> > the activity becomes disabled in the db so other teachers cant modify
> > the same
> 
> > i am relying on the fact that they hit the submit form to ensure the activity 
> > becomes active to the next person to
> > modify it.
> 
> dangerous.

I disagree. If you use a timestamp and userid identifier when writing the
lock to the db you know when the lock was created and by whom. A simple
admin interface is all that is needed to release locks on the db and set a
non update flag for the user who went to lunch to stop them updating the
record when they get back from lunch and maybe even a little message on
the action page about the lock timing out and letting them know they have
to edit the record again.

> 
> so you're using a yes/no field (or similar) to show the record is being
> edited and stop others?
> 
> what happens if they just leave the browser open and have lunch? the
> record is still locked...

Again an admin interface to release locks as above.
 
> I came across this with a medical practice. the solution then was to
> accept that the web is stateless and you shouldn't rely on your users like
> this. There ARE solutions (eg: timestamps and checking if any changes from
> last time worked for me) but the web is not client/server like a
> VisualBasic app...

Yes the web is stateless, but it is easy enough to create a system to
maintain locks on records through careful coding.

Rod 

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