Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.programming > #2564

Re: form field/spreadsheet question

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

Show all headers | View raw

Jon wrote:
> Please go to my web page and see what I'm trying to do:
> 
> http://3d-triangulation-calculator.bravehost.com/
> 
> The user enters 12 values into the Input form fields, clicks on 
> "Calculate" and the page displays the answer as 6 values in the Output 
> table.
> 
> It doesn't do that yet, but it is what I'd like it to do.
> 
> The Input values need to automatically enter into D24:F26 and I24:K24 of 
> the embedded spreadsheet.  The spreadsheet equations (long and complex) 
> calculate the solution and are automatically entered in the Output table 
> from D28:F29 on the embedded spreadsheet.
> 
> The embedded spreadsheet displayed on the page is a ZOHO spreadsheet 
> linked from its site.  Below this are two links to the same spreadsheet 
> in Excel 97 and Open Office Calc.  Below that are the actual equations 
> used in the spreadsheet calculations.
> 
> Can anyone help me put this together?  I have been told that there are 
> java script programs that already do this.  Can I adapt one for this?  
> Do I have to have the spreadsheet on the server?  I only know a little 
> Borland C++ and Microsoft Visual C++. 

I would suggest that what you are attempting
is too ambitious.  As I understand it, your
process flow is:

1.  User inputs values into HTML webpage and
     hits "Calculate".
2.  HTML form is submitted to your Web
     server (although, at the moment, you do
     not have a form).
3.  Web server enters values into ZOHO
     spreadsheet, and saves ZOHO spreadsheet.
4.  Web server converts ZOHO spreadsheet to
     an Excel spreadsheet and saves that.
5.  Web server converts ZOHO spreadsheet to
     an Open Office spreadsheet and saves
     that.
6.  Web server extracts output values from
     the spreadsheet and sends them back to
     the browser (it is not clear whether
     these would be pushed or pulled).
7.  Output values are written into HTML
     table and displayed in the webpage.

Only item 7 requires JavaScript.  Most of
the work is done by the server, and you give
no details of this.  Clearly, JavaScript is
not the panacea you seem to think it is.

One way to simplify things would be to dump
the ZOHO spreadsheet and, instead, do the
calculations in JavaScript in the browser.
This would avoid the server stuff (items 2
through 6, inclusive).

Unfortunately, you are using PageBreeze to
create your webpage, and this is producing
HTML code that is messy.  This makes item 7
more difficult than it should be.  Therefore,
you might want to also dump PageBreeze and,
instead, learn HTML.

> Is there a tutorial where I can 
> learn javascript for this application?  Where can I find an 
> editor/compiler/debugger for Javascript?

I bought JavaScript: The Definitive Guide by
David Flanagan, and found it most useful.
However, JavaScript is not the panacea you
seek.

-- 
Regards,
Martin Leese
E-mail: please@see.Web.for.e-mail.INVALID
Web: http://members.tripod.com/martin_leese/

Back to comp.programming | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

form field/spreadsheet question "Jon" <no-reply@no-reply.com> - 2012-12-01 23:22 -0500
  Re: form field/spreadsheet question Luuk <luuk@invalid.lan> - 2012-12-02 13:55 +0100
    Re: form field/spreadsheet question Wally W. <ww84wa@aim.com> - 2012-12-02 12:19 -0500
      Re: form field/spreadsheet question Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2012-12-02 19:06 +0100
        Re: form field/spreadsheet question Wally W. <ww84wa@aim.com> - 2012-12-02 17:15 -0500
          Re: form field/spreadsheet question Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2012-12-03 00:29 +0100
  Re: form field/spreadsheet question Martin Leese <please@see.Web.for.e-mail.INVALID> - 2012-12-02 11:27 -0700
    Re: form field/spreadsheet question "Jon" <no-reply@no-reply.com> - 2012-12-02 19:01 -0500
      spreadsheet-to-Javascript translator "Jon" <no-reply@no-reply.com> - 2012-12-02 20:06 -0500
        Re: spreadsheet-to-Javascript translator Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-12-03 10:26 -0800
    Re: form field/spreadsheet question Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-12-03 02:42 +0000

csiph-web