Dynamically create checkbox with JQuery from text input

Question

In my cms I have a checkbox group for categories. I would like to have a text input below that where the user can input the name of a new category and it will dynamically add a new checkbox with the provided name used for both the value and the label.

How can I do this?

Answer 1

One of the elements to consider as you design your interface is on what event (when A takes place, B happens...) does the new checkbox end up being added?

Let's say there is a button next to the text box. When the button is clicked the value of the textbox is turned into a new checkbox. Our markup could resemble the following...

<div id="checkboxes">
    <input type="checkbox" /> Some label<br />
    <input type="checkbox" /> Some other label<br />
</div>

<input type="text" id="newCheckText" /> <button id="addCheckbox">Add Checkbox</button>

Based on this markup your jquery could bind to the click event of the button and manipulate the DOM.

$('#addCheckbox').click(function() {
    var text = $('#newCheckText').val();
    $('#checkboxes').append('<input type="checkbox" /> ' + text + '<br />');
});

Answer 2

<div id="cblist">
    <input type="checkbox" value="first checkbox" id="cb1" /> <label for="cb1">first checkbox</label>
</div>

<input type="text" id="txtName" />
<input type="button" value="ok" id="btnSave" />

<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function() {
    $('#btnSave').click(function() {
        addCheckbox($('#txtName').val());
    });
});

function addCheckbox(name) {
   var container = $('#cblist');
   var inputs = container.find('input');
   var id = inputs.length+1;

   var html = '<input type="checkbox" id="cb'+id+'" value="'+name+'" /> <label for="cb'+id+'">'+name+'</label>';
   container.append($(html));
}
</script>

Answer 3

Put a global variable to generate the ids.

<script>
    $(function(){
        // Variable to get ids for the checkboxes
        var idCounter=1;
        $("#btn1").click(function(){
            var val = $("#txtAdd").val();
            $("#divContainer").append ( "<label for='chk_" + idCounter + "'>" + val + "</label><input id='chk_" + idCounter + "' type='checkbox' value='" + val + "' />" );
            idCounter ++;
        });
    });
</script>
<div id='divContainer'></div>
<input type="text" id="txtAdd" /> 
<button id="btn1">Click</button>