Execution before redirection

Anon

Hi,

I want to have a HTML form send a page data and then execute some calculations on that data before passing the results to a another that generates a PDF.

How do I parse the form data and then redirect to the PDF generation page? I know I can't use the "header" command because it will give me an error. Any suggestions?

Peer

Anon

I can see two methods to do what you want.

1) Add some javascript to perform the simple calculations and post to the URL in a button handler. I don't like this because it it requires your client to use javascript.

2) Add an extra page. Go ahead and post to a page, allowing that new page to do some calculations. Then use a redirect with the computed values to go to your PDF generator page.

--marco

Anon

I figure that the Javascript option is actually the best because this system is set up on an Intranet an therefore not accessible to the general user.

I have some control over what browsers will be accessing the system and I know they all have to be javascript compatible.

Thanks

Peer

Anon

in javascript use

location.href='yourpage.php3?id=34';

to redirect...add your own variables of course.

Why not make your PDF page a function. Include it at the top of the page and just call the function, passing the values needed. this will make it easier to use your PDF page anywhere else, also. You could even make it a class if there are a lot of parts to it.

---John Holmes...

Anon

I never thought to use a class for the PDF generation. It is already divided up into a bunch of funtions. Where can I get a good description on how to use classes in PHP? I have used them in Java and C, but how are they implemented in PHP?

Peer

Anon

http://www.php.net/manual/language.oop.php

That page will explain it all. They are basically implemented in the same method as C++. You call the class functions with class->function(), instead of using a period. There are constructors and even a method of inheritance.

Classes create some overhead for the page, slowing things down a little. If you already have the functions made, it might be easier to just include() it and then call the functions. Whatever is easier for you...

---John Holmes...