What a waste of time!

[saline]

Hey everybody, do you know what I love? The internet. Know why? Because it's cool. I've loved the internet (or the intarweb depending on who you ask) for years now. It's so cool, it's a completely new world conainted within our own, larger than your antfarm but still controllable, sweet. I started HTML in ninth grade when I should have been paying attention to my Biology teacher (bad idea on my part). I spent hours learning HTML and becoming a better designer and at the time I wasen't really much of a programmer so I didn't mind all the repetative cutting and pasting and sitting there for hours doing the same thing over and over, it was still fun.

Then I started learning more, I learned to program and learned about CGI scripts and how big webpages worked and I realized I was the biggest tool in the world. But I've got a real big tolerance for self deprecation so I stayed the course and created the largest website I had ever administered before. It was a site for a small magazine (or zine). The person who runs the magazine wanted a place for news, back issues, guidelines for submitting and a way for people to subscribe. I was like, ok easy, uh huh got an idea, sure no problem and ok yeah I can do something for that. Next thing you know I'm neck deep in sloppy HTML and like two weeks behind schedule and I'm having fits over graphics and spacing and getting everything to display right.

Long story short, I did it, it took days and weeks and months but over time I got up an alpha and told the person I was working for "yay I'm done"! Then I did the sneaky procrastinator trick and kept working behind the scenes, without telling the magazine person, to get everything right. I updated the entire site, made the HTML completely sealed up as best I knew, solidified the few scripts I used and just generally ensured it would work for the majority of users (your mileage may vary).

I kept updating it for them and made changes over time and added a section or two and generally things go pretty well with the site. But very little changed in the way I was creating pages I had a template which I would go and fill in, by hand, every time. It was no fun any more and I was so tired of it my desire to update dwindled to almost nothing.

Recently I wrote a program to automate one of the most mind numbing tasks. On the pages with back issues we list the people who wrote for the issue each person in a different cell of a table. Well the magazine is a poetry magazine so the pieces aren't long, and it's a pretty big magazine so there's potentially six to seven people on every two pages. So it's a big table and was a big waste of time the way I was doing it. So I just took the format that I usually get the list of people in, and wrote a program to produce the webpage and write it to a file.

I'm working on making it a CGI script so I don't even have to do anything and I can finally get back to cataloging the bits of food I find on the floor of my room.

Anyway, the teaser for this week is to make my life easier! Or at least somebodies life easier. Find some tedious task and automate the sucker. There's lots of stuff you could do with HTML:

1) Write a program to search for a certain string and replace it within a text file (not just for HTML), or a group of text files.

2) Write a program which automates the creation of external Cascading Style Sheets which prompts the user to enter values for the background color, font, text size and other generally specified things.

3) Maybe a program that alerts the user of any potentially un-closed tags within an HTML document.

4) Or a program which creates tables where the user can specify the number of rows and columns and then go fill them in.

All of these things remove the grunt work from webdesign which is so nice after years and years of control c-ing and control v-ing.

This teaser requires some experience with HTML and will most likely require you know how to create and write to files. I can help with both HTML and making files in C++, python, Perl (but may have difficulty in Perl as some of you may have noticed) and I might be able to fake it in Visual Basic as well.

They're short, they're sweet and they're potentially super useful, lets see what everyone can come up with!

I'll post mine some time soon.

[pngwyn]

I have begun writing a (IMO) useful PHP script that I like to call 'Fast Forms.' As the name implies it is a script that you can include in your PHP scripts for quick generation and validation of HTML Input Forms.

It isn't quite complete and I am going to write a component that will allow for verification checks on fields, IE a US Zip code field contains 5 numbers, email address looks like an e-mail address, phone numbers are only numeric, etc...

If there is enough interest I can post the updates that I will be making over the next several weeks.

The comments at the tail end of the script contain examples on usage. You can look at the specific functions for variable examples.

Feel free to modify but I would appreciate the credit and/or improvements to be mailed back.

DISCLAIMER: The code has not been "beautified", yet.

PHP Code:

<?
/*******************************
fastForms v0.50
--- by Nathan Cook <ncook@pcsedu.com>
*******************************/

/*******************************
• FileField Function Needs Flesh
• FileField Behind the scenes needs
  planned and written

A set of functions to rapidly
create, validate and provide
user feedback for HTML forms.
*******************************/

if(!$font) { $font = "<font face=verdana,arial,helvetica size=2>"; }
$PHP_SELF = $_SERVER[PHP_SELF];

// Initializes the form, creates global variables to track required vars, track errors,
// report errors and begins the buffer to draw the table.  $$formname, form print buffer
function startForm($title, $name, $bgcolor, $postto, $target, $width, $cellpadding, $cellspacing, $border, $encType = 0)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($encType == '1') { $encPrint = "enctype=\"multipart/form-data\""; } else { unset($encPrint); }
    if($border != 0) {
        $form .= "<table cellpadding=$border cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#000000><tr><td>\n";
    }
    $formName = $name;
    if($target != "") { $targetPrint = "target=$target"; } 
    $form .= "<table bgcolor=$bgcolor border=0 width=$width cellpadding=$cellpadding cellspacing=$cellspacing>\n";
    // create <form> with $postto, $targetPrint
    $form .= "<form $encPrint method=POST action=".$postto." $targetPrint>\n";
    // Draw header for table proclaiming the $title
    $form .= "<tr>\n\t<td colspan=2>$font  <font size=+1>";
    if($title != "") $form .= "<b>$title</b><br>";
    $form .= "<hr size=1 width=99%></td>\n</tr>\n";
}
function reqd($required, $name, $label) {
    global $form, $formName, $font, $errorArr;
    hidField('required[]', $name);
    if($errorArr != "") {
        if(array_search($name, $errorArr)) {
            $label = '<font color=#FF0000>'.$label.'</font>';
        }
    }
    $label = '<b>'.$label.'</b>';
    return $label;
}
function heading($title, $bold)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($bold == '1') { $text = "<b>$title:</b>"; } else { $text = $title; }
    $form .= "<tr>\n\t<td colspan=2 height=22>$font $text</td>\n</tr>\n";
}
// Draws a text field based on the variables supplied.
function textField($label, $name, $size, $maxlength, $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }
    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label </td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=text name=$name value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name]."\" size=$size maxlength=$maxlength $dis></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}
function dateInput($label, $name, $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label </td>\n";
    
    $nameMon = $name."Mon";
    $nameDay = $name."Day";
    $nameYear = $name."Year";
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][0]."\" size=2 maxlength=2 $dis>&nbsp;/&nbsp;\n";
    $form .= "\t$font <input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][1]."\" size=2 maxlength=2 $dis>&nbsp;/&nbsp;\n";
    $form .= "\t$font <input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][2]."\" size=4 maxlength=4 $dis></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}
function phoneField($label, $name, $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label </td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font (<input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][0]."\" size=3 maxlength=3 $dis>)&nbsp;\n";
    $form .= "\t$font <input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][1]."\" size=3 maxlength=3 $dis>&nbsp;-&nbsp;\n";
    $form .= "\t$font <input type=text name=".$name."[] value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name][2]."\" size=4 maxlength=4 $dis></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}
function passField($label, $name, $size, $maxlength, $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label </td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=password name=$name value=\"".$_REQUEST[$name]."\" size=$size maxlength=$maxlength $dis></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}

// Draws a checkbox field based on the variables supplied
function checkField($label, $name, $value)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font -&nbsp;$label</td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    if(isset($_REQUEST[$name])) { $checked = "checked"; } else { unset($checked); }
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=checkbox name=$name value=\"$value\" $checked></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}

// Draws a hidden field based on the variables supplied
function hidField($name, $value)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    // print field for hidden value and name
    $form .= "\t<input type=hidden name=\"$name\" value=\"$value\">\n";
}

// Draws a file upload field based on the variables supplied
function fileField($label, $name, $filesize, $required = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label</td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=file name=$name></td>\n";
    $form .= "<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"MAX_FILE_SIZE\" value=\"$filesize\">";
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}

// Begins a set of radio fields based on the variables supplied
function radioField($label, $name, $none = '0', $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font, $nonoption;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }
    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $label</td>\n";
    
    // begin cell for radio buttons
    if($none == '1') { 
        $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=radio name=$name value=\"0\" $dis>None</td>\n";
        $form .= "</tr>\n";
    } 
    
    $nonoption = $none;
}

// Adds options to the radio fields based on the variables supplied
function radioOption($label, $name, $value)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font, $nonoption;
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }
    // Draw Table Row
    if($nonoption == '1') { 
        $form .= "<tr>\n";
        // Print $label in first cell
        $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font &nbsp;</td>\n";
    }    
    // begin cell for radio buttons
    if($_REQUEST[$name] == $value) { $selected = "checked\n"; } else { unset($selected); }
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <input type=radio name=$name value=\"$value\" $selected $dis>$label</td>\n";

    $form .= "</tr>\n";
    $nonoption = '1';
}

// Adds options to the select field based on the variables supplied
function selectOption($label, $value, $name)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font, $$name;
    // Detect pre-selected fields
    // Creates/Appends to a string the options with default values
    if($_REQUEST[$name] == $value) { $selected = "selected\n"; } else { unset($selected); }
    $$name .= "\t\t\t<option value=\"$value\" $selected>".$label."</option>\n";
}

// Initializes a select field based on the variables supplied
// YOU MUST DEFINE ALL SELECT OPTIONS BEFORE DEFINING FIELDS
function selectField($title, $name, $size = '1', $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font, $$name;
    if($required == '1') { $title = reqd($required, $name, "$title"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }
    // create row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75%>$font $title</td>\n";
    
    // second cell: <select $name $size>
    $form .= "\t<td>";
    $form .= "$font\n\t\t <select name=$name size=$size $dis>\n";
    $form .= $$name;
    $form .= "\n\t\t</select>\n";
    $form .= "\t</td>\n";

    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}

// Draws a text area based on the variables supplied
function areaField($label, $name, $rows, $cols, $wrapstyle, $required = '0', $disabled = '0')
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($required == '1') { $label = reqd($required, $name, "$label"); }
    if($disabled == '1') { $dis = 'disabled'; } else { unset($dis); }

    // Draw Table Row
    $form .= "<tr>\n";
    // Print $label in first cell
    $form .= "\t<td width=75% valign=top>$font $label</td>\n";
    
    // Print Field in second cell
    $form .= "\t<td>$font <TEXTAREA name=$name cols=$cols rows=$rows wrap=$wrapstyle $dis>".$_REQUEST[$name]."</textarea></td>\n";
    
    $form .= "</tr>\n";
}

// Ends Form, adds hidden fields for passing the global arrays.
function endForm($button, $border)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    // print submit button
    $form .= "<tr>\n\t<td colspan=2 align=right>\n\t\t<hr size=1 width=99%>\n\t\t$font \n\t\t<input type=submit name=submit value=\"$button\">\n\t</td>\n</tr>\n";
    // close table
    $form .= "</table>\n";
    
    //if($border != 0) {
    $form .= "</td></tr></table>\n";
    //}
}

// parses through the global arrays to validate form fields
function validateForm()
{
    global $form, $formName, $font, $errorArr, $errorStr, $valid;
    if(count($_REQUEST[required])) { 
        foreach($_REQUEST[required] as $field) {
            if(($_REQUEST[$field] == "")||($_REQUEST[$field] == '0')) { 
                $errorArr .= ",$field";
                if(!$errorStr) { $errorStr = "Complete the Bold Red fields to continue."; }
            }
        }
    }
    if($errorArr != "") {
        $errorArr = explode(",", $errorArr);
    } else { 
        $valid = '1';
    }
}
function errorOutput($errorStr)
{
    global $form, $formName, $font;
    if($errorStr != "") {
        $form .= "<tr>\n\t<td colspan=2 align=center>$font <font color=#FF0000><b>$errorStr</b></font></font></td>\n</tr>\n";
    }
}

/* Example ****************************
if($_REQUEST[submit]) { validateForm(); }

$formTitle = 'Testing';
$formName = 'test';
$bgcolor = '#DDDDDD';
$postto = $PHP_SELF;
$target = '';
$width = '350';
$cellpadding = '2';
$cellspacing = '0';
$border = '1';

startForm($formTitle, $formName, $bgcolor, $postto, $target, $width, $cellpadding, $cellspacing, $border);
errorOutput($errorStr);
textField('First Name', 'fname', '20', '40', 1);
textField('Last Name', 'lname', '20', '40', 1);
heading('Your Organization', 0);
checkField('School', 'school', '1');
checkField('YMCA', 'ymca', '1');
checkField('Boys & Girls Club', 'bgca', '1');
radioField('Sex', 'sex', '0', '1');
radioOption('Male', 'sex', 'male');
radioOption('Female', 'sex', 'female');
selectOption('<- Select One ->', '0', 'jobtitle');
selectOption('Programmer', 'prog', 'jobtitle');
selectOption('SysAdmin', 'sysad', 'jobtitle');
selectOption('Developer', 'develop', 'jobtitle');
selectField('Job Title', 'jobtitle', '1', '1');
areaField('Notes', 'notes', '4', '20', 'virtual', '1');
endForm('Submit', 1);

print($form);

********************************** */
?>