auto-suggest

[darren]

hey there - see the link below. so, i want to allow the user to
choose from a list of items in a feed but also (if the item isnt in
the list) manually type-in the product. should this be done in the
auto-complete text field or a new field?

https://skitch.com/darrenbockman/r7118/template-gear-tracker-v3.gtemplate

[Gideon Carstens]

Maybe if nothing is found in the auto-complete field you could have a
default item in italics that says something like "My bike isn't
listed?".
Then when the user clicks that item you show/hide or dynamically
create 2 new textboxes.
One textbox for the manufacturer and the other for the model.

Not sure whether my approach is what you want but there's my 5
cents :)

PS. I tried using the sketch link to comment, but the validation kept
telling me that i have to enter my email address even though I did.

> https://skitch.com/darrenbockman/r7118/template-gear-tracker-v3.gtemp...

[AJK]

Search engines handles it with auto suggestions as you type (which you can select if you see anything) or you just press enter when you have typed in your querry.

 

If the item doesnt exist in the dropdown, do you imply that it can still exist maybe "differently" like a different name? How would the user find it then? Alternative options in results?