GWT input event on TextBox - gwt

Question

Given the following code:
TextBox tb = new TextBox();
tb.addValueChangeHandler(new ValueChangeHandler<String>() {
#Override
public void onValueChange(ValueChangeEvent<String> event) {
Window.alert(event.getValue());
}
});
onValueChange will be called if the TextBox loses focus. I am trying to have it called whenever the input value changes. The solutions I have read all involve handling the keyup and paste events such as in this answer. How to build a Facebook-style input box in GWT Hasn't this been addresses in GWT 2.5.1? Is there a way to bind to the native input change method? Another widget or using the UI framework would be acceptable if they have this functionality

Answer 1

The only way in GWT is to bind to the key down/key up and paste events.
Please send a patch to add support for the input event (using addBitlessDomHandler): http://www.gwtproject.org/makinggwtbetter.html, it should be rather easy (add a acase in DOMImpl) and has good chances to make it in (and if sent early enough, would have good chances to ship in GWT 2.6)

Answer 2

The solution is use the right event and that is the input event, so look how to hook on it, there are many ways to do it. Because I work with elements and not with Widgets this the code that I use it:
Element input = Document.get().getElementById("my-input");
DOM.sinkBitlessEvent(input, "input");
DOM.setEventListener(input, event -> GWT.log("Event!"));

Answer 3

You can just use addChangeHandler() and onChange, tb.getValue().

Answer 4

I used the following to detect when the value of a textbox changes. Just bare in mind this only detects if the text box goes from empty to full or full to empty. This was done to try reduce async calls to the server to validate the input
#UiHandler("notes")
#SuppressWarnings("unused")
public void notes(KeyUpEvent event) {
if (!areNotesCaptured && !notes.getText().isEmpty()){
fireLeaveSelectionUpdatedEvent();
areNotesCaptured = true;
} else if (areNotesCaptured && notes.getText().isEmpty()){
fireLeaveSelectionUpdatedEvent();
areNotesCaptured = false;
}
}