Limit Initial width of select list

Question

I have a select list, where some clients have entered insanely long options for them, which breaks the design. I'm wondering if there is a way to set a fixed width on the select widget, but still have the drop down menu it produces still be wide enough to display all of the option.

Answer 1

See the working example here.

You just need to apply width to your select box either inline or CSS. It will be as wide as you have specified but when clicked, it will show all options with whatever width.

Answer 2

I don't know if you can do it with css (browser independent), but here are 2 other solutions:

1. Instead of displaying "veeeeery looooooooooong teeeeeeeeext" you can display something like "veeeeery loooo...";

2. Build your select using divs and lists so when it is closed to have a specific width and when you press something like an arrow to display full width. (I am not sure you understand what I'm trying to say with this one....).

Answer 3

Not sure if you're open to using jQuery at all but I usually use this method:

http://css-tricks.com/select-cuts-off-options-in-ie-fix/

Is a bit choppy but looks better than cutting off the content

Answer 4

If the list you have (the entries in <select>) are user entered, and the user can enter, say 500 characters, they they definiteky will.

In this case, I would not go for a <select> list, but a custom list built with, say a <div>.

This is not difficult, all you need is

a div that contains the default option,
a hidden div with all the options
When the user clicks the default option show the hidden div
On click of the items in the hidden div (that is now visible) make that the selected item in the first div

Perhaps there already jquery plugin for this. but i am not sure whether you are open to jquery, I am not a jquery expert anyway.

I know this comparitively more effort than having a select, but i think it is worth the effort. All the hacks - expand the div onmouseover, onclick etc do not look great, might still break your design, and depending on the amount of data the user can enter, would still not be effective.

In the custom list approach, you can wrap the elements, so that you are in complete control.