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Question about controlling behavior of <select> element

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From: Jim Allan
Date: Jun 7, 2006 8:20AM

That's a tough one Mike. A select box should only scroll with the mouse
wheel if the box has focus, otherwise the page should scroll. I do the same
thing...scroll the box rather than the page...so I make sure the proper item
si selected in the box, then click to return focus to the page and scroll
down the page. Its the users responsibility to pay attention to what has
focus.

there may be some way to turn off the functionality of the mouse wheel, but
I see it as akin to breaking the back button. you are breaking functional
expectations of the users mouse/interface/browser/computer.

Jim Allan, Webmaster & Statewide Technical Support Specialist
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315 fax: 512.206.9264 http://www.tsbvi.edu/
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-----Original Message-----
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[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]On Behalf Of Moore, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8:17 AM
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<EMAIL REMOVED> ; WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Question about controlling behavior of <select> element


Good morning folks,

A question has come up regarding the default behavior of the select
element.

When the element has focus you can scroll through the all of the options
using the mouse wheel. Users are accidentally scrolling through the
options when they mean to be scrolling down the page.

My question is simple, is there a way to disable mouse wheel activated
scrolling of the <select> element? If so what is the technique, and
what are the ramifications in terms of accessibility for people with
physical disabilities and those with cognitive disabilities?

Mike