" if focus within text input )
   if ( e.which == '65' && window.isCtrlHold && window.inSearch ){
     // some code that do defult action eg "e.doDefault();"
   }
});

In the end, i need to prevent “ctrl+a” (select all) while focus not within input[type=text] and allow to select all if focus within input.

Answer 1

I think you’re approaching this the wrong way, just update your first code to be like this

$(document).keydown(function(e){
   // CTRL key
   if ( e.which == '17' || e.which == '224' ){
      var isCtrlHold = true; //(note 1)
   }
   // A key
   // Prevent from select all from a page ( ctrl + a )
   if ( e.which == '65' && isCtrlHold && window.inSearch){
     e.preventDefault();
   }
});

Notice the && window.inSearch.

Now you can remove this block of your code

$(document).keydown(function(e){
   // A ( "ctrl + a" if focus within text input )
   if ( e.which == '65' && window.isCtrlHold && ! window.inSearch ){
     // some code that do defult action eg "e.doDefault();"
   }
});

Edit: I’ve noticed more errors in your code

Note1: isCtrlHold shouldn’t be global, because clicking Ctrl (without holding) will make it true for ever (life of the page). Try to tap control (no holding) and then try to type a.

Note2: you should also add something like this:

$('input').blur(function(){
   window.inSearch = false;
});

or else your script will always think that the serachbox is in focus even though it isn’t.

Note3: There’s no “opposite” of preventDefault();, you either prevent default behavior or you don’t.