RE: CGI Fact Finding Mission (Need Input) -- MIDRANGE-L

We use both client and server side script.  We do basic validation on the
client side to reduce the amount of bounce backs our server gets.
Basically, make sure the numeric fields are numbers, required fields are
valid, etc, before the form is sent to the server.  On the server side,
re-check everything.  Never rely on the client side editing.

Christopher K. Bipes    mailto:ChrisB@Cross-Check.com
Sr. Programmer/Analyst  mailto:Chris_Bipes@Yahoo.com
CrossCheck, Inc.                http://www.cross-check.com
6119 State Farm Drive   Phone: 707 586-0551 x 1102
Rohnert Park CA  94928  Fax: 707 586-1884

*Note to Recruiters
Neither I, nor anyone that I know of, is interested in any new and/or
exciting positions. Please do not contact me.


-----Original Message-----
From: David Prowak [mailto:prowakd@emi.com]
Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 5:28 AM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: CGI Fact Finding Mission (Need Input)


Hans,

Relevant portions repeated:
> Regarding JavaScript, is it ever really necessary?
Necessary?  Probably not, but if you subscribe to the theory of using
"the best tool for the job", then JavaScript is the choice for client-side
validation.
Regardless of availability of high bandwidth internet access, server side
data validation
can be a waste of bandwidth, web server resources, helping to turn the
WWW into the World Wide Wait.

Should JavaScript be the only data validation tool used?
Absolutely not, namely for the cases where JavaScript is turned off.

> My main point is that when designing a web page, you
> should never make any assumptions about the capabilities
> of the browser, including support for cookies, Java, and
> JavaScript.
True, but many web developers choose to target the "most common" denominator
as the audience.  That is, the vast majority of user's allow cookies and
JavaScript.
Now, if your Amazon, or the biggest widgets company in the world, you
cannot afford to assume anything.  That means, writing to accommodate all
the major
browser versions, as well as the alternative browsers.

> (Actually, one of the reasons I have JavaScript disabled
> on my browser here at work is that I often get error
> messages popping up!)
But all that proves is that there is alot of junk code out there.
The same could be said about RPG.

> Perhaps the  ideal web application model on the AS/400 uses a
> combination of different languages - RPG for the DB  access,
> and server-side Java for the web page  construction.
With an added benefit - the Java server side code will run on other
platforms.

Dave
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