Set default in scrolling list

[hakkr]

I want to set the default value for a scolling list using the contents of an array. I know this should be an easy matter of passing an array ref but it has me flumoxed. When I pass an array with more than 1 value the below code does not work. When I take out the -default altogether a default value still gets set but again only if the country param has one value. Even when I hard code in arrays with more than one value i.e ['gb','ie'] it don't work unless my script is passed 0 params <\p> This is so weird I think I'm doing something really stupid. I'm using CGI::Application and HTML:: Template if it makes any differance.

 
  my $q = $self->query();
  my @countrys=$q->param('country');
  &CGI::scrolling_list(
       -name   =>'country',
       -values=>[@CountryCodes],
       -default=>[@countrys], #fix
       -size=>5,
    -multiple=>'true',
    -labels=>$hashref
    );

[chipmunk]

Works fine for me. Note that, since CGI's form fields are sticky, you don't even need to set the default value. It will just pick up the current value(s) for the 'country' parameter anyway.

If you really want to change the a form field's initial values, the docs for CGI explain how:

       Another note The default values that you specify for the
       forms are only used the first time the script is invoked
       (when there is no query string).  On subsequent
       invocations of the script (when there is a query string),
       the former values are used even if they are blank.
 
       If you want to change the value of a field from its
       previous value, you have two choices:
 
       (1) call the param() method to set it.
 
       (2) use the -override (alias -force) parameter (a new
       feature in version 2.15).  This forces the default value
       to be used, regardless of the previous value:
 
          print $query->textfield(-name=>'field_name',
                                  -default=>'starting value',
                                  -override=>1,
                                  -size=>50,
                                  -maxlength=>80);

[Biker]

I'd say: Working as designed.

The '-default' is a value to be 'automatically' selected by the browser in the scrolling list. It is supposed to be one of the values found in the '-values'. I.e., give a scalar value as default. The value that you want to be selected by default.

"Livet är hårt" sa bonden.
"Grymt" sa grisen...

[hakkr]

I want to set multiple defaults. How can I pass a scalar with multiple values. The default I am setting is definitely a member of values.

Update: Many thanks to chipmunk for -override=>1
I was unaware of the stickyness as was the person who originally wrote the code.
Thank you for returning my sanity

[Masem]

Not solving your problem but to generate an array ref given an array, prepend the variable with a '\' to get the reference to a variable. EG:

    -values => \@CountryCodes,

(See perlref and some of the more recent reference Tutorials that have been posted here to get a handle for using refs).

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