Drag & Drop Sortable Lists with JavaScript and CSS
body {
font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 14px;
margin: 0px;
padding: 0px 20px;
min-width: 30em;
}
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {
margin: 0px;
}
h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {
font-family: Optima, Verdana, sans-serif;
margin: 1em -10px 0.5em -10px;
}
h2 { margin-top: 1.5em; }
h1 {
font-size: 22px;
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 0px;
padding: 5px 10px 5px 10px;
color: #fff;
text-shadow: #8760c1 0px 0px 5px;
}
.breadcrumb {
list-style-type: none;
padding: 0px;
padding-left: 20px;
margin: 0px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
border-style: solid;
border-color: #8760c1;
border-width: 1px 0px;
height: 19px;
}
.breadcrumb li.first {
border-left: 1px solid #8760c1;
}
.breadcrumb li {
float: left;
border-right: 1px solid #8760c1;
padding: 3px 10px;
}
.breadcrumb li a {
display: block;
text-decoration: none;
}
.breadcrumb li a:hover {
text-decoration: underline;
}
h1, .breadcrumb {
font-family: Skia;
background-color: #ccaaff;
margin-left: -20px;
margin-right: -20px;
}
h2 { font-size: 22px; }
h3 { font-size: 20px; }
h4 { font-size: 18px; }
h5 { font-size: 16px; }
h6 { font-size: 14px; }
p {
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1em;
text-align: justify;
max-width: 40em;
}
li p {
margin-bottom: 0.75em;
}
br.clear {
clear: both;
margin: 0px;
}
.sidebar {
margin: 0px 10px 30px 30px;
clear: right;
float: right;
width: 134px;
border: 1px solid #8760c1;
background-color: #ccaaff;
padding: 5px;
font-size: 11px;
font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
-moz-border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 10px;
border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 10px;
}
.sidebar, .sidebar p, .sidebar li {
text-align: left;
}
.sidebar ul {
margin: 0px;
margin-left: 1.5em;
padding: 0px;
list-style-type: circle;
}
td.caption {
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center;
}
#copyright {
margin-bottom: 1em;
text-align: center;
font-size: 11px;
}
blockquote {
font-size: 13px;
font-style: italic;
}
blockquote .attribution {
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal;
text-align: right;
}
a { text-decoration: none; }
a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
a:active { background-color: #ffd700; }
ul.sortable li {
position: relative;
}
ul.boxy {
list-style-type: none;
padding: 0px;
margin: 0px;
width: 10em;
font-size: 13px;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}
ul.boxy li {
cursor:move;
padding: 2px 2px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
background-color: #eee;
}
.clickable a {
display: block;
text-decoration: none;
cursor: pointer;
cursor: hand;
}
.clickable li:hover {
background-color: #f6f6f6;
}
/*
Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS
IN THE SOFTWARE.
*/
var ToolMan = {
events : function() {
if (!ToolMan._eventsFactory) throw "ToolMan Events module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._eventsFactory
},
css : function() {
if (!ToolMan._cssFactory) throw "ToolMan CSS module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._cssFactory
},
coordinates : function() {
if (!ToolMan._coordinatesFactory) throw "ToolMan Coordinates module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._coordinatesFactory
},
drag : function() {
if (!ToolMan._dragFactory) throw "ToolMan Drag module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._dragFactory
},
dragsort : function() {
if (!ToolMan._dragsortFactory) throw "ToolMan DragSort module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._dragsortFactory
},
helpers : function() {
return ToolMan._helpers
},
cookies : function() {
if (!ToolMan._cookieOven) throw "ToolMan Cookie module isn't loaded";
return ToolMan._cookieOven
},
junkdrawer : function() {
return ToolMan._junkdrawer
}
}
ToolMan._helpers = {
map : function(array, func) {
for (var i = 0, n = array.length; i < n; i++) func(array[i])
},
nextItem : function(item, nodeName) {
if (item == null) return
var next = item.nextSibling
while (next != null) {
if (next.nodeName == nodeName) return next
next = next.nextSibling
}
return null
},
previousItem : function(item, nodeName) {
var previous = item.previousSibling
while (previous != null) {
if (previous.nodeName == nodeName) return previous
previous = previous.previousSibling
}
return null
},
moveBefore : function(item1, item2) {
var parent = item1.parentNode
parent.removeChild(item1)
parent.insertBefore(item1, item2)
},
moveAfter : function(item1, item2) {
var parent = item1.parentNode
parent.removeChild(item1)
parent.insertBefore(item1, item2 ? item2.nextSibling : null)
}
}
/**
* scripts without a proper home
*
* stuff here is subject to change unapologetically and without warning
*/
ToolMan._junkdrawer = {
serializeList : function(list) {
var items = list.getElementsByTagName("li")
var array = new Array()
for (var i = 0, n = items.length; i < n; i++) {
var item = items[i]
array.push(ToolMan.junkdrawer()._identifier(item))
}
return array.join('|')
},
inspectListOrder : function(id) {
alert(ToolMan.junkdrawer().serializeList(document.getElementById(id)))
},
restoreListOrder : function(listID) {
var list = document.getElementById(listID)
if (list == null) return
var cookie = ToolMan.cookies().get("list-" + listID)
if (!cookie) return;
var IDs = cookie.split('|')
var items = ToolMan.junkdrawer()._itemsByID(list)
for (var i = 0, n = IDs.length; i < n; i++) {
var itemID = IDs[i]
if (itemID in items) {
var item = items[itemID]
list.removeChild(item)
list.insertBefore(item, null)
}
}
},
_identifier : function(item) {
var trim = ToolMan.junkdrawer().trim
var identifier
identifier = trim(item.getAttribute("id"))
if (identifier != null && identifier.length > 0) return identifier;
identifier = trim(item.getAttribute("itemID"))
if (identifier != null && identifier.length > 0) return identifier;
// FIXME: strip out special chars or make this an MD5 hash or something
return trim(item.innerHTML)
},
_itemsByID : function(list) {
var array = new Array()
var items = list.getElementsByTagName('li')
for (var i = 0, n = items.length; i < n; i++) {
var item = items[i]
array[ToolMan.junkdrawer()._identifier(item)] = item
}
return array
},
trim : function(text) {
if (text == null) return null
return text.replace(/^(\s+)?(.*\S)(\s+)?$/, '$2')
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt) */
ToolMan._eventsFactory = {
fix : function(event) {
if (!event) event = window.event
if (event.target) {
if (event.target.nodeType == 3) event.target = event.target.parentNode
} else if (event.srcElement) {
event.target = event.srcElement
}
return event
},
register : function(element, type, func) {
if (element.addEventListener) {
element.addEventListener(type, func, false)
} else if (element.attachEvent) {
if (!element._listeners) element._listeners = new Array()
if (!element._listeners[type]) element._listeners[type] = new Array()
var workaroundFunc = function() {
func.apply(element, new Array())
}
element._listeners[type][func] = workaroundFunc
element.attachEvent('on' + type, workaroundFunc)
}
},
unregister : function(element, type, func) {
if (element.removeEventListener) {
element.removeEventListener(type, func, false)
} else if (element.detachEvent) {
if (element._listeners
&& element._listeners[type]
&& element._listeners[type][func]) {
element.detachEvent('on' + type,
element._listeners[type][func])
}
}
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt) */
// TODO: write unit tests
ToolMan._cssFactory = {
readStyle : function(element, property) {
if (element.style[property]) {
return element.style[property]
} else if (element.currentStyle) {
return element.currentStyle[property]
} else if (document.defaultView && document.defaultView.getComputedStyle) {
var style = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(element, null)
return style.getPropertyValue(property)
} else {
return null
}
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt) */
/* FIXME: assumes position styles are specified in 'px' */
ToolMan._coordinatesFactory = {
create : function(x, y) {
// FIXME: Safari won't parse 'throw' and aborts trying to do anything with this file
//if (isNaN(x) || isNaN(y)) throw "invalid x,y: " + x + "," + y
return new _ToolManCoordinate(this, x, y)
},
origin : function() {
return this.create(0, 0)
},
/*
* FIXME: Safari 1.2, returns (0,0) on absolutely positioned elements
*/
topLeftPosition : function(element) {
var left = parseInt(ToolMan.css().readStyle(element, "left"))
var left = isNaN(left) ? 0 : left
var top = parseInt(ToolMan.css().readStyle(element, "top"))
var top = isNaN(top) ? 0 : top
return this.create(left, top)
},
bottomRightPosition : function(element) {
return this.topLeftPosition(element).plus(this._size(element))
},
topLeftOffset : function(element) {
var offset = this._offset(element)
var parent = element.offsetParent
while (parent) {
offset = offset.plus(this._offset(parent))
parent = parent.offsetParent
}
return offset
},
bottomRightOffset : function(element) {
return this.topLeftOffset(element).plus(
this.create(element.offsetWidth, element.offsetHeight))
},
scrollOffset : function() {
if (window.pageXOffset) {
return this.create(window.pageXOffset, window.pageYOffset)
} else if (document.documentElement) {
return this.create(
document.body.scrollLeft + document.documentElement.scrollLeft,
document.body.scrollTop + document.documentElement.scrollTop)
} else if (document.body.scrollLeft >= 0) {
return this.create(document.body.scrollLeft, document.body.scrollTop)
} else {
return this.create(0, 0)
}
},
clientSize : function() {
if (window.innerHeight >= 0) {
return this.create(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight)
} else if (document.documentElement) {
return this.create(document.documentElement.clientWidth,
document.documentElement.clientHeight)
} else if (document.body.clientHeight >= 0) {
return this.create(document.body.clientWidth,
document.body.clientHeight)
} else {
return this.create(0, 0)
}
},
/**
* mouse coordinate relative to the window (technically the
* browser client area) i.e. the part showing your page
*
* NOTE: in Safari the coordinate is relative to the document
*/
mousePosition : function(event) {
event = ToolMan.events().fix(event)
return this.create(event.clientX, event.clientY)
},
/**
* mouse coordinate relative to the document
*/
mouseOffset : function(event) {
event = ToolMan.events().fix(event)
if (event.pageX >= 0 || event.pageX < 0) {
return this.create(event.pageX, event.pageY)
} else if (event.clientX >= 0 || event.clientX < 0) {
return this.mousePosition(event).plus(this.scrollOffset())
}
},
_size : function(element) {
/* TODO: move to a Dimension class */
return this.create(element.offsetWidth, element.offsetHeight)
},
_offset : function(element) {
return this.create(element.offsetLeft, element.offsetTop)
}
}
function _ToolManCoordinate(factory, x, y) {
this.factory = factory
this.x = isNaN(x) ? 0 : x
this.y = isNaN(y) ? 0 : y
}
_ToolManCoordinate.prototype = {
toString : function() {
return "(" + this.x + "," + this.y + ")"
},
plus : function(that) {
return this.factory.create(this.x + that.x, this.y + that.y)
},
minus : function(that) {
return this.factory.create(this.x - that.x, this.y - that.y)
},
min : function(that) {
return this.factory.create(
Math.min(this.x , that.x), Math.min(this.y , that.y))
},
max : function(that) {
return this.factory.create(
Math.max(this.x , that.x), Math.max(this.y , that.y))
},
constrainTo : function (one, two) {
var min = one.min(two)
var max = one.max(two)
return this.max(min).min(max)
},
distance : function (that) {
return Math.sqrt(Math.pow(this.x - that.x, 2) + Math.pow(this.y - that.y, 2))
},
reposition : function(element) {
element.style["top"] = this.y + "px"
element.style["left"] = this.x + "px"
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt) */
ToolMan._dragFactory = {
createSimpleGroup : function(element, handle) {
handle = handle ? handle : element
var group = this.createGroup(element)
group.setHandle(handle)
group.transparentDrag()
group.onTopWhileDragging()
return group
},
createGroup : function(element) {
var group = new _ToolManDragGroup(this, element)
var position = ToolMan.css().readStyle(element, 'position')
if (position == 'static') {
element.style["position"] = 'relative'
} else if (position == 'absolute') {
/* for Safari 1.2 */
ToolMan.coordinates().topLeftOffset(element).reposition(element)
}
// TODO: only if ToolMan.isDebugging()
group.register('draginit', this._showDragEventStatus)
group.register('dragmove', this._showDragEventStatus)
group.register('dragend', this._showDragEventStatus)
return group
},
_showDragEventStatus : function(dragEvent) {
window.status = dragEvent.toString()
},
constraints : function() {
return this._constraintFactory
},
_createEvent : function(type, event, group) {
return new _ToolManDragEvent(type, event, group)
}
}
function _ToolManDragGroup(factory, element) {
this.factory = factory
this.element = element
this._handle = null
this._thresholdDistance = 0
this._transforms = new Array()
// TODO: refactor into a helper object, move into events.js
this._listeners = new Array()
this._listeners['draginit'] = new Array()
this._listeners['dragstart'] = new Array()
this._listeners['dragmove'] = new Array()
this._listeners['dragend'] = new Array()
}
_ToolManDragGroup.prototype = {
/*
* TODO:
* - unregister(type, func)
* - move custom event listener stuff into Event library
* - keyboard nudging of "selected" group
*/
setHandle : function(handle) {
var events = ToolMan.events()
handle.toolManDragGroup = this
events.register(handle, 'mousedown', this._dragInit)
handle.onmousedown = function() { return false }
if (this.element != handle)
events.unregister(this.element, 'mousedown', this._dragInit)
},
register : function(type, func) {
this._listeners[type].push(func)
},
addTransform : function(transformFunc) {
this._transforms.push(transformFunc)
},
verticalOnly : function() {
this.addTransform(this.factory.constraints().vertical())
},
horizontalOnly : function() {
this.addTransform(this.factory.constraints().horizontal())
},
setThreshold : function(thresholdDistance) {
this._thresholdDistance = thresholdDistance
},
transparentDrag : function(opacity) {
var opacity = typeof(opacity) != "undefined" ? opacity : 0.75;
var originalOpacity = ToolMan.css().readStyle(this.element, "opacity")
this.register('dragstart', function(dragEvent) {
var element = dragEvent.group.element
element.style.opacity = opacity
element.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + (opacity * 100) + ')'
})
this.register('dragend', function(dragEvent) {
var element = dragEvent.group.element
element.style.opacity = originalOpacity
element.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=100)'
})
},
onTopWhileDragging : function(zIndex) {
var zIndex = typeof(zIndex) != "undefined" ? zIndex : 100000;
var originalZIndex = ToolMan.css().readStyle(this.element, "z-index")
this.register('dragstart', function(dragEvent) {
dragEvent.group.element.style.zIndex = zIndex
})
this.register('dragend', function(dragEvent) {
dragEvent.group.element.style.zIndex = originalZIndex
})
},
_dragInit : function(event) {
event = ToolMan.events().fix(event)
var group = document.toolManDragGroup = this.toolManDragGroup
var dragEvent = group.factory._createEvent('draginit', event, group)
group._isThresholdExceeded = false
group._initialMouseOffset = dragEvent.mouseOffset
group._grabOffset = dragEvent.mouseOffset.minus(dragEvent.topLeftOffset)
ToolMan.events().register(document, 'mousemove', group._drag)
document.onmousemove = function() { return false }
ToolMan.events().register(document, 'mouseup', group._dragEnd)
group._notifyListeners(dragEvent)
},
_drag : function(event) {
event = ToolMan.events().fix(event)
var coordinates = ToolMan.coordinates()
var group = this.toolManDragGroup
if (!group) return
var dragEvent = group.factory._createEvent('dragmove', event, group)
var newTopLeftOffset = dragEvent.mouseOffset.minus(group._grabOffset)
// TODO: replace with DragThreshold object
if (!group._isThresholdExceeded) {
var distance =
dragEvent.mouseOffset.distance(group._initialMouseOffset)
if (distance < group._thresholdDistance) return
group._isThresholdExceeded = true
group._notifyListeners(
group.factory._createEvent('dragstart', event, group))
}
for (i in group._transforms) {
var transform = group._transforms[i]
newTopLeftOffset = transform(newTopLeftOffset, dragEvent)
}
var dragDelta = newTopLeftOffset.minus(dragEvent.topLeftOffset)
var newTopLeftPosition = dragEvent.topLeftPosition.plus(dragDelta)
newTopLeftPosition.reposition(group.element)
dragEvent.transformedMouseOffset = newTopLeftOffset.plus(group._grabOffset)
group._notifyListeners(dragEvent)
var errorDelta = newTopLeftOffset.minus(coordinates.topLeftOffset(group.element))
if (errorDelta.x != 0 || errorDelta.y != 0) {
coordinates.topLeftPosition(group.element).plus(errorDelta).reposition(group.element)
}
},
_dragEnd : function(event) {
event = ToolMan.events().fix(event)
var group = this.toolManDragGroup
var dragEvent = group.factory._createEvent('dragend', event, group)
group._notifyListeners(dragEvent)
this.toolManDragGroup = null
ToolMan.events().unregister(document, 'mousemove', group._drag)
document.onmousemove = null
ToolMan.events().unregister(document, 'mouseup', group._dragEnd)
},
_notifyListeners : function(dragEvent) {
var listeners = this._listeners[dragEvent.type]
for (i in listeners) {
listeners[i](dragEvent)
}
}
}
function _ToolManDragEvent(type, event, group) {
this.type = type
this.group = group
this.mousePosition = ToolMan.coordinates().mousePosition(event)
this.mouseOffset = ToolMan.coordinates().mouseOffset(event)
this.transformedMouseOffset = this.mouseOffset
this.topLeftPosition = ToolMan.coordinates().topLeftPosition(group.element)
this.topLeftOffset = ToolMan.coordinates().topLeftOffset(group.element)
}
_ToolManDragEvent.prototype = {
toString : function() {
return "mouse: " + this.mousePosition + this.mouseOffset + " " +
"xmouse: " + this.transformedMouseOffset + " " +
"left,top: " + this.topLeftPosition + this.topLeftOffset
}
}
ToolMan._dragFactory._constraintFactory = {
vertical : function() {
return function(coordinate, dragEvent) {
var x = dragEvent.topLeftOffset.x
return coordinate.x != x
? coordinate.factory.create(x, coordinate.y)
: coordinate
}
},
horizontal : function() {
return function(coordinate, dragEvent) {
var y = dragEvent.topLeftOffset.y
return coordinate.y != y
? coordinate.factory.create(coordinate.x, y)
: coordinate
}
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt) */
ToolMan._dragsortFactory = {
makeSortable : function(item) {
var group = ToolMan.drag().createSimpleGroup(item)
group.register('dragstart', this._onDragStart)
group.register('dragmove', this._onDragMove)
group.register('dragend', this._onDragEnd)
return group
},
/**
* Iterates over a list's items, making them sortable, applying
* optional functions to each item.
*
* example: makeListSortable(myList, myFunc1, myFunc2, ... , myFuncN)
*/
makeListSortable : function(list) {
var helpers = ToolMan.helpers()
var coordinates = ToolMan.coordinates()
var items = list.getElementsByTagName("li")
helpers.map(items, function(item) {
var dragGroup = dragsort.makeSortable(item)
dragGroup.setThreshold(4)
var min, max
dragGroup.addTransform(function(coordinate, dragEvent) {
return coordinate.constrainTo(min, max)
})
dragGroup.register('dragstart', function() {
var items = list.getElementsByTagName("li")
min = max = coordinates.topLeftOffset(items[0])
for (var i = 1, n = items.length; i < n; i++) {
var offset = coordinates.topLeftOffset(items[i])
min = min.min(offset)
max = max.max(offset)
}
})
})
for (var i = 1, n = arguments.length; i < n; i++)
helpers.map(items, arguments[i])
},
_onDragStart : function(dragEvent) {
},
_onDragMove : function(dragEvent) {
var helpers = ToolMan.helpers()
var coordinates = ToolMan.coordinates()
var item = dragEvent.group.element
var xmouse = dragEvent.transformedMouseOffset
var moveTo = null
var previous = helpers.previousItem(item, item.nodeName)
while (previous != null) {
var bottomRight = coordinates.bottomRightOffset(previous)
if (xmouse.y <= bottomRight.y && xmouse.x <= bottomRight.x) {
moveTo = previous
}
previous = helpers.previousItem(previous, item.nodeName)
}
if (moveTo != null) {
helpers.moveBefore(item, moveTo)
return
}
var next = helpers.nextItem(item, item.nodeName)
while (next != null) {
var topLeft = coordinates.topLeftOffset(next)
if (topLeft.y <= xmouse.y && topLeft.x <= xmouse.x) {
moveTo = next
}
next = helpers.nextItem(next, item.nodeName)
}
if (moveTo != null) {
helpers.moveBefore(item, helpers.nextItem(moveTo, item.nodeName))
return
}
},
_onDragEnd : function(dragEvent) {
ToolMan.coordinates().create(0, 0).reposition(dragEvent.group.element)
}
}
/* Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Taylor Consulting (see LICENSE.txt)
based on http://www.quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html
*/
ToolMan._cookieOven = {
set : function(name, value, expirationInDays) {
if (expirationInDays) {
var date = new Date()
date.setTime(date.getTime() + (expirationInDays * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000))
var expires = "; expires=" + date.toGMTString()
} else {
var expires = ""
}
document.cookie = name + "=" + value + expires + "; path=/"
},
get : function(name) {
var namePattern = name + "="
var cookies = document.cookie.split(';')
for(var i = 0, n = cookies.length; i < n; i++) {
var c = cookies[i]
while (c.charAt(0) == ' ') c = c.substring(1, c.length)
if (c.indexOf(namePattern) == 0)
return c.substring(namePattern.length, c.length)
}
return null
},
eraseCookie : function(name) {
createCookie(name, "", -1)
}
}
Drag & Drop Sortable Lists with JavaScript and CSS
rearrange the items:
one
two
three
Click an
button to reveal the serialized version of the associated list.
In Firefox you can also drag the bullet to move an item. Keen.
Saving the reorderd list is possible by inspecting the DOM. All
the sortable lists on this page retain their order via cookies (try
rearranging a list and then reloading the page). Read a
Firefox exhibits a quirky bug on this example. If the list items
have a bottom margin, all following content pops down a few pixels when
you start dragging the item. No such problem when the item has a top
margin so a workaround is possible.
I added some styling and cursor hinting in an attempt to make
the dragability more obvious (see
with drag handles).
You'll notice if part of this list is below the fold, it requires
at least 2 drags to move an item from the beginning to the end (technically
3 drags if you count the one on your browser's scrollbar). Automatic
scrolling, like in Word or Excel, is a well established solution to this
problem. Adding that is a work in progress.
Yet another bizarre bug in firefox. The short version:
use a DIV instead of a BR to clear the float: left
else things won’t remain as you expect them once you start
dragging.
With sorting vertically oriented items under our belt, onto
the next challenge: sorting floated, wrapped list items. Earlier
versions of my code had separate scripts for vertical, horizontal, and
wrapped lists. Now they are unified into one script that does it all.
Amazing!
A previous version determined when to swap based on the position of the
top-left corner of the item being dragged. It was this example and the
example which illustrated that the better interaction is to base this on
the position of the cursor, which is how the script works now.
Firefox and Safari still generate a 'click' event even after performing
a drag. This can be overcome with more JavaScript.
IE isn't rendering the link elements with display: block.
So only the link text is clickable.
Sortable items containing links. Links are 'display: block' so the entire
item is clickable (except this isn't so in IE). As buttons go these aren't very good; they lack
button affordances and behavior. But I think you get the general idea.