Component search results help!

[richrock]

Hi,

I've been using Productbook to display a series of items, and I am in the process of trying to add in a dependent drop down list search, using existing fields in the database table.

I have managed to 'bolt on' a dependent dropdown menu, linked to the rows in the database (jos_productbook), and you can click to select them.

How can I show the results of this selection?  For example, maker is a field I want to select to narrow down, yet I can't figure how to reload the page with just a list of items by that maker...  I just want it to reload, never mind all that AJAX nonsense.

I have tried 'cheating' by typing potential search results into the browser - eg:

http://www.domainname.com/index.php?opt ... maker=Ford

But this doesn't select the results from the list.  Also, some results get a 'mosmsg=You+are+not+allowed+to+see+this+category'

Also, the component's own search mechanism doesn't work!  AFAIK, there is no drop-down listing system for Joomla, which has annoyed me, as this is quite a common feature on the web.

Any ideas?

R