Forum OpenACS Q&A: scope of variables when using ad_form

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1: scope of variables when using ad_form
Posted by Brian Fenton on 11/11/08 05:08 PM
Hi,
A simple ad_form question which is hopefully trivial to you gurus out there. Is there a way to set a variable before (or during) -validate that will make it available to -on_submit and other clauses? Is my case, I'm running an expensive validation proc in my -validate; I want to result of the proc to be available later on, without having to run the proc again.

Is it possible and can you give a quick example?

thanks
Brian

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2: Re: scope of variables when using ad_form (response to 1)
Posted by Dave Bauer on 11/11/08 05:26 PM
You can do this:
1) do the validation in the on_submit block
2) set form error on the element in question if it doesn't validate
3) return the template early and terminate the submit processing.

ie:

-on_submit {
if {![expensive_validation_proc]} {
element set_error $form_id $element_id "Error Message"
ad_return_template
ad_script_abort; # make sure you abort or the processing will continue
}

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3: Re: scope of variables when using ad_form (response to 2)
Posted by Brian Fenton on 11/11/08 05:35 PM
Thanks Dave,

that sounds good. By doing it that way, you don't "lose" any of the regular -validate functionality do you? I can't see how (as all -validate seems to do is set the error) but just making doubly sure (or as we say in Ireland "to be sure to be sure").

thanks as always
Brian

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4: Re: scope of variables when using ad_form (response to 1)
Posted by Dave Bauer on 11/11/08 05:42 PM
One trick, that I am not sure about if other elements do not validate, the on_submit block won't be processed and you will not be able to validate the element that uses the expensive proc unless everything else is validated.
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5: Re: scope of variables when using ad_form (response to 4)
Posted by Brian Fenton on 11/11/08 06:09 PM
Cool, good to know.

thanks for that.
Brian