//setSelectedIndex(list, value)
// The setSelectedIndex(list, value) function sets 
// the active entry of the listbox (single selection) to the "value".
 
FUNCTION setSelectedIndex(list, value){
 
         // Parameters:
            // "list" is a listbox (<select ...>) object, list = <formname>.<listname>
            // "value" is the value to use to set the selectedIndex property
 
         // Behavior:
            // The selectedIndex is set to the item with value="value"
 
   FOR(i=0; i<list.length; i++){
      IF(list[ i].value == value){
         list.selectedIndex = i;
         BREAK;
      }
 
   }
}
 
EXAMPLE:
setSelectedIndex(document.editform.newsletter, "$name");
 
 
//getSelectedIndex(list, value)
// The getSelectedIndex(list, value) function gets 
// the selected entry of the listbox 
 
getSelectedIndex(list)
The getSelectedIndex(list) FUNCTION returns the value of the selection IN the listbox.
FUNCTION getSelectedIndex(list){
   FOR(i=0; i<list.length; i++){
      IF(list[ i].selected){
         RETURN list[ i].value;
      }
   }
}