<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <script type="text/javascript"> function doTest() { document.getSelection().selectAllChildren(document.body); var editor = document.getElementById("editor"); editor.focus(); editor.selectionStart = 2; editor.selectionEnd = 4; editor.blur(); editor.focus(); } </script> </head> <body onload="doTest()"> <p>normal text</p> <textarea id="editor">textarea</textarea> </body> </html>