[FX.php List] Save to database without a Submit?

[Dale Bengston]

I do not believe this is a reasonable expectation of HTML. The web is only in a connection mode between a submit click and the next page reloading. After that, it's all happening in the local browser window until the next submit. (Or ajax call or whatever.)

I make these assumptions with complex, multi-part forms:

	-The user should not be sent down a series of forms with no idea how many pages there are to fill out.
	-The user might not want to complete the sections in the same order I'd do it.
	-The user might not finish all the sections in one sitting.

So, based on this, I design multi-part forms around a "hub" page, so users can see what's left to be filled in, and do it from the bottom up if they like. (Naturally if there are dependencies based on order, the user would be guided thusly.) And I make sure the user can get back to the hub page if they get disconnected for any reason, or bail out on their own.

Until all sections are complete and the user officially submits the entire package, the record (or records) are maintained with a status of "Draft" or something like that.


On Dec 4, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Jonathan Schwartz wrote:

> Hi Folks,
> 
> I have a client who is very worried about losing form data should something should go wrong during a data entry session, such as dropped connection or so.
> 
> I have already decided to write to the file upon every page submit (versus saving to sessionand writing it all at once at the end of a multi page form).  On a technical level, I imagine that automatic submits can be accomplished using AJAX, perhaps to a temporary file. But is this a reasonable practice?
> 
> Jonathan
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jonathan Schwartz
> Exit 445 Group
> jonathan at exit445.com
> http://www.exit445.com
> 415-370-5011
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