I agree in theory that this would be a real timesaver. I have developed similar tools to help ease the pain of creating those pesky forms, and the CGI code to process them, but not to the degree you are trying to achieve.

However, what I have learned in the process is that there are so many options to consider for each step, that the time it takes to develop and debug a working program well exceeds the time of just cutting and pasting existing code and then going back to tweak parameters.

For instance, text input. There are the parameters of size, maxlength, value, not to mention css styles or javascript events. And then the validation stuff. Drop downs (Select/Option) are even trickier.

I couldn't figure out an elegant way to do using only Perl. So here are two examples of a table creator and element creator using HTML and Javascript that calls a Perl script. However, I've run out of steam in writing the Perl to generate the final table and form.

Maybe my problem is I'm too picky and want to create all these complicated forms, therefore increasing the workload. Maybe your way is a lot more elegant.

My advice is to write a test script to see what you're minimally up against before committing the time to it.

Best of luck!

In reply to Re: Developing Web Form / Database Apps Faster, Better by bradcathey
in thread Developing Web Form / Database Apps Faster, Better by hey_david

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