Fix Autocompleter is not defined error by making autocomplete.js self-contained

[Copilot]

autocomplete.js was throwing Uncaught ReferenceError: Autocompleter is not defined because it depended on Prototype.js (Class.create()) and Script.aculo.us (Autocompleter.Base) which are not present in the repository.

Changes

• Rewrote autocomplete.js as a standalone implementation with no external dependencies
• Preserved API - existing JSP pages using new Autocompleter.DWR() work without modification
• Added missing functionality: keyboard navigation, debounced input, HTML escaping, dropdown positioning
• IE compatibility for scroll position detection via pageXOffset/pageYOffset fallbacks

Before/After

// Before: Required missing external libraries
Autocompleter.DWR = Class.create();  // Prototype.js - not loaded
Autocompleter.DWR.prototype = Object.extend(new Autocompleter.Base(), { ... });  // Script.aculo.us - not loaded

// After: Self-contained
var Autocompleter = Autocompleter || {};
Autocompleter.DWR = function(elementId, updateId, populator, options) { ... };

Screenshot

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• cdnjs.cloudflare.com
  • Triggering command: /usr/bin/curl curl -s REDACTED (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

Original prompt

We're getting an error message in the browser console autocomplete.js:1 Uncaught ReferenceError: Autocompleter is not defined. This is supposed to be class within Direct Web Remoting that is supposed to be present in the environment when autocomplete.js is loaded, but I can't figure out where it is supposed to come from.

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[rvosa]

@copilot is autocomplete.js actually used anywhere?

[Copilot]

@copilot is autocomplete.js actually used anywhere?

Yes, autocomplete.js is used in several places:

Loaded in templates:

• defaultTemplate.jsp (line 42)
• defaultSearchTemplate.jsp (line 41)

Autocompleter.DWR instantiated in:

• algorithm.jsp - software name and algorithm type autocomplete
• analysisStepForm.jsp - software name and algorithm autocomplete
• citationForm-article.jsp - journal name autocomplete
• addPersonForm.jsp - email address autocomplete
• peopleForm.jsp - email address autocomplete

These provide autocomplete functionality for forms throughout the submission workflow.