Bind jQuery UI autocomplete using .live() - binding

Question

I've searched everywhere, but I can't seem to find any help...
I have some textboxes that are created dynamically via JS, so I need to bind all of their classes to an autocomplete. As a result, I need to use the new .live() option.
As an example, to bind all items with a class of .foo now and future created:
$('.foo').live('click', function(){
alert('clicked');
});
It takes (and behaves) the same as .bind(). However, I want to bind an autocomplete...
This doesn't work:
$('.foo').live('autocomplete', function(event, ui){
source: 'url.php' // (surpressed other arguments)
});
How can I use .live() to bind autocomplete?
UPDATE
Figured it out with Framer:
$(function(){
$('.search').live('keyup.autocomplete', function(){
$(this).autocomplete({
source : 'url.php'
});
});
});

Answer 1

jQuery UI autocomplete function automatically adds the class "ui-autocomplete-input" to the element. I'd recommend live binding the element on focus without the "ui-autocomplete-input"
class to prevent re-binding on every keydown event within that element.
$(".foo:not(.ui-autocomplete-input)").live("focus", function (event) {
$(this).autocomplete(options);
});
Edit
My answer is now out of date since jQuery 1.7, see Nathan Strutz's comment for use with the new .on() syntax.

Answer 2

If you are using the jquery.ui.autocomplete.js try this instead
.bind("keydown.autocomplete") or .live("keydown.autocomplete")
if not, use the jquery.ui.autocomplete.js and see if it'll work
If that doesn't apply, I don't know how to help you bro

Answer 3

Just to add, you can use the .livequery plugin for this:
$('.foo').livequery(function() {
// This will fire for each matched element.
// It will also fire for any new elements added to the DOM.
$(this).autocomplete(options);
});

Answer 4

To get autocomplete working when loaded dynamically for the on() event used in jQuery > 1.7, using the syntax Nathan Strutz provides in his comment:
$(document).on('focus', '.my-field:not(.ui-autocomplete-input)', function (e) {
$(this).autocomplete(options)
});
where .my-field is a selector for your autocomplete input element.

Answer 5

.live() does not work with focus.
also keyup.autocmplete does not make any sense.
Instead the thing I have tried and working is this
$(document).ready(function(){
$('.search').live('keyup' , function()
{
$(this).autocomplete({ source : 'url.php' });
});
})
This works perfectly fine.

Answer 6

You can't. .live() only supports actual JavaScript events, not any custom event. This is a fundamental limitation of how .live() works.

Answer 7

You can try using this:
$('.foo').live('focus.autocomplete', function() {
$(this).autocomplete({...});
});

Answer 8

After reading and testing everyone else's answers I have updated it for the current version of JQuery and made a few tweaks.
The problem with using keydown as the event that calls .autocomplete() is that it fails to autocomplete for that first letter typed. Using focus is the better choice.
Another thing I have noticed is that all of the given solutions result in .autocomplete() being called multiple times. If you are adding an element dynamically to the page that will not be removed again, the event should only be fired once. Even if the item is to be removed and added again, the event should be removed and then added back each time the element is removed or added so that focusing on the field again will not unnecessarily call .autocomplete() every time.
My final code is as follows:
$(document).on('focus.autocomplete', '#myAutocomplete', function(e){
$(this).autocomplete(autocompleteOptions);
$(document).off('focus.autocomplete', '#myAutocomplete');
});

Answer 9

autocomplete is not an event rather a function that enables autocomplete functionality for a textbox.
So if you can modify the js that creates the textboxes dynamically to wrap the textbox element in as a jquery object and call autocomplete on that object.

Answer 10

I just noticed you edited your post with this answer. It was obvious to me so I'm posting it below for others. Thank you.
$(function()
{
$('.search').live('keyup.autocomplete', function()
{
$(this).autocomplete({ source : 'url.php' });
});
});

Answer 11

This works for me:
$(function()
{
$('.item_product').live('focus.autocomplete', function()
{
$(this).autocomplete("/source.php/", {
width: 550,
matchContains: true,
mustMatch: false,
selectFirst: false,
});
});
});

Answer 12

You can just put the autocomplete inside input live event, like this:
$('#input-element').live('input', function(){
$("#input-element").autocomplete(options);
});