FP98: VBScript in Head Tag Breaks Navigation Bar Hover Buttons (178449)

SYMPTOMS

When browsing a page, you receive an error message similar to one of the following.

Internet Explorer 4.0

An error has occurred in the script on this page.

Line: 27
Char: 15
Error: Expected 'Then'
Code: 0

Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?

You will have the option to click Yes or No.

Internet Explorer 3.02

Microsoft VBScript compilation error

[Line: 27] 'Then'

if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1h.src

These error messages may vary, depending on the type and version of your browser.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because you have added Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) code in the <HEAD> tag of a page containing a navigation bar. When you browse the page, the browser generates an error. Hover buttons use JavaScript code in the event handlers. By placing VBScript code in the <HEAD> tag, you are setting the Internet Explorer default script environment to VBScript. This being the case, Internet Explorer will interpret your IF statement in the ONMOUSEOVER event as if it were VBScript, rather than JavaScript. When VBScript does not see a THEN to complete the IF ... THEN statement, the browser generates the error message.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use any of the three methods.

Method 1

Ensure that the first script encountered on a page is JavaScript instead of VBScript.

Method 2

Add a JavaScript protocol indicator to each event handler, as in the following example:

   <a href="./" onmouseover="JAVASCRIPT:if(MSFPhover)
   document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1h.src"
   onmouseout="JAVASCRIPT:if(MSFPhover)
   document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1n.src">

NOTE: Enter this text as a single line of HTML code.

Method 3

Add a LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" attribute to the <A HREF> tag, as in the following example:

   <a href="./" LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" onmouseover="if(MSFPhover)
   document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1h.src" onmouseout="if(MSFPhover)
   document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1n.src">