Re: RPG and AJAX was->RE: How do I create a web page that

Charles,

Validation or not, AJAX is unnecessary for what you're trying to do. You can
make it work with AJAX, but why overcomplicate things if it is unnecessary.

I sat down and wrote the application you describe in a few minutes.  It was
a few lines of RPG code using RPGsp (http://www.RPGsp.com), which I think
you're familiar with.  It would take a few more minutes to add validation,
bring in a few extra fields, write to a database, or whatever.  I didn't
even need any JavaScript here.

Here is the app: http://timeshare400.gotdns.com:88/aro3b/rpgsp/myitems.pgm

Here is the RPG code (fixed format):
http://www.profoundlogic.com/samples/myitems_rpg.JPG

Here is the HTML+RPG code:
http://www.profoundlogic.com/samples/myitems_rpghtml.JPG

In this case, RPGsp provided built-in functions for saving information to
the session to keep track of the items.  I was also able to design my screen
and add my RPG code directly into it.

You can accomplish the same with CGIDEV2.  You may have to create a work
file and it would probably be 100+ lines of RPG code, but still less work
than to use AJAX. 

We've written very complex interactive web applications ... with hundreds of
screens, extensive validation ... no AJAX.  

I think AJAX is awesome!  We have used AJAX for things like auto-completion
based on iSeries database files (similar to google-suggest).  This would be
impossible to do without AJAX.  But for most standard applications, you can
make the browser do things you never thought was possible with plain RPG and
some simple JavaScript code.  

Seth Newton
snewton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Profound Logic Software, Inc.
Toll-Free: (877) 224-7768 x115
Fax: (603) 849-7757
www.ProfoundLogic.com
www.RPGsp.com (iSeries Web Development has never been this easy!)