Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

[keuler]

Newbie question: I have a interface in mind for a web application that would allow a member of a group (the YMCA in this case) to sign up for one or more activities. This interface would allow an individual to be presented with a list of activities, each with a checkbox next to it. To sign up, they'd simply check the box. Whenever they visit the list of activities, they'd be presented with the of unique activities with the ones he'd previously signed up for checked AND the ones that he never signed up for (or un-signed up for) unchecked.

The list of activities isn't static: More could be added. Some could be removed (notifying the person, of course). But the main question I have concerns the ease of setting up the checkbox list described above, hopefully without any, or much, programming. (I don't recall seeing a sample of it in the A5 trial, hence my question.)

Once in place, other logic would calculate such things as dues owed based on activities signed up for, and the graying out of activities whose capacity is reached, etc., but I'll consider these later.

Note: The described UI seems to be a good way to have the user see at a glance the entire set of activities, though I'm open to other ideas if the coding/configuration is easier.

Thanks very much!

-Kurt

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

Hi Kurt,

This is a web related question and will be best answered if you re-submit in the Server section.

What you are asking can be done but is rather complex. I would suggest you learn the concept in the desktop first then use that skill in the web app.

There are many ways to store the collected data, so how you store it will determine how it is extracted for examination.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

This, I think, is a hard thing to do, at least it is in the way that you want. I would use an alternative method:

Three tables & 3 grids: Users, Activities & User_Activities. In a grid, link Users & User_Activities by User_Id field. Put that grid and a grid based upon Activities in a single page, probably using a Page Layout Builder. That way you will see all activities in the latter grid and the user(s) in the former grid. In order to copy the activity(s) to the current User_Activities you would need to use xbasic. As an alternative to xbasic you could make the User_Activities grid do a lookup of the activities table. You could have a delete checkbox in the User_Activities grid to delete obsolete User Activities, w/o affecting the actual "master" Activities table.

As you are new to Alpha/WAS you will have to do your homework.

Good luck!

[ierpsite]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

how about 2 step process to minimize coding

step 1 of 2 will store the user data along with a unque id randomly created in the users table

step 2 of 2 is another grid (user activities) with check boxes; here you can derive the primary key of the users table using the unique id you passed from step 1

raj

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

Kurt,

I created an application like what you thinking about in V9, and now I'm updating it to V10. So, I think I have some insight into what's involved. To see what I created as a resource for ideas, go to http://www.asqpdx.com or http://www.asq-seattle.org

For version 10, I believe the tabbed UI is best used for the administrative parts, entering the events and fees, entering announcements, reviewing the signups (and payments if that is part of what you are going to do), reviewing the waiting list, for printing name tags, class rosters, attendance certificates, that sort of thing.

For the user interface, that is the public pages, however, I think it is best to stick with the tradtional approach.

Pat

[wmz]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

This, I think, is a hard thing to do, at least it is in the way that you want. I would use an alternative method:

Three tables & 3 grids: Users, Activities & User_Activities. In a grid, link Users & User_Activities by User_Id field. Put that grid and a grid based upon Activities in a single page, probably using a Page Layout Builder. That way you will see all activities in the latter grid and the user(s) in the former grid. In order to copy the activity(s) to the current User_Activities you would need to use xbasic. As an alternative to xbasic you could make the User_Activities grid do a lookup of the activities table. You could have a delete checkbox in the User_Activities grid to delete obsolete User Activities, w/o affecting the actual "master" Activities table.

As you are new to Alpha/WAS you will have to do your homework.

Good luck!

Hi

I, personally, prefer Peter's approach, i.e. a 1:N:1 relationship between Users, User_Activities and Activities for simplicity and functional reasons. No XBasic required. Can be all done using Alpha's built in features. I have done a similar example using a 1:N:1 relationship between STAFF, STAFF_ROLES and ROLES and it can be easily adapted to users and activities. It is very easy, It looks like this:

Step1 (see corresponding picture)
This shows the STAFF table ("1"-side) and the middle table ("N"-side") of the 1:N:1 relationship. The middle grid is defined als view between STAFF_ROLES and ROLES in order to get the role name from the ROLES table. This grid is then defined as linked content of the STAFF grid and displayed in a freefrom edit region of the STAFF grid. Linked fields are all hidden as I just want to present the user with the name of the role here.

Step2 (see corresponding picture)
When users click on "Add New Role", the middle grid shows new record rows. The role field (in this post the 'activity') is simply a lookup field to the ROLES table. The difference to the checkbox example is that a user has to lookup & select for each role. The final submit can be done all at once.

Step3 (see corresponding picture)
Shows the user with all added roles.

Regards

[keuler]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

Hi

I, personally, prefer Peter's approach, i.e. a 1:N:1 relationship between Users, User_Activities and Activities for simplicity and functional reasons. No XBasic required. Can be all done using Alpha's built in features. I have done a similar example using a 1:N:1 relationship between STAFF, STAFF_ROLES and ROLES and it can be easily adapted to users and activities. It is very easy, It looks like this:

Step1 (see corresponding picture)
This shows the STAFF table ("1"-side) and the middle table ("N"-side") of the 1:N:1 relationship. The middle grid is defined als view between STAFF_ROLES and ROLES in order to get the role name from the ROLES table. This grid is then defined as linked content of the STAFF grid and displayed in a freefrom edit region of the STAFF grid. Linked fields are all hidden as I just want to present the user with the name of the role here.

Step2 (see corresponding picture)
When users click on "Add New Role", the middle grid shows new record rows. The role field (in this post the 'activity') is simply a lookup field to the ROLES table. The difference to the checkbox example is that a user has to lookup & select for each role. The final submit can be done all at once.

Step3 (see corresponding picture)
Shows the user with all added roles.

Regards

Thanks guys! What an informative thread!

Wolfgang, I really appreciate your graphics. Tell me, about that Roles table: can the system be configured to display only roles in that table that the person hasn't already signed up for?

-Kurt

[wmz]

Re: Can A5 do a web UI with a checkbox "signup" list?

Good question. Haven't tried this out yet so I can't say how to do this best in Alpha. Maybe I find some time later...