Dropping value of one variable when another changes

Question

Context:

There is a list of lists list where lists are different length. Using one control I change a part of list to view, and with another one — what certain part of part to show at the end. Thought, Length could define here number of values in chosen part of list.

list = {{1, 2, 3, 4}, {1, 2, 3}}; (* for example *)
Manipulate[list[[j, k]], {j, 1, 2, 1}, {k, 1, Length[list[[j]]], 1}]

Problem:

When control of j-th part switches to part of list with k-values > then it was before, it leads to a mistake, though when switching in opposite direction slider disposes itself correctly:

Question:

Do I desire that from Length in vain, and what is the solution of this problem? Assume, I can somehow set a value of k to 1, when j changes. How can I achieve this?

Thanks. I apologize for that the title not corresponding to an issue fully. Had no idea how to name it.

Answer 1

You can reset k whenever j changes if you customize the controller for it a little. Use the second argument to Dynamic to set k to 1 (or anything else, for that matter):

list = {{1, 2, 3, 4}, {1, 2, 3}}; (*for example*)
Manipulate[
 list[[j, k]],
 {j, 1, 2, 1, Manipulator[Dynamic[j, (k = 1; j = #) &], ##2] &},
 {k, 1, Length[list[[j]]], 1}]

---

Edit

An alternative is to completely specify the control:

{j, 1, 2, 1, Manipulator[Dynamic[j, (k = 1; j = #) &], {1, 2, 1}] &}

or

{{j, 1}, Manipulator[Dynamic[j, (k = 1; j = #) &], {1, 2, 1}] &}

The difference is minimal (it affects Autorun). The first is exactly equivalent to original answer, except that to alter the domain 1, 2, 1, there are two places to edit.

Answer 2

In this specific case, I prefer to keep both sliders' positions but instead of using directly their values, we can check if they do make sense and use a "reasonable guess" when they don't.

So, if k>Length[list[[j]]] instead of changing k into 1, we can use Length[list[[j]]]. I like the collateral effect of not losing the value of k in case we change j back into a value compatible with it. And I prefer to choose the last element when the index is greater than the length of the list than to choose the first.

This way, my 2 cents guess into your problem would be the following:

list = {{3, 5, 1, 7}, {8, 6}, {0}, {2, 9, 4}};
Manipulate[
  Style[list[[j, Min[k, Length[list[[j]]]]]], 
      If[k > Length[list[[j]]], Red, "Output"]],
  {j, 1, Length[list], 1},
  {k, 1, Max[Length /@ list], 1}
]

As I am not using directly the k value chosen by the user, I prefer to change the color but this is only an idea.