Multi Forms, 1 Script, Text INI Files

Hi,

I'm scratching my head on how to do this one. You're advice is very much appreciated.

How would you write a single script that processes many forms? Specifically, a script that: (1) reads a text file to learn what form fields will be used, (2) generate the form, (3) collects the data, (4) tracks the pages in a session, and (5) processes the data.

A good example would be a script for on-line exams. A single script could run multiple exams by reading exam1.ini , exam2.ini, etc.

Oh, I cannot use ODBC to an Access database. The individual exams much be configuration files (CSV, .ini, etc).

Thanks!

Hey,

Your idea sounds promising. It appears possible to use XML files to describe the layout of multi-page forms. For example:

(Where section id=x is used to seperate pages.)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<form>
    <section id="1">
        <question>
             <type>textInput</type>
             <name>organization</name>
        </question>
        <question>
             <type>textInput</type>
             <name>organization</name>
        </question>
    <section id="2">
        <question>
             <type>textInput</type>
             <name>organization</name>
        </question>
</form>

I searched all dam day for documentation on Microsoft.XMLDOM and the best I found was this:

Set objXML = Server.CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")
objXML.Load(Server.MapPath("myXMLFile.xml"))
For Each objChild in objXML.documentElement.childNodes
    response.Write objChild.NodeName & " - "    
    response.Write objChild.Text & "<br>"
Next

Everything on Microsoft's site is .NET@ I can't find the slightest bit of documentaiton on working through an XML file. This is frustrating... all I need is a manual. This is impossible to do without documentation.


Thanks for the starter tip. I'm still looking.

Rob

Thanks for the links. That information helped me get a basic XML file together that contains all my forms as well as all the questions in each page of those forms. Now my script can present a list of forms, work through several pages of completing a form (thanks to sessions), and build a completed PDF.

I still find the Microsoft.XMLDOM way of walking an XML file cumbersome. What else can I do besides FirstChild, ChildNodes and text? How can I specify an XML node like this: /forms/form/sections/section/question ? Can I find a node by attribute or value? Can you recommend a way to drop nodes into an array?

A complete list of XMLDOM objects and their properties, and values would be a definite asset. Picking through web pages for random samples is too time consuming (2 days so far). Do you have a book suggestion?

Thanks!