When working with select lists that grow over time, what are some solutions people have applied to the problem of massive select lists?
This is pretty cumbersome for the users to navigate. They end up scrolling up and down and getting annoyed.
Example:
<select name=Contacts[] multiple size=10> <option name="Contacts[]" value="474" selected>fred <option name="Contacts[]" value="475" selected>bob ... 800 more <option lines> </select>
I've considered going to dual select boxes like the one @ http://www.philwebb.com/code/list_box.asp
Has anyone applied a solution that users appreciated to overcome massive select lists ?
Yeah, don't use them. I use a search feature that allows users to select which fields, from 1 specific to all, and anything in between, to search in, and whether to use exact or partial (free text) search. Thus only the entries they actually want displayed come up, and they can then filter onward from that. I don't like using list/select boxes without first having the user pick what part of the information available they actually want. Firstly it's an unnessecary drain on the DB to pull data that is never used, secondly it's an annoyance to users to be forced to wade through endless amounts of options. My users prefer being able to narrow down what they want before being presented with it. It makes the system more flexible and more enjoyable to use. The more work there is in using it, the less it'll be used. And then its purpose is defeated.
Rene
-- Rene Brehmer aka Metalbunny
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