POSTPATH procedure in PH web screen

[Deskin, Bob]

1. As documented on page 205 of the PH Web Guide, we do not use ALIGN or
SKIP in the same manner as a terminal screen. While we will attempt to lay
things out in the order requested, we will not translate columns into page
positions. We decided right from the start that QDESIGN would be used for
processing specifications and the HTML Template would be used for layout. We
do not want to replicate HTML in QDESIGN because HTML is a moving target. 

2. The POSTPATH is used to force the appearance of the Record Page in
response to a Search action as opposed to the normal Search Results page. So
if the user entered a value in Vendor_Key we want to see the page with those
details. Presumably Vendor_Key is unique. There's no need to show a Search
Results page with a single link. So the DEFER LINKSCREEN uses the LoadData
action to tell PH Web to simply load the data. T_Flag is used to ensure that
this does not go into a loop. The first time through, T_Flag is not equal to
"Y". The PostPath changes it to "Y" so that the next time the screen is
called, the POTSPATH will not operate.

To fully understand what's happening you've got to wrap your head around the
stateless nature of PH Web and the way a DEFER LINKSCREEN works. I suggest
reading Chapter 5 of the PH Web Guide plus my paper from the last user
conference. The CD has been sent out to all attendees but if anyone wants a
copy, send me an e-mail (not to the entire list please) and I'll be happy to
send you a copy.

Bob Deskin              
PowerHouse Web Product Manager and Senior Product Advisor
Application Development Tools, Cognos Inc.
bob.deskin@cognos.com (613) 738-1338 ext 7268 FAX: (613) 727-1178
3755 Riverside Drive P.O. Box 9707 Stn. T, Ottawa ON K1G 4K9 CANADA

-----Original Message-----
From: Edis, Bob [mailto:bob.edis@fleetpride.com]
Sent: February 8, 2001 3:08 PM
To: 'powerh-l@sphere.swau.edu'
Subject: POSTPATH procedure in PH web screen


G'day all

I have a couple of questions regarding PH web screen syntax.  I have just
started creating/maintaining some of these screens and there is some syntax
issues I don't know about.  I would appreciate it if someone can clarify
these for me.

1. I notice none of the screens bother with SKIP, ALIGN or TITLE statements.
When I try to use the SKIP and ALIGN statements they do not have the desired
effect on the HTML page.  I.e. if I want the first row to have 2 fields and
the next to have 3, the HTML screen pushes the 3 field onto a new line as it
tries to put the fields into a table that has only 2 columns.

2. I am using existing screens as a template.  The coder has put a POSTPATH
procedure in the code that is not created by default.  E.g.

procedure postpath
begin
  if promptok for Vendor_Key of vendor         &
  and T_Flag <> "Y"
      then begin
             let T_Flag = "Y"
             defer linkscreen dw_vendor        &
                   action "loaddata"           &
                   passing Vendor_Key,         &
                           T_Flag
      end
end

Any ideas why and what this does?

TIA for your (polite) suggestions,

Robert Edis
Manager - Business Intelligence
FleetPride 
520 Lake Cook Rd., Suite 100
Deerfield IL 60015
Tel: 847.572.8039
Fax: 847.444.1096
www.fleetpride.com

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