/**
* maxChar jQuery plugin
* @author Mitch Wilson
* @version 0.1.0
* @requires jQuery
* @description Enforces max character limit on any input or textarea HTML element and provides user feedback.
* @see http://mitchwilson.net/2009/08/03/new-jquery-plugin-maxchar/
*/

(function($){  
	$.fn.maxChar = function(limit, options) {
		// Define default settings and override w/ options.	
		settings = jQuery.extend({
			indicator: 'indicator',
			pluralMessage: ' remaining',
			rate: 200,
			singularMessage: ' remaining',
			spaceBeforeMessage: ' '
		}, options);
		// Define local variables.
		var limit = limit;
		var remaining = limit;
		var rate = settings.rate;
		var timer = null;
		var target = $(this);
		var indicator = getIndicator();
		var singularMessage = settings.singularMessage;
		var pluralMessage = settings.pluralMessage;
		// If user did not create indicator, we will create default one for them.
		if(indicator.size() == 0) {
			createIndicator();
			indicator = getIndicator();
		}
		// Create helper functions.
		function update(limit){
			var remaining = limit - target.val().length;
			if(remaining < 1) {
				target.val(target.val().slice(0,limit));
				remaining = 0; // Prevents displaying negative remaining character amounts, such as -1.
			}
			if(remaining == 1) {
				indicator.text(remaining + singularMessage);
			} else {
				indicator.text(remaining + pluralMessage);
			}
			
			try {
				if(console) {
					console.log(remaining);
				}
			} catch(e) {
				// Do nothing on error.
			}
		}
		function createIndicator(){
			target.after(settings.spaceBeforeMessage + '<span id="'+settings.indicator+'"></span>');
		}
		function getIndicator(){
			return $('#'+settings.indicator);
		}
		// Call update once on code initialization to update view if text is already in textarea,
		// eg, if user relaoads page or hits back button and form textarea retains previoulsy entered text.
		update(limit);
		// Bind to focus event to active when user starts interacting with textarea.
		$(this).focus(function(){
			if(timer == null) {
				timer = setInterval(function(){update(limit)}, rate);
			}
		});
		// 
		$(this).blur(function() {
			if(timer != null) {
				clearInterval(timer);
				timer = null;
				// Clear manually in case blur happened between timer updates.
				update(limit);
			}
		});
	};
})(jQuery);