Field-by-field confirmation popup

rubyonrails-talk
1

Shauna wrote:

Hi, I've searched and can't find a straightforward answer to my particular need. There are actually two related situations I need to find solutions for.

1. On a data entry form, for certain fields I want to do some validation right after the user leaves the field (rather than wait until the entire form is completed). If invalid, I want a modal window to pop up with my composed message in it and an OK button. When the user presses OK, control returns to the data entry form remaining in the problem field.

2. On a data entry form where an existing record is being updated, if the user changes a non-empty field to different value in any field (with a few exceptions), I want a modal window to pop up with a confirmation message and OK and Cancel buttons. When the user presses OK, control continues normally to the next field on the form. When Cancel, the user's change will be reversed (restoring the previous value to the field) and control remains in the problem field.

Is there one simple way to do each of these two things (hopefully DRY for the second one)?

Sounds like you'd want a GUI (desktop) app instead ;-)...

Ditto on what Jason said on JavaScript.

Long www.edgesoft.ca/blog/read/2

2

If it’s input format validation, that can be done in pure JavaScript with no repercussions. Just link up a field with the onBlur() event (I think, and that might not be fully cross-browser) for validation. Otherwise, for real-time password type data validation, you’ll need to use the observe_field() helper and return some RJS code to pop up the dialog and then select the field. Help on these specific topics are on this list, in the Rails docs: api.rubyonrails.com, and (I think) in the newest of Agile Programming with Rails.

Jason