Problems passing a Session Variable

[scottl]

I have a dialog web component where I have a dropdown field created called rpt_name with no submit button. I want to pass this name, which is the name of a report to another A5W page where I am going to use it in the code as follows.

filename = report.saveas(quote(session.rpt_name) + "@[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\clm3.dbf","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f.).

session.rpt_name is referring to the dropdown field I set up on the previous web page in a dialog.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Pat Bremkamp]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

Scott,

I think you have to have a submit button in order to use the aftervalidate event. Otherwise you can't assign you variable to a session variable. If the scope of the variable rpt_name is local, the next page can't see it.

Pat

[Selwyn Rabins]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

if i understand what you want to do, you want to dynamically select the name of the report to print from a dropdown box on a dialog component.

this can be done, but you are missing some steps. you need to dynamically construct the xbasic command to print the report.

starting with the sample printInvoice.a5w page that ships with the demo app, i made these changes:

"%A5

IF eval_valid("session.rpt_name") = .f. Then
goto skipreport
end if
dim filter as c
dim order as c
Filter = ".t." 'I will assume that you don't have a filter for the report
Order = ""

Dim filename as c
'this is the name of the .pdf file that you want to create
filename = session.session_folder + chr(92) + "tempreport.pdf"

dim cmd as c
'this is the name of the xbasic command that you are constructing dynamically to print the
'selected report
cmd = "filename = report.saveas(" + quote(session.rpt_name + "@[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\clm3.dbf") + ",\"pdf\"," +quote(filter) + "," + quote(order)+ "," + quote(filename)+ ",.f.)"

'now execute the xbasic command that you constructed
dim result as c
result = evaluate_template(cmd)
if result "" "" then
?"Error executing report print command: " + result + ""br""
end
end if
if file.exists(filename)
response.redirect(session.session_url + "tempreport.pdf?" + time("hms3"))
end if
end


skipreport:

?"Error:You have not specified the name of the report to run "br""
%"

[scottl]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

Thanks for the code but it does not address the passing of the session variable from the dropdown control to the code below. I already have code like you below but the dropdown field value is only getting into the session variable after I press a Submit Button. In the properties of the field there is an option for the field to be a session or local. I tried that and nothing happened. I also tried using the validate and activate and the only thing that works is if I use the submit button. In my application I want the user to pick the report they want via the dropdown and then press the print button. That's all. The Print button is not part of the Dialog for the dropdown.

I hope this is clear.

Thanks.

[Lenny Forziati]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

Variables cannot be created on the server until the client (browser) sends them to the server. This means clicking a submit button (or using Javascript to automaticaly submit the form when it is changed). There is no way around this.

You'll have to make the drop-down part of the form that the Print button submits.

[scottl]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

What is the session option vs local in the field control for?

[Lenny Forziati]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

It controls whether the variable will be created as local or session. But if you don't submit the form containing the control, no variable of any type will be created.

[Lenny Forziati]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

http://support.alphasoftware.com/alphafivehelp/Webpub/Setting_Dialog_Control_Properties.htm

[scottl]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

Thank you.

That is what I looked up before and is why I tried that.

The documentation says: "Session" - Session variables can be seen by other pages in your application.

So all I need to do is select session and the session variable session.fldname will automatically be available for any other page. I do not need to code anything else in the submit button. Is that right? I think I tried that and the session variable was not available.

[Lenny Forziati]

RE: Problems passing a Session Variable

Scott, if that control is not within the form that the your button sends back to the server (as you seem to have explained above), it's value is not sent back either. In this case, the type of variable is insignificant because no variable gets created at all. If you don't explicitly tell the server to create a variable, which is done by submitting a form with that variable in it, it won't read your mind and do it for you.

-Lenny