(function($) {
	$.fn.maxlength = function(options)	{
		var settings = jQuery.extend({
			events: [], // Array of events to be triggerd
			maxCharacters: 10, // Characters limit
			status: true, // True to show status indicator bewlow the element
			statusClass: "status", // The class on the status div
			statusText: "Zeichen übrig.", // The status text
			notificationClass: "notification",	// Will be added to the emement when maxlength is reached
			showAlert: false, // True to show a regular alert message
			alertText: "Du hast die maximale Anzahl an Zeichen erreicht.", // Text in the alert message
			slider: false // Use counter slider
		}, options);
		
		// Add the default event
		$.merge(settings.events, ['keyup', 'blur', 'focus']);

		return this.each(function()  {
			var item = $(this);
			var charactersLength = $(this).val().length;
			
      		// Update the status text
			function updateStatus()	{
				var charactersLeft = settings.maxCharacters - charactersLength;
				
				if(charactersLeft < 0) {
					charactersLeft = 0;
				}
				
				var text = settings.statusText;
				if(charactersLeft == 0) {
					text += ' ' + settings.alertText;
				}

				item.next("div").html(charactersLeft + " " + text);
			}

			function checkChars() {
				var valid = true;
				
				// Too many chars?
				if(charactersLength >= settings.maxCharacters) {
					// Too may chars, set the valid boolean to false
					valid = false;
					// Add the notifycation class when we have too many chars
					item.addClass(settings.notificationClass);
					// Cut down the string
					item.val(item.val().substr(0,settings.maxCharacters));
					// Show the alert dialog box, if its set to true
					showAlert();
				} else {
					// Remove the notification class
					if(item.hasClass(settings.notificationClass)) {
						item.removeClass(settings.notificationClass);
					}
				}

				if(settings.status) {
					updateStatus();
				}
			}
						
			// Shows an alert msg
			function showAlert()  {
				if(settings.showAlert) {
					alert(settings.alertText);
				}
			}

			// Check if the element is valid.
			function validateElement() {
				var ret = false;
				
				if(item.is('textarea')) {
					ret = true;
				} else if(item.filter("input[type=text]")) {
					ret = true;
				} else if(item.filter("input[type=password]")) {
					ret = true;
				}

				return ret;
			}

			// Validate
			if(!validateElement()) {
				return false;
			}
			
			// Loop through the events and bind them to the element
			$.each(settings.events, function (i, n) {
				item.bind(n, function(e) {
					charactersLength = item.val().length;
					checkChars();
				});
			});

			// Insert the status div
			if(settings.status) {
				item.after($("<div/>").addClass(settings.statusClass).html('-'));
				updateStatus();
			}

			// Remove the status div
			if(!settings.status) {
				var removeThisDiv = item.next("div."+settings.statusClass);
				
				if(removeThisDiv) {
					removeThisDiv.remove();
				}
			}

			// Slide counter
			if(settings.slider) {
				item.next().hide();
				
				item.focus(function() {
					item.next().slideDown('fast');
				});

				item.blur(function() {
					item.next().slideUp('fast');
				}); 
			}
		});
	};
})(jQuery);