RE: First Internet application

I have a question about putting HTML in the CGI program.  If I have
drop-down list box is there a way for me to return back to the user what
they selected without dynamically coding the <select> tag in RPG.  For
example if I outputted this HTML the first time:

<select>
<option>A</option>
<option>B</option>
<option>C</option>
</select>

and the user selected option C.  So now when I re-display the page I want
that to be selected I now have to code the select statement like this:

<select>
<option>A</option>
<option>B</option>
<option selected>C</option>
</select>

Is there a way to do this in a template?

I have gone the route where I try to have as much HTML in the IFS as
possible, and then I read it into my program at the appropriate time.  But I
have noticed that it comes to a point where I forget what pieces of HTML I
coded in my program what I coded in the IFS so I start a hide and seek game.
So right now I code most off my HTML in my CGI programs and bigger chunks of
HTML in the IFS.

>From what I have read CGIDEV would fix most of my problems and I just need
to take the time to learn it.

Aaron Bartell

-----Original Message-----
From: Nathan M. Andelin [mailto:nandelin@relational-data.com]
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 8:10 AM
To: web400@midrange.com
Subject: Re: [WEB400] First Internet application


From: "Brad Stone" <brad@bvstools.com>
> I'd like to hear an example of two things.

> 1.  A change in the user interface that requires a change in
> a CGI program/script

It seems to be fairly common to couple an HTML author with a CGI programmer.
I used to be in that situation.  My associate, the HTML expert normally
created a set of HTML files, then sent them to me "for implementation".

That was my queue to write a corresponding set of CGI programs.  At first, I
imbedded the HTML in the CGI program and inserted program data into the
expected locations before writing the response to STDOUT.

However, it seemed that my associate was never content with his work.  He
kept making changes to the HTML page layout.  It required corresponding
changes to my CGI programs.  After several iterations of that cycle, I began
to consider the need for templates.

I think you understand what I'm talking about.  Your #IFSHTML() API
provides a separation of HTML from RPG.  Templates are simply an
extension of that concept.

> 2.  How using your techniques (specific example would be
> ideal) makes this change in the program/script not needed

You might want to look at the Relational-Web Users Guide and API Reference:

http://www.relational-data.com/products/rweb/docs/docframeset.htm

Good Luck,

Nathan M. Andelin
www.relational-data.com





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