gistfile1.txt

hi, i've updated the plug in to allow for delegation so that current and future text fields will be processed. 

/**
 * jQuery Maxlength plugin
 * @author    Emil Stjerneman, updated by Rob Combs
 * @version  $Id: jquery.maxlength.js 18 2014-06-17
 * @package  jQuery maxlength 1.0
 */

(function($) {
    $.fn.maxlength = function(options) {
        /* jQuery plugin that enforces a max length on text elements.  This plugin also supports event delegation to bind
        events to existing and future objects created in the DOM.

        Example usage:
        $('textarea.vLargeTextField').maxlength({
         events: [], // Array of events to be triggered
         maxCharacters: 110, // Characters limit
         status: true, // True to show status indicator below the element
         statusClass: "status", // The class on the status div
         statusText: "characters left", // The status text
         notificationClass: "max-length-notification",  // Will be added when maxlength is reached
         showAlert: false, // True to show a regular alert message
         alertText: "You have typed too many characters.", // Text in alert message
         slider: false // True Use counter slider
        });

        */
        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:         "characters left", // 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:          "You have typed too many characters.", // Text in the alert message
            slider:             false // Use counter slider
        }, options );

        // Add the default event
        $.merge(settings.events, ['keyup']);

        // Update status div
        function updateStatus(obj) {
            var charactersLeft = settings.maxCharacters - $(obj).val().length;
            if(charactersLeft < 0) {
                charactersLeft = 0;
            }
            obj.next("div").html(charactersLeft + " " + settings.statusText);
        }

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

            if(settings.status) {
                updateStatus(obj);
            }
        }

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

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

        // Bind events to the text elements to trigger max length updates
        $.each(settings.events, function(i, n){
            $("body").delegate($(this).selector, n, function (e) {
                item = $(e.target)
                charactersLength = $(item).val().length;
                checkChars($(item));
            });
        });

        return this.each(function() {
            var item = $(this);
            var charactersLength = $(this).val().length;

            // Validate
            if(!validateElement($(item))) {
                return false;
            }

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

            // 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');
                });
            }
        }); // end this.each(function()
    }; // end $.fn.maxlength
})(django.jQuery); // end max length jquery plug in

Good contribution. Thanks