Get / Set date_select values before form submit

Rails
1

Hi, i’m working with a date_select field, and I’ve got the following
question.

The date_select outputs something that looks like:

2001

I’m used to using prototype to access form elements, but I seem to be
missing something here.

I’m trying to do:

var dyear = $F(‘widget[designedon(1i)]’);

Basically, i want to get/set the value of the select boxes based on
input
from other form field elements – “pre-filling” so to speak. Usually,
when
all else fails, I just give my form tags an ID, and just use $() to
access
them. However, I dont see how to do that in rails.

Anyway, help with this probably fairly trivial misunderstanding of $F()
and
$() would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Matt Miller
http://emergent.urbanpug.com