base example of dropdown via input
by merganser
HTML
<script src="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.1.0/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.1.0/css/bootstrap.min.css">
<div id="myDropDown" class="dropdown">
<input
id="pickerInput"
type="text"
role="button"
data-toggle="dropdown"
data-target="#"
value="something"
/>
<ul id="pickerTabs" class="dropdown-menu" role="menu" aria-labelledby="pickerInput">
<!-- TABS -->
<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
<li class="active"><a href="#single" data-toggle="tab">Single Month</a></li>
<li><a href="#multiple" data-toggle="tab">Month Range</a></li>
<li><a href="#custom" data-toggle="tab">Custom Range</a></li>
</ul>
<!-- TAB PANES -->
<div class="tab-content">
<div class="tab-pane active" id="single">Single asdfasdfsda</div>
<div class="tab-pane" id="multiple">Month asdfafas</div>
<div class="tab-pane" id="custom">Custom asdfdas</div>
</div>
</ul>
</div>
JavaScript
$('#pickerTabs').on('click', '.nav-tabs a', function(){
$(this).closest('.dropdown').addClass('dontClose');
})
$('#myDropDown').on('hide.bs.dropdown', function(e) {
if ( $(this).hasClass('dontClose') ){
e.preventDefault();
}
$(this).removeClass('dontClose');
});