jQuery autocomplete with callback ajax json

My issue was that end users would start typing in a textbox and receive autocomplete (ACP) suggestions and update the calling control if a suggestion was selected as the ACP is designed by default. However, I also needed to update multiple other controls (textboxes, DropDowns, etc...) with data specific to the end user's selection. I have been trying to figure out an elegant solution to the issue and I feel the one I developed is worth sharing and hopefully will save you at least some time.

WebMethod (SampleWM.aspx):

• PURPOSE:

  • To capture SQL Server Stored Procedure results and return them as a JSON String to the AJAX Caller

• NOTES:

  • Data.GetDataTableFromSP() - Is a custom function that returns a DataTable from the results of a Stored Procedure
  • < System.Web.Services.WebMethod(EnableSession:=True) > _
  • Public Shared Function GetAutoCompleteData(ByVal QueryFilterAs String) As String

---

 //Call to custom function to return SP results as a DataTable
 // DataTable will consist of Field0 - Field5
 Dim params As ArrayList = New ArrayList
 params.Add("@QueryFilter|" & QueryFilter)
 Dim dt As DataTable = Data.GetDataTableFromSP("AutoComplete", params, [ConnStr])

 //Create a StringBuilder Obj to hold the JSON 
 //IE: [{"Field0":"0","Field1":"Test","Field2":"Jason","Field3":"Smith","Field4":"32","Field5":"888-555-1212"},{"Field0":"1","Field1":"Test2","Field2":"Jane","Field3":"Doe","Field4":"25","Field5":"888-555-1414"}]
 Dim jStr As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder

 //Loop the DataTable and convert row into JSON String
 If dt.Rows.Count > 0 Then
      jStr.Append("[")
      Dim RowCnt As Integer = 1
      For Each r As DataRow In dt.Rows
           jStr.Append("{")
           Dim ColCnt As Integer = 0
           For Each c As DataColumn In dt.Columns
               If ColCnt = 0 Then
                   jStr.Append("""" & c.ColumnName & """:""" & r(c.ColumnName) & """")
               Else
                   jStr.Append(",""" & c.ColumnName & """:""" & r(c.ColumnName) & """")
                End If
                ColCnt += 1
            Next

            If Not RowCnt = dt.Rows.Count Then
                jStr.Append("},")
            Else
                jStr.Append("}")
            End If

            RowCnt += 1
        Next

        jStr.Append("]")
    End If

    //Return JSON to WebMethod Caller
    Return jStr.ToString

---

AutoComplete jQuery (AutoComplete.aspx):

• PURPOSE:
  • Perform the Ajax Request to the WebMethod and then handle the response

---

    $(function() {
      $("#LookUp").autocomplete({                
            source: function (request, response) {
                $.ajax({
                    type: "POST",
                    contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
                    url: "SampleWM.aspx/GetAutoCompleteData",
                    dataType: "json",
                    data:'{QueryFilter: "' + request.term  + '"}',
                    success: function (data) {
                        response($.map($.parseJSON(data.d), function (item) {                                
                            var AC = new Object();

                            //autocomplete default values REQUIRED
                            AC.label = item.Field0;
                            AC.value = item.Field1;

                            //extend values
                            AC.FirstName = item.Field2;
                            AC.LastName = item.Field3;
                            AC.Age = item.Field4;
                            AC.Phone = item.Field5;

                            return AC
                        }));       
                    }                                             
                });
            },
            minLength: 3,
            select: function (event, ui) {                    
                $("#txtFirstName").val(ui.item.FirstName);
                $("#txtLastName").val(ui.item.LastName);
                $("#ddlAge").val(ui.item.Age);
                $("#txtPhone").val(ui.item.Phone);
             }                    
        });
     });

---

If you are returning a complex json object you need to modify you success function of your auto-complete as follows.

$.ajax({
    url: "/Employees/SearchEmployees",
    dataType: "json",
    data: {
        searchText: request.term
    },
    success: function (data) {
        response($.map(data.employees, function (item) {
            return {
                label: item.name,
                value: item.id
            };
        }));
    }
});

Perfectly good example in the Autocomplete docs with source code.

jQuery

<script>
  $(function() {
    function log( message ) {
      $( "<div>" ).text( message ).prependTo( "#log" );
      $( "#log" ).scrollTop( 0 );
    }

    $( "#city" ).autocomplete({
      source: function( request, response ) {
        $.ajax({
          url: "http://gd.geobytes.com/AutoCompleteCity",
          dataType: "jsonp",
          data: {
            q: request.term
          },
          success: function( data ) {
            response( data );
          }
        });
      },
      minLength: 3,
      select: function( event, ui ) {
        log( ui.item ?
          "Selected: " + ui.item.label :
          "Nothing selected, input was " + this.value);
      },
      open: function() {
        $( this ).removeClass( "ui-corner-all" ).addClass( "ui-corner-top" );
      },
      close: function() {
        $( this ).removeClass( "ui-corner-top" ).addClass( "ui-corner-all" );
      }
    });
  });
</script>

HTML

<div class="ui-widget">
  <label for="city">Your city: </label>
  <input id="city">
  Powered by <a href="http://geonames.org">geonames.org</a>
</div>

<div class="ui-widget" style="margin-top:2em; font-family:Arial">
  Result:
  <div id="log" style="height: 200px; width: 300px; overflow: auto;" class="ui-widget-content"></div>
</div>