IWP and validating data during entry

[pmg]

Greetings,

I think I posted this to the incorrect conferene before. I am new to FM and IWP. I am having my sales reps use a FMPro 9 database via IWP. I have created an entry form for client information and have made several the fields "Required: Not Empty". While this works fine on the FMPro 9 software, when I load it up to our FMServer Adv 10 and come into it via the web it does not function the same way. I cannot tell you how frustrated my reps are that they spend the time to enter the data, go to submit it and then get an error message stating they left something out or it was entered worng. The part the destroys them is the form/layout no longer has the majority of information that was correct. Is this a function of IWP? FYI.. my field for example are First Name, Last Name, and the Validation is as follows: Required Value, Only During Date Entry, Allow Override, Message... I have even tried eliminating the Only During Data Entry and using Always. What am I missing? I need the reps notified of the error as soon as they go to a new field. Is this possible with IWP? Thank you in advance.

Mark

[IdealData]

Well I just tested IWP and I CANNOT make the browser LOSE any of the fields that are already entered, whether they are validated or not.

IWP works on 'page' submission, so you cannot get the 'interactive' feel like you get with FMP.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Guest

[pmg]

Thank you for your time and effort. It totally makes sense to me about when you speak about "page submission" and that is why I was so perplexed with the issue. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it happen. Today, I deliberately went in and tried to enter incomplete data. I could not replicate the issue again but when I went to the sales reps on the floor they told me it was still happening. I am suspecting it might have something to do with browser settings (part of their login profile) perhaps the cache or autofill form settings. Once again, I appreciate your time and your expertise. When I find the cause and institute the repair I will post it here. I am strongly leaning towards a user profile issue in combination with bad data entry technique.

Mark

[IdealData]

It could well be browser version differences, and possibly JAVA.

I tested using Safari 4 (beta) on Mac OS X 10.4.11, Java Release 6

[Dane]

For IWP Forms, I don't do any data validation in the field definition; I script it all, and have a field by the "Submit" button that gets populated with error messages after Submit is clicked (assuming there were errors, of course...). No data lost, a record can be saved as a "work in progress" or incomplete.

The main catch is you can't let your users use the Submit button on the status area; you have to build your own Submit button with the validation script attached.

So you either have to lock out the status area (and replicate all the functions thereon that your users need) or let them have access to the status area & trust they'll remember not to use that conveniently placed Submit button over there on the side... up to you how your salesforce would work best.