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Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

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Mark Gibson-8

Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

Hi,
I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
datatype.

So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.

Let say each column interface is simlar to:

>>>
Name: [ ... ] Datatype: [ ... ]

Custom controls go here dependant
on the datatype selected above
<<<

I'd like to load the custom controls from another
file dependant on the selected type.

Now I believe it should be possible to load the
instance data for the custom fields, but can the
actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.

Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
some custom AJAX route.

Cheers
- Mark

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Erik Bruchez

Re: Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

Administrator

Mark,

You cannot dynamically add controls to an existing page with XForms. You
can have controls that are non-relevant, i.e. not visible. See for
example how the TODO Lists example:

http://www.orbeon.com/ops/xforms-todo

This works in many cases, and maybe you can use a similar strategy?

-Erik

Mark Gibson wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
> database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
> name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
> datatype.
>
> So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
> to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
> can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.
>
> Let say each column interface is simlar to:
>
> >>>
> Name: [ ... ] Datatype: [ ... ]
>
> Custom controls go here dependant
> on the datatype selected above
> <<<
>
> I'd like to load the custom controls from another
> file dependant on the selected type.
>
> Now I believe it should be possible to load the
> instance data for the custom fields, but can the
> actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.
>
> Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
> to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
> everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
> some custom AJAX route.
>
> Cheers
> - Mark

--
Orbeon - XForms Everywhere:
http://www.orbeon.com/blog/

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Ross Horne

Re: Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

I think it was Pascal that mentioned using iframes for dynamically adding controls and models. I was wondering whether that idea is working out?

Ross.

On 03/05/06, Erik Bruchez <[hidden email]> wrote:

Mark,

You cannot dynamically add controls to an existing page with XForms. You
can have controls that are non-relevant, i.e. not visible. See for
example how the TODO Lists example:

http://www.orbeon.com/ops/xforms-todo

This works in many cases, and maybe you can use a similar strategy?

-Erik

Mark Gibson wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
> database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
> name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
> datatype.
>
> So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
> to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
> can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.
>
> Let say each column interface is simlar to:
>
>  >>>
>    Name: [ ... ]  Datatype: [ ... ]
>
>    Custom controls go here dependant
>    on the datatype selected above
> <<<
>
> I'd like to load the custom controls from another
> file dependant on the selected type.
>
> Now I believe it should be possible to load the
> instance data for the custom fields, but can the
> actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.
>
> Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
> to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
> everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
> some custom AJAX route.
>
> Cheers
> - Mark

--
Orbeon - XForms Everywhere:
http://www.orbeon.com/blog/

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Erik Bruchez

Re: Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

Administrator

An iframe could possibly work, but at best like a separate XForms page.
Then the question is how you make the main page and the iframe
communicate. Certainly, at the moment, the XForms engine is not able, at
runtime, to integrate the contents of the iframe into the main page and
run the result as a single XForms page.

Theoretically, of course, adding controls at runtime to an XForms page
is not an impossibility, but this is not covered by the spec right now.
It could be implemented as an extension though.

-Erik

Ross Horne wrote:

> I think it was Pascal that mentioned using iframes for dynamically
> adding controls and models. I was wondering whether that idea is working
> out?
>
> Ross.
>
>
> On 03/05/06, * Erik Bruchez* <[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
> Mark,
>
> You cannot dynamically add controls to an existing page with XForms. You
> can have controls that are non-relevant, i.e. not visible. See for
> example how the TODO Lists example:
>
> http://www.orbeon.com/ops/xforms-todo
>
> This works in many cases, and maybe you can use a similar strategy?
>
> -Erik
>
> Mark Gibson wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
> > database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
> > name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
> > datatype.
> >
> > So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
> > to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
> > can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.
> >
> > Let say each column interface is simlar to:
> >
> > >>>
> > Name: [ ... ] Datatype: [ ... ]
> >
> > Custom controls go here dependant
> > on the datatype selected above
> > <<<
> >
> > I'd like to load the custom controls from another
> > file dependant on the selected type.
> >
> > Now I believe it should be possible to load the
> > instance data for the custom fields, but can the
> > actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.
> >
> > Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
> > to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
> > everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
> > some custom AJAX route.
> >
> > Cheers
> > - Mark
>
> --
> Orbeon - XForms Everywhere:
> http://www.orbeon.com/blog/ <http://www.orbeon.com/blog/>
>
>
>
>
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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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Pascal Heus

Re: Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

In reply to this post by Ross Horne

Ross:
I've been successfully using iframe to load xforms dynamically through httprequest in a page. The only problem with this is that the interaction between the <iframe> and the wrapping browser window is a bit more tricky (but far from impossible).
Work in progress can be seen at http://opendatafoundation.org/ops/ddi3/index
The Document->Browse, Document->Upload, Document->Sandbox and User->Account command are all different xforms loading in an iframe element.
The frame content is simply a stand alone xform. This might be a bit tricky in Mark's problem case but could work (each row in the table would then be an iframe).
*P

Ross Horne wrote:

I think it was Pascal that mentioned using iframes for dynamically adding controls and models. I was wondering whether that idea is working out?

Ross.

On 03/05/06, Erik Bruchez <[hidden email]> wrote:
Mark,

You cannot dynamically add controls to an existing page with XForms. You
can have controls that are non-relevant, i.e. not visible. See for
example how the TODO Lists example:

http://www.orbeon.com/ops/xforms-todo

This works in many cases, and maybe you can use a similar strategy?

-Erik

Mark Gibson wrote:
> Hi,
> I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
> database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
> name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
> datatype.
>
> So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
> to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
> can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.
>
> Let say each column interface is simlar to:
>
>  >>>
>    Name: [ ... ]  Datatype: [ ... ]
>
>    Custom controls go here dependant
>    on the datatype selected above
> <<<
>
> I'd like to load the custom controls from another
> file dependant on the selected type.
>
> Now I believe it should be possible to load the
> instance data for the custom fields, but can the
> actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.
>
> Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
> to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
> everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
> some custom AJAX route.
>
> Cheers
> - Mark

--
Orbeon - XForms Everywhere:
http://www.orbeon.com/blog/

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Pascal Heus

Re: Dynamically loading parts of an XForms interface

In reply to this post by Erik Bruchez

Erik:
an iframe can communicate with its parent through javascript
This page provides a good explanation and examples:
http://www.quirksmode.org/js/iframe.html
*P

Erik Bruchez wrote:

An iframe could possibly work, but at best like a separate XForms page. Then the question is how you make the main page and the iframe communicate. Certainly, at the moment, the XForms engine is not able, at runtime, to integrate the contents of the iframe into the main page and run the result as a single XForms page.

Theoretically, of course, adding controls at runtime to an XForms page is not an impossibility, but this is not covered by the spec right now. It could be implemented as an extension though.

-Erik

Ross Horne wrote:

I think it was Pascal that mentioned using iframes for dynamically adding controls and models. I was wondering whether that idea is working out?

Ross.

On 03/05/06, * Erik Bruchez* <[hidden email] [hidden email]> wrote:

    Mark,

    You cannot dynamically add controls to an existing page with XForms. You
    can have controls that are non-relevant, i.e. not visible. See for
    example how the TODO Lists example:

    http://www.orbeon.com/ops/xforms-todo

    This works in many cases, and maybe you can use a similar strategy?

    -Erik

    Mark Gibson wrote:
     > Hi,
     > I'm trying to create an interface along the lines of a
     > database table admin, ie. list of columns, each has a
     > name, datatype, and some custom fields dependant on the
     > datatype.
     >
     > So in the XForms interface, an xforms:repeat is used
     > to iterator over the columns definitions so that they
     > can be added/deleted using xforms:insert/delete.
     >
     > Let say each column interface is simlar to:
     >
     > >>>
     >    Name: [ ... ] Datatype: [ ... ]
     >
     >    Custom controls go here dependant
     >    on the datatype selected above
     > <<<
     >
     > I'd like to load the custom controls from another
     > file dependant on the selected type.
     >
     > Now I believe it should be possible to load the
     > instance data for the custom fields, but can the
     > actual xforms controls be loaded dynamically.
     >
     > Otherwise, I guess i'm going to have to resort
     > to generating the form with XSLT and reload it
     > everytime a column is added/delete, or follow
     > some custom AJAX route.
     >
     > Cheers
     > - Mark

    --
    Orbeon - XForms Everywhere:
    http://www.orbeon.com/blog/ <http://www.orbeon.com/blog/>

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