Using JavaScript to manipulate HTML input (checkbox) elements via type instead of name

Question

I am implementing an HTML form with some checkbox input elements, and I want to have a Select All or DeSelect All button. However, I do not want to rely on the name

Answer 1

Is assigning a class to all required checkbox elements an option? If yes, then this is how I would do it (assuming "class_name" is the name of the css class present in all checkbox elements in question):

function selectCheckBoxes(bChecked) {
   var aCheckBoxes = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName('class_name', 'input');
   for (var i = 0; i < aCheckBoxes.length; i++) {
      aCheckBoxes[i].checked = bChecked;
   }
}

If you want to stay away from classes, but can get parent element by ID (or any other method, I will use ID in the example, though), than you can do this:

function selectCheckBoxes(bChecked) {
   var oParent = document.getElementById('parentsID');
   var aElements = oParent.getElementsByTagName('input');
   for (var i = 0; i < aElements.length; i++) {
      if (aElements[i].type == 'checkbox') {
         aElements[i].checked = bChecked;
      }
   }
}

I would stick to the "class" method, however.