[mv] question/suggestion for minivend form passing syntax

[Mark Stosberg <mark@summersault.com>]

******    message to minivend-users from Mark Stosberg <mark@summersault.com>     ******


Hello!

  I'm learning how to pass around form variables in Minivend. I like
that once they are set, they hang around in the session after creation
if even aren't explicitly passed. However, I was disappointed to find
it's more difficult to invoke form parsing than it is using regular CGI.
I'll offer an example of what I'm talking about, and then a suggestion
for an alternative syntax. I'm interested in feedback on whether or not
my proposal is a feasible/reasonable idea or not. 

Here's an example of a Form POST with minivend style syntax:

<snip>
<FORM ACTION="[process]" METHOD="post">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="mv_nextpage" VALUE="test-2">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="mv_todo" VALUE="return">
<INPUT TYPE=hidden NAME=foo VALUE=bar>
<INPUT TYPE="submit">
</FORM>
</snip>

Here's how I'd like to work:

<snip>
<FORM ACTION="[area test-2]" METHOD="post">
<INPUT TYPE=hidden NAME=foo VALUE=bar>
<INPUT TYPE="submit">
</snip>

Here's my logic behind the suggestion: Why else would I put another
minivend page in a form tag, except to invoke form processing and return
a user to that page? It seems like a logical shorthand, expecially
coming from a CGI background. 

Additionally, let's look at how a Query String style form invocation
works in Minivend:

<a href="[process]?mv_nextpage=test-2&mv_todo=return&foo=bar">Query
String style form submission</A>

And Here's how I'd like to be:

<A HREF="[area test-2]?foo=bar">How I'd like to be</A>

I think the logic used here should be: "If any non-minivend variables
are passed on the query string, invoke form processing". It's seems much
simpler and straightforward to allow a syntax like this. 

Are there drawbacks to my suggestion that I'm unaware of? I'm interested
in your thoughts. 

   -mark

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