Form Validation Help - Possible??

[Dave]

Hi,

I would like to know if this scenario is possible using Javascript.

Form has input field such as Age, weight etc. If a user does not
put in data in the field, I would like to open another window and
ask user why they left it blank. I then want to save that "why data"
in an access database table. I don't want to force them to put in
age, but I need to know why they skipped the field.

Also, I would like to do this through a PDF form vs. HTML.

Any help and/or references is much appreciated. Code sample even better!

Thanks,
Dave

[Michael Winter]

On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 14:59:55 GMT, Dave <dh********@NOSPAMbioreg.com> wrote:

Form has input field such as Age, weight etc. If a user does not
put in data in the field, I would like to open another window and
ask user why they left it blank. I then want to save that "why data"
in an access database table. I don't want to force them to put in
age, but I need to know why they skipped the field.

It is possible, but there is no reason to do it. If you are going to save
the data to a database, which must be done from the server, then you may
as well direct the user to a page where they can enter your "why data"
before progressing further.

Alternatively, just place next to the age input, a text box or a menu that
they can use to give their reasons.

Both of these suggestions avoid the issue of a browser with JavaScript
disabled. However, your approach introduces another problem: a pop-up
window. My browser will block it, so there's no way for you to get the
information from me, and I won't be the only one.

Mike

--
Michael Winter
M.******@blueyonder.co.invalid (replace ".invalid" with ".uk" to reply)

[Dave]

Thanks for the reply. Okay, I agree with your popup assessment. I don't
really want to clutter the main form, so another page seems good. Can I
maintain control from the main page so that it takes them back to the
same point where they were previously?

Do you know any site with code that might be able to help with this task?

Especially, the database connection and control of the child page.

Also, how about this running in a PDF file?

Thanks,
Dave
Michael Winter <M.******@blueyonder.co.invalid> wrote in
news:op**************@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk:

On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 14:59:55 GMT, Dave <dh********@NOSPAMbioreg.com>
wrote:

Form has input field such as Age, weight etc. If a user does not
put in data in the field, I would like to open another window and
ask user why they left it blank. I then want to save that "why data"
in an access database table. I don't want to force them to put in
age, but I need to know why they skipped the field.

It is possible, but there is no reason to do it. If you are going to
save the data to a database, which must be done from the server, then
you may as well direct the user to a page where they can enter your
"why data" before progressing further.

Alternatively, just place next to the age input, a text box or a menu
that they can use to give their reasons.

Both of these suggestions avoid the issue of a browser with JavaScript
disabled. However, your approach introduces another problem: a pop-up
window. My browser will block it, so there's no way for you to get the
information from me, and I won't be the only one.

Mike

[Michael Winter]

On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 15:41:54 GMT, Dave <dh********@NOSPAMbioreg.com> wrote:

Thanks for the reply. Okay, I agree with your popup assessment. I don't
really want to clutter the main form, so another page seems good. Can I
maintain control from the main page so that it takes them back to the
same point where they were previously?
Yes, it too can be done. It will most likely implemented using a session
cookie, but it could depend on what you have on your page.
Do you know any site with code that might be able to help with this task?
The best place to ask would depend on what language you will use
server-side.

ASP:
General questions: microsoft.public.inetserver.asp.general
Database-related: microsoft.public.inetserver.asp.db

CGI:
comp.lang.perl
comp.infosystems.www.authoring.cgi

JSP:
http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/

PHP:
comp.lang.php

Also, how about this running in a PDF file?

I don't know anything about PDF scripting. Sorry.

Mike

--
Michael Winter
M.******@blueyonder.co.invalid (replace ".invalid" with ".uk" to reply)