Re: [mv] question/suggestion for minivend form passing syntax

[Ed LaFrance <newmedia@sd.znet.com>]

******    message to minivend-users from Ed LaFrance <newmedia@sd.znet.com>     ******

Mark -

I am still using mvend 3.1x, but I got ahold of the 4.0 docs
*accidentally* and started to read them.

This is from the docs, isn't the same as what you are proposing?

---------

mv_action

     Setting the special variable mv_action causes the page name to be
ignored as the
     action source. The above forms can use this as a synonym: 

         <FORM ACTION="[area foo]" METHOD=post>
         <INPUT TYPE=hidden NAME=mv_action VALUE=search>
         <INPUT NAME=mv_searchspec>
         </FORM>

     The page name will be used to set mv_nextpage if it is not
otherwise defined; if
     mv_nextpage is present in the form it will be ignored. 

----------

I can't try it because I am using 3.1x, and it appears from those docs
that it was not supported in that version.

- Ed 

Mark Stosberg wrote:
> 
> ******    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
> 
>   <<-------------------------------------------------------------->>
> personal website                <    Summersault Website Design
>    http://mark.stosberg.com/     >       http://www.summersault.com/
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