Re: [Zope] Your thoughts about Zope-based database apps
We've implemented an application like this in our intranet, and it's now up and running satisfactory with 1500 users. We use Oracle as back-end. Here are responses from the rest of your questions: 1.- We've using zope only since six months ago. the development period of the application was three months and we can consider him medium-sized (30 tables, 10 imput screens, 15 output screens, interfaces with operating system authentication and services, outputs in PDF, RTF and HTML formats...). We're not particulary smart :). 2.- We use javascript to perform data validation before insert them in the database (although Oracle has its own data validation, we also perform it in the client side in order to reduce database traffic and to offer the user more precise information about the errors) 3.- The implementation of master/detail forms is rather complicated the first time, but possible: We offer initialy three detail rows for the master one and an "Add row" button that refresh the screen with another detail row when pressed (using zope dtml-in statements). In the validation of the form, we know the number of detail rows and the number of form fields of each row, so, by the position of a field in the form, whe can know to wich detail it belongs and can pass it to the proper insert/update sentence. If you understand spanish, I can give you an example dtml method with this behaviour Alonso Rhenals escribió: I'm considering implementing a web-based database application with MySQL as a back-end and a Zope-based front-end. I wonder if you could provide your thoughts on the following questions: 1. Is Zope a good tool to quicky build an efficient effective user interface for a database application? 2. In particular, what would be the best way to implement the inserting and updating of records along with input data validation? (Retrieving data from a database to show on a web page using Zope is straightforward as you know.) 3. In several cases I'd like to implement a main form/subform, where the subform allows the user to enter several items related to only one record in the main form. Since every item might have many fields (say 20) I'd like to present just the most important fields on a table, and allow the user to view/enter/update all the fields for each item in a different web page. Those of you familiar with Microsoft Access know that in Access it is straightforward to implement this main form/subform interface. I wonder what would be the best way of implementing this using Zope? 4. Do you know of any existing Zope-based app similar to this?. Obviously, the back-end doesn't have to be MySQL. 5. Finally, if somebody is interested in further discussing this type of applications, I'll be glad to participate. Just e-mail me to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks in advance for your inputs. Alonso RhenalsMiami, FL, USAPlease reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Zope maillist - [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope ** No cross posts or HTML encoding! ** (Related lists - http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )
Re: [Zope] Your thoughts about Zope-based database apps
From: "Alonso Rhenals" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Zope] Your thoughts about Zope-based database apps 1. Is Zope a good tool to quicky build an efficient effective user interface for a database application? Yes. Once you get the hang of it it is all quite easy. I have at least one (building another) site that is about 90% driven by the data from a PostgreSQL database. 2. In particular, what would be the best way to implement the inserting and updating of records along with input data validation? (Retrieving data from a database to show on a web page using Zope is straightforward as you know.) ZSQL Methods. 3. In several cases I'd like to implement a main form/subform, where the subform allows the user to enter several items related to only one record in the main form. Since every item might have many fields (say 20) I'd like to present just the most important fields on a table, and allow the user to view/enter/update all the fields for each item in a different web page. Those of you familiar with Microsoft Access know that in Access it is straightforward to implement this main form/subform interface. I wonder what would be the best way of implementing this using Zope? You would have to build it. Not that it would be that tough. You could also use a Zope Wizard if you want to do a couple of forms. 4. Do you know of any existing Zope-based app similar to this?. Obviously, the back-end doesn't have to be MySQL. http://fundraising.gotschool.com - Although you can't see the management interface which has lots of ways of extracting and updating data through forms and ZSQL Methods. All PostgreSQL 6.5.3. J ___ Zope maillist - [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope ** No cross posts or HTML encoding! ** (Related lists - http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )
RE: [Zope] Your thoughts about Zope-based database apps
Hi Alonso, FYI, some of the list members have great difficulty in reading HTML formatted messages. It's best if you set your format to "Plain Text" before submitting to the list. I haven't yet implemented what you are considering, but I am interested in doing so soon. So, I am very interested in what you discover. If you don't mind, if/when you receive any emails that don't get CC'd to the Zope mailing list, please forward them on to me, too. I am an Access programmer and have a bit of experience with MySQL. I've given a lot of thought about how one would handle an Access-like interface with Zope and MySQL over the web. I'm anticipating a lot more development time building the interface, but saving a bunch of time by not having to keep multiple copies of the same DB up to date. If you feel like brainstorming on the "whats" and "hows" of such an application, I'ld love to join in. Thanks, Eric. 2. In particular, what would be the best way to implement the inserting and updating of records along with input data validation? (Retrieving data from a database to show on a web page using Zope is straightforward as you know.) I have a set of java script functions that I use for form field validation. I like this approach because it puts the burden on the client. However, there are Zope products available that handle it on the server side. Search Zope.org for "Smarter Forms" 3. In several cases I'd like to implement a main form/subform, where the subform allows the user to enter several items related to only one record in the main form. Since every item might have many fields (say 20) I'd like to present just the most important fields on a table, and allow the user to view/enter/update all the fields for each item in a different web page. Those of you familiar with Microsoft Access know that in Access it is straightforward to implement this main form/subform interface. I wonder what would be the best way of implementing this using Zope? Using Zope to mimic a form / subform combination means that Zope will have to generate a the input form and subform elements together before they get sent to the user. The user will then update the data sent by Zope. When the form is submitted, Zope will have to update the main form data, then iterate thru the subform elements, modifying the subform data with each iteration. If records are to be added, it will require a client server transaction for each record added (unless something is done with javascript, where the form is generated dynamically. Then, the user could add many records and when the dynamically built form is submitted, Zope will have to figure out how many records the user added). 4. Do you know of any existing Zope-based app similar to this?. Obviously, the back-end doesn't have to be MySQL. I haven't seen any yet, but I'm sure they're out there! ___ Zope maillist - [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope ** No cross posts or HTML encoding! ** (Related lists - http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )
