[jQuery] autocomplete

[kreiss]

I'm using the autocomplete with a plain ajax call.  My problem is that
the autocomplete doesn't work unless after I key in a letter, I must
click out of the input box, click back into it then the autocomplete
works.

I assume b/c on the "onkeyup" it calls the ajax call, but doesn't
remeber what value was typed in so the autocomplete doesn't display.

Please help:

here is the ajax call....which does bring the data back correctly:

function parseMessage()
        {
            var message = req.responseXML.getElementsByTagName("names")[0];

        //      IF DEFAULT EMAIL SUPPLIED DISPLAY IN autoEmail
                if(message.childNodes[0].nodeValue != "null")
                {
                        var data = message.childNodes[0].nodeValue.split(" ");

                $("#names").autocomplete(data);
                }
        }

Here is the input box
<input type="text" name = "names" onkeyup="getNames()" id="names"/>