Is data entry possible?

[toby1709]

1) Script Title: Virtual Pagination script v2.1

2) Script URL (on DD): http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex17/

3) Describe problem: It's actually not a problem I inquire about! As a 'hobby' php programmer and professional application developer I am looking for the ability to use something like the Virtual Pagination Script to provide multiple data entry screens which are controlled by a menu.

The question I have is can a normal functioning 'Form' be placed on any of the pages? The above script would be placed above a data grid which is in most cases based on a 'view' and any edit/add/delete would involve more than one table. A standard data grid does not allow cross-table editing. Thus the need for a solution described above. Is that possible with Virtual Pagination script v2.1?

toby1709

[djr33]

Are you wanting to have multiple forms that submit separately, or a single form that submits as one after all of the "pages" are filled out?

The first is easy-- just put forms in each of the "pages", though submitting would mean the page has to load so you could I guess do it in a popup, or maybe in an iframe. You would not want to make the whole page reload or you'd lose the "page" you are on.
(I do not know of a way that you could actually submit the form WITHIN a "page" like this. You could try it with Ajax, but that would be very complex, and it is not really a question about the pagination script, but instead "how do I submit a form without reloading the page?".)

The second is harder, but it looks like this script could handle it. Basically make a form tag around the entire "pages" area, then inside the form have multiple <div> tags to break up the "pages". The user can go through one by one, fill in all of the info (it will be hidden, but still should be there), and then on the last page (or below the "pages") press the submit button.
One problem is that it does not automatically save as they finish a "page", so you want to make it clear to the users that they must finish all pages then submit or nothing will be stored-- they can't do pages 1-3, then return to do 4-5 and submit later.

[toby1709]

DJR33:
Thanks for your response. The situation is actually simpler, but not as easy to describe. Assume there is an apartment complex and the software tracks services occupants report and their progress. There are, to keep it simple, 3 actors: the person renting the apartment, the apartment manager and the maintenance person. The grid displays the service to be rendered (leaking faucet), the apartment involved, who is scheduled to solve the problem and when, and when it was actually solved, by whom and when, and a comment.

All three actors have access to the same information grid with the exception that the 'manager' sees ALL service requests, the 'renter' only theirs and the service person only those assigned to him/her.

The 'renter' has the ability to report a problem. That would be the first app (data entry form) I like to display when the 'renter' clicks on 'Submit a claim'. When the claim is entered and saved by the 'renter', the grid is refreshed showing the new claim along all the previous claims by the 'renter' and their status with details.

The 'manager' looking at the grid decides which 'service person' is assigned to the job and when by clicking on 'Assign'. This would be the second app I like to show.

The 'service person' looks at the same grid filtered to show only those involving him. When a service call is completed, he/she clicks on 'Service Completed', which is the next app I like to display and enters a comment and the time-in and the time-out.

There are other apps needed but I just wanted to demonstrate the concept, which is to share a common piece of information (the data grid) and provide interaction with the data grid by the various actors in a dynamic fashion without going back and forth between the data grid and any of the supporting apps.

I hope this helps. My basic concern is, can the Virtual Pagination script support different data entry forms on separate pages which can be brought into focus individually?
toby1709

[djr33]

Based on what you've said, I think you should just create three separate systems. They can link to the same database, but the way you will generate the pages and everything will be different for all involved: renter by his membership to the request, manager to all, and service person when assigned (by membership, then, like the renter). So just create something using PHP or another similar server side language and use a database (mysql, for example) to store the information. Then based on who the person is, use three separate instances of the script to display everything. Alternatively, you could use the same instance and just use the database/php to send it different pages to show.

But this is beyond what can be done in Javascript, unless you start using some pretty complex Ajax request and it could get very messy because JS is not secure. If the serverside scripts being requested were secure, then it would not be a security issue, but instead just a mess because a renter could fake being the manager (just by sending "manager" ajax requests), and the whole thing would get messy-- the server side script would deny them, but then what would you do in response, etc.