Web design with large selections ideas needed

Hello,
I need to create an Internet based, asp.net webform where a user can select
multiple cities in a state.
as you know the number of cities in a state can be very large.
What is the best way of designing such thing.
I need to give the user the best experience possible
Should I use a Tree control with check boxes
check boxes on one page or multiple pages alphabetized lists
I can add select all cities, clear all cities.
Also is there a way of Shift Click to select a block of cites all at once.
Should I use list boxes instead of checkboxes, like select a city from one
list box (left) to move to the selected cites list box (right) etc...
Example sites, new Ideas are welcome.
If you have done this what worked for you and what would you do differently
now.
Is it a good candidate for AJAX?
Thank you,
Lit"Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O4We63gzHHA.5476@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> I need to create an Internet based, asp.net webform where a user can
> select multiple cities in a state.
OK.

> as you know the number of cities in a state can be very large.
How large is very large...?

> What is the best way of designing such thing.
I'd use a DropDownList for the states and a multi-select listbox for the
cities.

> I can add select all cities, clear all cities.
No problem - you can do that with client-side JavaScript.

> Also is there a way of Shift Click to select a block of cites all at once.
Yes.

> Should I use list boxes instead of checkboxes, like select a city from
> one list box (left) to move to the selected cites list box (right) etc...
I'd use a multi-select listbox...

> Is it a good candidate for AJAX?
Yes.
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net
Hi Mark,
The number of Cities Max that I know is 2284, but could be down to 1914
cities.
Where do you see AJAX in the scenario?
How do you go about doing the Shift select a block?
Have you done this before and Is there a website that I can see it running
to see the look and feel?
Thank you for all your input and help.
Lit.
"Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@.markNOSPAMrae.net> wrote in message
news:unMvaLhzHHA.3328@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O4We63gzHHA.5476@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> OK.
>
> How large is very large...?
>
> I'd use a DropDownList for the states and a multi-select listbox for the
> cities.
>
> No problem - you can do that with client-side JavaScript.
>
> Yes.
>
> I'd use a multi-select listbox...
>
> Yes.
>
> --
> Mark Rae
> ASP.NET MVP
> http://www.markrae.net
I haven't done this before, myself, but in answer to your question - on a
listbox, just set it's select mode to multiple
David Wier
MVP/ASPInsider
http://aspnet101.com
http://iWritePro.com
"Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi Mark,
> The number of Cities Max that I know is 2284, but could be down to 1914
> cities.
> Where do you see AJAX in the scenario?
> How do you go about doing the Shift select a block?
> Have you done this before and Is there a website that I can see it running
> to see the look and feel?
> Thank you for all your input and help.
> Lit.
>
> "Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@.markNOSPAMrae.net> wrote in message
> news:unMvaLhzHHA.3328@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
"Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> The number of Cities Max that I know is 2284, but could be down to 1914
> cities.
Wow! Which state is that...?

> Where do you see AJAX in the scenario?
To repopulate the cities when you change state...

> How do you go about doing the Shift select a block?
Set the listbox's Select mode to Multiple...

> Have you done this before
Yes...

> is there a website that I can see it running to see the look and feel?
No. I've never done it on a public Internet site, only on corporate
intranets...
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net
One possible benefit of using two multi-select list boxes with "Add to List"
and "Remove from List" buttons is that you could allow the user to work with
more than one state at a time (if that would be necessary).
For example, the user could select California from the drop-down list,
select Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego, then click "Add to List". The
user could then choose New York from the state list, which would AJAXically
re-populate the cities list (leaving your selections unchanged).
I don't know how you would pull that off using any other selection method
without seriously complicating the interface.
"Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi Mark,
> The number of Cities Max that I know is 2284, but could be down to 1914
> cities.
> Where do you see AJAX in the scenario?
> How do you go about doing the Shift select a block?
> Have you done this before and Is there a website that I can see it running
> to see the look and feel?
> Thank you for all your input and help.
> Lit.
>
> "Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@.markNOSPAMrae.net> wrote in message
> news:unMvaLhzHHA.3328@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
Ajax would significantly enhance the user experience.
I have done something similar with continents and countries... while
not as big a list as with cities in a state, the amount of data that
would be transferred when clicking a state with 2000 cities is quite
small in Ajax terms.
To Ajaxify this approach, I would put a dropdown list and a listbox
with multiselect on the form, then wrap the two up in an Ajax
UpdatePanel (don't forget to also add an Ajax ScriptManager control).
Hope this helps.
-- Hans
On Jul 24, 7:15 pm, "David Wier" <davidw...@.davidwier.nospam.com>
wrote:
> I haven't done this before, myself, but in answer to your question - on a
> listbox, just set it's select mode to multiple
> --
> David Wier
> MVP/ASPInsiderhttp://aspnet101.comhttp://iWritePro.com
> "Lit" <sql_agent...@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
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Hi Mark,
1914 State name is Pennsylvania, USA
The Other big one is Puerto Rico 2284 as listed in the USPS Zipcodes Data.
I know it is not one of what you call contenental USA.
I will double check all of that but I am dealing with but I have to thing
of the MAX and test what if I have a list of 3000 or 5000
What solution would be best. Think about paging Grids and how good that
is.
If you have to do this all over again would you do the same thing on your
IntraNet Solution and what do you do differently for the Internet?
Thank you Mark for all your input
Lit
"Mark Rae [MVP]" <mark@.markNOSPAMrae.net> wrote in message
news:ulu2lfhzHHA.4276@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
> Wow! Which state is that...?
>
> To repopulate the cities when you change state...
>
> Set the listbox's Select mode to Multiple...
>
> Yes...
>
> No. I've never done it on a public Internet site, only on corporate
> intranets...
>
> --
> Mark Rae
> ASP.NET MVP
> http://www.markrae.net
Hans,
I am trying to compile all the good ideas you and others given me so far and
see what I can come up with.
I might have more questions, once I look into some prototypes.
Many thanks for your input...
Lit
"Froefel" <hansdeschryver@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1185298962.367078.181320@.k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> Ajax would significantly enhance the user experience.
> I have done something similar with continents and countries... while
> not as big a list as with cities in a state, the amount of data that
> would be transferred when clicking a state with 2000 cities is quite
> small in Ajax terms.
> To Ajaxify this approach, I would put a dropdown list and a listbox
> with multiselect on the form, then wrap the two up in an Ajax
> UpdatePanel (don't forget to also add an Ajax ScriptManager control).
> Hope this helps.
> -- Hans
>
> On Jul 24, 7:15 pm, "David Wier" <davidw...@.davidwier.nospam.com>
> wrote:
>
Brandon,
Good thoughts, It could be a needed possibility ( Multiple Cities from
Multiple States), but not sure at this time.
I agree with you and I like to keep the interface simple but affective.
I also can shorten the list by County.!!
Thank you for your input.
Lit
"Brandon Gano" <bgano@.inocompany.com> wrote in message
news:E89A97BE-B033-43CF-9FED-454DD12912F9@.microsoft.com...
> One possible benefit of using two multi-select list boxes with "Add to
> List" and "Remove from List" buttons is that you could allow the user to
> work with more than one state at a time (if that would be necessary).
> For example, the user could select California from the drop-down list,
> select Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego, then click "Add to List".
> The user could then choose New York from the state list, which would
> AJAXically re-populate the cities list (leaving your selections
> unchanged).
> I don't know how you would pull that off using any other selection method
> without seriously complicating the interface.
>
> "Lit" <sql_agentman@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OXxTjThzHHA.3536@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>