Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference, 2rd Ed.

Appendix D. Internet Explorer Commands

Internet Explorer includes a set of commands that work directly with the document and (Win32 only) TextRange objects. In many cases, these commands mimic the functionality available through setting properties or invoking methods of the objects. Some of the newer commands operate within the context of the MSHTML Edit Mode. All of these commands exist outside of the primary document object model and are therefore treated separately in this appendix.

Access to these commands is through a set of document and TextRange object methods that are described in Chapter 9. These commands and syntax are:

execCommand("commandName"[, UIFlag[, value]])
queryCommandEnabled("commandName")
queryCommandIndeterm("commandName")
queryCommandState("commandName")
queryCommandSupported("commandName")
queryCommandText("commandName")

This appendix focuses on the commands and values that may be applied to the execCommand( ) method (the commands may also be applied to the other methods).

Some commands work on the current selection in a document, which means that the selection must be made manually by the user or via a script and the TextRange object. For example, the following function locates every instance of a string passed as a parameter and turns its text color to red:

function redden(txt) {
    var rng = document.body.createTextRange( );
    for (var i = 0; rng.findText(txt) != false; i++) {
        rng.select( );
        document.execCommand("ForeColor","false","red") ;
        rng.collapse(false);
        rng.select( );
    }
}

The process is iterative. After creating a text range for the entire document body, the function repeatedly looks for a match of the string. Whenever there is a match, the matched word is selected, and the execCommand( ) method invokes the ForeColor command, passing the value red as the color. To continue searching through the range, the range is collapsed after the previously found item, and the selection is removed (by selecting a range of zero length).

In general, I recommend using a regular object model method or property setting when one exists for the action you wish to take. Because these commands tend to work only with IE on Win32 operating systems, you may be forced to avoid them if your audience has a wider browser base.

Command	Description	Parameter
`2D-Position`	Makes absolute-positioned element inherently draggable (IE 5.5 or later)	Boolean to enable (`true`) or disable (`false`) dragging
`AbsolutePosition`	Sets `style.position` property to `absolute` (IE 5.5 or later)	Boolean to enable (`true`) or disable (`false`) setting
BackColor	Sets background color of current selection	Color value (name or hex triplet)
Bold	Wraps a `<b>` tag around the range	None
Copy	Copies the range to the Clipboard	None
CreateBookmark	Wraps an `<a name=>` tag around the range or modifies an existing `<a>` tag	A string of the anchor name; tag is removed if value is omitted
CreateLink	Wraps an `<a href=...>` tag around the current selection	A string of a complete or relative URL
Cut	Copies the range to the Clipboard, then deletes range	None
Delete	Deletes the range	None
FontName	Sets the font of current selection	A string of the `face` attribute
FontSize	Sets the font size of current selection	A string of the font size
ForeColor	Sets the foreground (text) color of current selection	Color value (name or hex triplet)
FormatBlock	Wraps a block tag around the current object	Unknown
Indent	Indents current selection	None
InsertButton	Inserts a `<button>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertFieldset	Inserts a `<fieldset>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertHorizontalRule	Inserts `<hr>` at current insertion point	A string of the rule size (not working)
InsertIFrame	Inserts an `<iframe>` tag at current insertion point	A string of a URL for the src property
`InsertImage`	Inserts an `<img>` tag at current text selection (IE 5 or later)	A string of a URL for the src property
InsertInputButton	Inserts an `<input type="button">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputCheckbox	Inserts an `<input type="checkbox">` tag at the current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputFileUpload	Inserts an `<input type="file">` tag at the current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputHidden	Inserts an `<input type="hidden">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputImage	Inserts an `<input type="image">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputPassword	Inserts an `<input type="password">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputRadio	Inserts an `<input type="radio">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputReset	Inserts an `<input type="reset">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputSubmit	Inserts an `<input type="submit">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertInputText	Inserts an `<input type="text">` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertMarquee	Inserts a `<marquee>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertOrderedList	Inserts an `<ol>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertParagraph	Inserts a `<p>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertSelectDropdown	Inserts a `<select>` tag whose type is `select-one` at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertSelectListbox	Inserts a `<select>` tag whose type is `select-multiple` at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertTextArea	Inserts a `<textarea>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
InsertUnorderedList	Inserts a `<ul>` tag at current insertion point	A string for the element ID
Italic	Wraps an `<i>` tag around the range	None
JustifyCenter	Full justifies the current selection	None
JustifyLeft	Left justifies the current selection	None
JustifyRight	Right justifies the current selection	None
`LiveResize`	Dynamically refresh element resizing in edit mode (IE 5.5 or later)	Boolean to enable (`true`) or disable (`false`) setting
`MultipleSelection`	Allow multiple element selections in edit mode (IE 5.5 or later)	Boolean to enable (`true`) or disable (`false`) setting
Outdent	Outdents the current selection	None
OverWrite	Sets the input-typing mode to overwrite or insert	Boolean (`true` if mode is overwrite)
Paste	Pastes contents of the Clipboard at current insertion point or over the current selection	None
`Print`	Displays Print dialog box (IE 5.5 or later)	None
Refresh	Reloads the current document	None
RemoveFormat	Removes formatting from current selection	None
`SaveAs`	Saves the page as a local file (optional file dialog)	A string of a URL for the path
SelectAll	Selects entire text of the document	None
UnBookmark	Removes anchor tags from the selection or text range	None
Underline	Wraps a `<u>` tag around the range	None
Unlink	Removes a link from the selection or text range	None
Unselect	Clears a selection from the document	None