The Command Syntax

The syntax of showModalDialog() is as follows:

vReturnValue = window.showModalDialog(sURL
  [, vFreeArgument] [, sOrnaments]);

The syntax of showModelessDialog() is identical:

vReturnValue = window.showModelessDialog(sURL
  [, vFreeArgument] [, sOrnaments]);

In the following pages, we'll explain in detail each of these parameters. Here is a brief summary:

• vReturnValue. The function showModalDialog() returns the value of the returnValue property as set by the opened dialog window. The function showModelessDialog() returns the new window object.
• vFreeArgument. You can use this optional parameter to pass a value of any type to the open dialog box. You can pass a scalar, a string, an array of values, an object, etc. You access this value in the new window by referring to the dialogArguments property of the new window object. You can access the dialogArguments property of the new window object, only when you call showModalDialog() or showModelessDialog() from a "trusted" application.
• sOrnaments. You can use this optional parameter to specify the look of the new window. There are a dozen ornaments you can control. You need to concatenate the window's properties you want to alter in one string, separating them with semicolons. The window's dozen attributes are:
  • dialogHeight: sHeight
  • dialogLeft: sXpos
  • dialogTop: sYpos
  • dialogWidth: sWidth
  • center: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • dialogHide: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • edge: ( sunken | raised )
  • help: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • resizable: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • scroll: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • status: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  • unadorned: ( yes | no | 1 | 0 | on | off )
  You can add CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) attributes to the sOrnaments variable.

Next: How to impact the dialog box's size and location