Re: RPG and AJAX was->RE: How do I create a web page that -- WEB400

 >Validation or not, AJAX is unnecessary for what you're trying to do.

Unnecessary in what light? Sure you can code it with full page cycle
processing back to the server, but if you are looking to streamline the
interface then using AJAX is a nice way to make the UI appealing to the user
- with less "white pages".

If AJAX can be used in a right situation and it will make the user
experience better then it should be used or at least tried. Wow the user.
Give them more than what they expected out of the IT dept. This is something
the user doesn't know exists but they want it desperately.  Older users will
recognize AJAX functionality bringing them back to the days of the  5250
interface (obviously more prone to error, but none-the-less a more thick
client feel)

I think AJAX should be appropriately critiqued, but I think we can also be
optimistic for what it will bring to apps in the next year or two.

Sorry to rant :-)

Aaron Bartell



-----Original Message-----
From: web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Seth Newton
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 1:04 PM
To: web400@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [WEB400] RPG and AJAX was->RE: How do I create a web page that


Charles,

Validation or not, AJAX is unnecessary for what you're trying to do. You can
make it work with AJAX, but why overcomplicate things if it is unnecessary.

I sat down and wrote the application you describe in a few minutes.  It was
a few lines of RPG code using RPGsp (http://www.RPGsp.com), which I think
you're familiar with.  It would take a few more minutes to add validation,
bring in a few extra fields, write to a database, or whatever.  I didn't
even need any JavaScript here.

Here is the app: http://timeshare400.gotdns.com:88/aro3b/rpgsp/myitems.pgm

Here is the RPG code (fixed format):
http://www.profoundlogic.com/samples/myitems_rpg.JPG

Here is the HTML+RPG code:
http://www.profoundlogic.com/samples/myitems_rpghtml.JPG

In this case, RPGsp provided built-in functions for saving information to
the session to keep track of the items.  I was also able to design my screen
and add my RPG code directly into it.

You can accomplish the same with CGIDEV2.  You may have to create a work
file and it would probably be 100+ lines of RPG code, but still less work
than to use AJAX. 

We've written very complex interactive web applications ... with hundreds of
screens, extensive validation ... no AJAX.  

I think AJAX is awesome!  We have used AJAX for things like auto-completion
based on iSeries database files (similar to google-suggest).  This would be
impossible to do without AJAX.  But for most standard applications, you can
make the browser do things you never thought was possible with plain RPG and
some simple JavaScript code.  

Seth Newton
snewton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Profound Logic Software, Inc.
Toll-Free: (877) 224-7768 x115
Fax: (603) 849-7757
www.ProfoundLogic.com
www.RPGsp.com (iSeries Web Development has never been this easy!)



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