Populate a select list based upon another field

System

I would like to populate a select list based upon the selection of one field in DCT, i.e., a user select a country from the list, then we construct the state list by using the selected country and query the DB. I wouldn't mind to use cgi-callout (pop up another screen for user to choose). Any specific example?

Albert

Michael

I think the nicest way is to use formAPI. I have done a quick braindump/half worked example below.

Firstly add an event handler for the country field:

IWEventRegistry.addItemHandler("/country", "onItemChange", countryChanged);

Implement your countryChanged function to query the database.

function countryChanged(item) {

// Get the country item
....

// Get the currently selected country from the item
.... (note use both getValue and getOptions to get the text)

// Call your Perl script which will query the database and return the results

var params = new Object();
params.country = currentlySelectedCountry;

IWDatacapture.callServer("/iw-bin/dev/yourDBRequest.ipl", params);
}

Your Perl script queries the database and prints to standard out the required JavaScript to populate yours states droplist and probably redraw.

// Perl script to query database and put results in appropriate format in $result
....

// Output JavaScript which is executed in template
print <<EOT1;

<html>
<head>
<script language="javascript">
var api;
api = parent.getScriptFrame();
newOptions = new Array();
EOT1

print $result;

print <<EOT2;
api.IWDatacapture.getItem("/state").setOptions(newOptions);
api.IWDatacapture.redraw();
</script>
</head>

<body>
</body>

</html>

EOT2

exit;



HTH

Cheers
Michael