auto generate HTMLs from DCR

Hi,
I am fairly new to templating and am hoping some of the experts here will help me out!!
What I've already done is: I have a datacapture.cfg form, once the form is filled, I automatically generate the DCR into the data folder with unique filenames. I did this by modifying the templating.cfg and using the setAutoDCRPathGenerator in my script.
What I am further trying to acheive is: After the DCR is generated, I want to call another function to automaticaly generate the HTML page out of this info. I am looking into iwgen/iwregen, just wanted to make sure I'm going in the right direction.
It'll be great if you can suggest any solutions, reading materials or sample codes.
Thanks!!!

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Migrateduser

You can do this very easily with FormAPI. You can have more control over the name of the DCR and have it automatically save, which it sounds like you're already doing. Further, you might use a CallServer (in the FormAPI documentation) to then generate the page with a pre-calculated name.

If possible, I recommend doing this through a very simple workflow. I'm a big fan of workflow and prefer to replace even small tasks with workflow that promise the same user experience (i.e. without too much overhead).

Either is certainly appropriate, however.

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kaalraa

I also give second to Dave's thought. Certainly workflows are the best to use if you want to achieve some dynamic features and functionality within your code.

Also as you said using iwgen/iwregen, is also a way out to meet your requirements as well.

Migrateduser

Kaalraa,

Thanks for your... input, I guess, but you haven't said anything new. techSan mentioned iwgen/iwregen and I mentioned CallServer and/or workflows. So, you just chimed in to "second" everything? Seriously, what value is that? For someone who creates the initial post of a message (techSan in this case) and is kept informed of updates via email, it's frustrating and annoying when they get hope that another solution may be proposed just to find that it's you just saying, "I second that."

Why do that? What's the point?

Dave

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techSan

Well thanks for your inputs guys. though thinking about it, personally think invoking it through a callServer would be a better choice for me as I am more familiar with that than workflows at this point.
So taking the callServer approach, would I be calling a perl module which does the necessary work! If so can you give an example syntax how I will be using it in the perl module to generate the HTML.
Appritiate all your help!!!

chetansethi

You would need to do the following

1) Create a CGI file which would do that necessary work of generating or regenrating.
2) Use form API and in the onSave and onUpdate methods call the CGI using the following command.
IWDatacapture.callServer (url, data, isGet)

Just make sure that you call the IWDatacapture.save method before doing the gen/regen or else you would have inconsistent HTML file generated.

techSan

Thanks for your reply Chetan, I will try to do accordingly.
Would appritiate if you could also give a sample syntax how I would generate the HTML using my dcr/tpl from within my CGI.

Migrateduser

It sounds like you have some reading to do. You say you're not so familiar with workflows... okay, but then you say you're more comfortable with CallServer but basically ask how to do it?

I recommend either some training or doing a good amount of reading.

kaalraa

For example:

To use iwgen:
iwgen -t templatedata/internet/surfing/presentation/yourTemplateFile.tpl
-r templatedata/internet/surfing/data/yourDcrName generatedFilename.html

To use iwregen:
iwregen generatedFilename.html

Thanks for your reply Chetan, I will try to do accordingly.
Would appritiate if you could also give a sample syntax how I would generate the HTML using my dcr/tpl from within my CGI.

techSan

Well yes I definitly have a lot of reading to do since I am new to this, and trust me.. am working hard on it. In the meanwhile getting experianced advices from you guys definitely helps.. right!!!

techSan

Thanks Kaalra.. that definitly helps, I will start working on it and let you guys know how it goes!!!

kaalraa

Thats right... if your looking for advices. However, if you start asking for sample code snippets then the person definitely thinks ... to advise you for training and reading.

Anyways... dont stretch it too much... that the users over here... just asking you for RTFM.

Well yes I definitly have a lot of reading to do since I am new to this, and trust me.. am working hard on it. In the meanwhile getting experianced advices from you guys definitely helps.. right!!!

Migrateduser

In that case, kaalraa's response basically just gives the usage of these commands but you'll need to either write your own CallServer script to use this command since the CallServer needs to live somewhere that's HTTP accessible and these two commands are not.

ISCBorisB

...would be a better choice for me as I am more familiar with that than workflows...

If you're in and it looks like you are... Get yourself familiar with WF's - it's one of the (if not the) most imporatnt tools in TS.
That said, if you have a simple generation, you have another option: Call Generate Widget from your FormAPI code.
Something like the following:


function generatePage() {

   IWPageGeneration.setOutputFile(your_filename, true);
   IWPageGeneration.setPresentationTemplate(your_template);

   window.open(
      "/iw-cc/command/iw.group.formspub.generate?vpath=" + IWDatacapture.getDCRPath(),
      "",
      "status=yes,toolbar=yes,location=yes,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,left=75,top=50");
}

techSan

I am not sure I followed you Dave.
I was kind of thinking I will be using the callServer command to call my CGI (which would reside in the HTTP accessible area as you mentioned). Within that CGI I would try something what Kaalra suggested to generate the HTML giving reference to the dcr.
Is that the correct way to go!!

Migrateduser

Yes, that's what I was referring to. However, as Boris mentioned, workflow is very useful and it would be of great benefit to you to learn it sooner than later. You'll have fun with it once you're versed in it.

techSan

Thanks for all your help everyone.. finally got it working!!!
Heres what I did:
In my formAPI; 'onSaveDone' used callServer to call my CGI. The CGI executed the iwgen, which is generating the required html. Another method in the formAPI calls a CGI 'onUpdate' which executes iwregen.