>Finally found the issue, and yes - I feel like an idiot.
>
>Apparently, while trying various things I inadvertently capitalized the 'I' in 'If' and no one (including me) that was looking at it caught it for quite a while.

Hmm. Michel pointed out the capitalization problem quite early on in this thread - and your posted sample code had it right....

>Once I un-capitalized it, it worked exactly as it should. javascript - case insensitive, 'til it's not.
>
>
>
>>>I still got (get) nothing.
>>>
>>>It appears to be an issue with the 'if' statement
>>>
>>>If I leave out the if/else and put the alert first
>>>

>>>alert('Please select a recipe');
>>>location.href='go.hcn?hcn2~recipe~'+topiclist.options[topiclist.selectedIndex].value;
>>>

>>>
>>>I get the alert, then it goes to the selected recipe (and still error/logs on the "Select topic")
>>>
>>>I've tried changing the if around
>>>

>>>function SCDropDown(topiclist)
>>>  {
>>>    if (topiclist.selectedIndex == 0)
>>>     {
>>>      alert('Please select a recipe');
>>>      }
>>>    else {
>>>      location.href='go.hcn?hcn2~recipe~'+topiclist.options[topiclist.selectedIndex].value;
>>>       }
>>>  }
>>>

>>
>>I copied the exact code above and it works for me (except, of course, I get a 404 on the URL)
>>
>>Check your code in a debugger. If you haven't used one yet I'd suggest Chrome. Get the page up in the browser and hit Ctrl-Shift-I.
>>The Console tab will show any errors; the Sources tab allows you to select the source, set breakpoints and inspect values.
>>
>>
>>>I've even tried
>>>

>>>if (1==1)
>>>

>>>
>>>and still nothing.
>>>
>>>This is giving me a huge headache 'cuz it shouldn't be this dang difficult to put if logic into freakin' Javascript
>>>
>>>>>If this is Javascript, If should be lowercase and the condition within parentheses I believe. If there is no error, make sure the browser is set to show the Javascript errors.
>>>>
>>>>Yep. The 'If' is a problem. This should work:

function SCDropDown(topiclist)
>>>>        {
>>>>            if (topiclist.selectedIndex > 0)
>>>>            {
>>>>                location.href='go.hcn?hcn2~recipe~'+topiclist.options[topiclist.selectedIndex].value;
>>>>            }
>>>>        else {
>>>>                alert('Please select a recipe');
>>>>            }
>>>>        }