.change() is evaluated when you leave the control. This might help with what you want to do http://forum.jquery.com/topic/can-change-handle-immediate-text-changes

I forget the # all the time.

>You are right that I was missing the # sign in front. Thank you!
>
>But now the code works but not exactly as I wanted. The Alert() is called only when I click somewhere outside the textbox. I thought that the Alert() should click just as I start typing.