Aren't the two versions essentially the same ? ie

v = $(' '); v.find();
var v = ' ';   $(v).find();

IAC it doesn't work :-{

>content is a string and you are trying to parse a string with jquery. Try this.
>
>

var content = $('<h2>SomeText</h2><input id="trapName" />');
>                var xx = content.find('#trapName');
>

>
>>This is the simplest example I can come up with:
>

var content = '<h2>SomeText</h2><input id="trapName" />';
>>                var xx = $(content).find('#trapName');

>>
>>
>>>>It's a standalone fragment - not associated (and cannot be) with the main DOM (which, I believe, is the default context for JQuery).
>>>>
>>>
>>>So, you're saying you tried finding it by its name only and it didn't work, right?
>>>
>>>
>>>>>Why you can not use what Craig posted? Why do you need to access it through the parent?
>>>>>
>>>>>Here are few samples from my code:
>>>>>
>>>>>

>>>>>$(document).ready(function () {
>>>>>    $(":input[data-autocomplete]").each(function () {
>>>>>        $(this).autocomplete({ source: $(this).attr("data-autocomplete") });
>>>>>    });  
>>>>>
>>>>>    $("form div input").focus(function () {
>>>>>
>>>>>        $("form div").each(function () {
>>>>>            $(this).css("background-color", "white");
>>>>>        });
>>>>>
>>>>>        $(this).parent().css("background-color", "#F2FAED");
>>>>>        $(this).select();
>>>>>        $('.SelectOnEntry').focusin(function () {
>>>>>            $(this).select();
>>>>>        });
>>>>>    });
>>>>>
>>>>>    $("input:text")
>>>>>        .focus(function () { $(this).select(); })
>>>>>        .mouseup(function (e) { e.preventDefault(); });
>>>>>});
>>>>>

>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I know how to manipulate it - the problem is that I cannot get a reference to it. Note 'content' in this case is not the default context (the dom document) but a seperate html fragment and $(content).find('#trapName') returns zero results....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>You can address the element directly
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>$("#trapName")
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>If you want to get the value, use
>>>>>>>var value = $("#trapName).val();
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>To set the value
>>>>>>>$("#trapName).val("New value");
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I think there is something wrong with my understanding of JQuery (which is pretty elemental at best).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I have a fragment of html. Jquery sees it as this:

$(content): jQuery.fn.jQuery.init[3]
>>>>>>>>0: h2
>>>>>>>>1: text
>>>>>>>>2: input#trapName
>>>>>>>>length: 3
>>>>>>>>__proto__: Object[0]

so I thought I could access the input element with

$(content).find('#trapName')

but it finds nothing.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Any clues. Note this fragment is not in the DOM - but should that matter?