[WEB4LIB] Re: Modified "get" action for forms?

[Chris Shaffer]

Unfortunately, this solution uses client side scripting (VBScript), which I 
do not want to use.  I should have been more clear when I said "does not 
use javascript" -- I really meant "does not use client side scripting."

Chris Shaffer
shaffer at uic.edu

At 11/7/00 05:55 PM, you wrote:
>Yes, you can generate a query that uses only fields with input from a search
>form. I had to muddle through that same question recently for a search form
>that uses 3 fields and the option of and/or with a second search term for
>the first two fields. Search results are a list of titles with agency,
>links, and callnumber from our (uncataloged) Nevada docs database. The query
>string includes only those fields that have input. It uses ASP and VBScript,
>though the same idea should work for PHP and mySQL.
>
>Conceptually, it's simple: use IF statements to test for input that <> "",
>then concatenate the fields that pass the test to the sql query string.
>Getting the syntax exactly right is the only tricky part.
>
>To keep it simple, the script first tests for a blank search form (i.e.,
>each input field = "") and requires that the user enter at least one search
>term. A blank title field is allowed so that the user can search for ALL
>titles, limited by agency or callnumber (because the database is small, only
>about 2300 records). This also allows easy coding of the first condition in
>the WHERE statement which matches either a blank title or title search
>term(s). Wildcards are at both ends of the title search term.
>
>After that, use:
>If [field] <> "" Then
>strSQL = strSQL & " AND (condition) "
>End If
>If [field] <> "" Then
>strSQL = strSQL & " AND (next condition) "
>End If
>and so on
>Concatenate the ORDER BY part at the end.
>
>Then loop through the recordset for results.
>
>The URL is
>http://www.library.unr.edu/depts/bgic/guides/government/nevada/nevada.html
>
>Hope this helps.
>-araby
>________________________
>Araby Greene
>araby at unr.edu
>Web Development Librarian
>Getchell Library/322
>Univ. of Nevada, Reno
>http://www.library.unr.edu/
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Chris Shaffer" <shaffer at uic.edu>
>To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 2:22 PM
>Subject: [WEB4LIB] Modified "get" action for forms?
>
>
> > I have a database search form with many input fields, only a few of which
> > are used in the average search.  I'd like the search logic to be embedded
> > in the URL so that search results pages can be bookmarks or
> > favorites.  However, action="get" puts all the fields in the URL, which
> > results in a very long URL.  I'd like to generate a URL that only includes
> > non-null input fields.  Is there any way to do this that 1) does not use
> > javascript and 2) does not disable the browser back button via redirect?
> >
> > FYI, our web server is Unix, Apache, PHP, MySQL.
> > -----
> > Chris Shaffer, Technology Coordinator
> > National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region
> > Library of the Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago
> > shaffer at uic.edu     http://www.nnlm.nlm.nih.gov/gmr/
> > 312-996-2464 (voice)     312-996-2226 (fax)