RE: [FormProc-developer] Some Comments

[Anthony E. <me...@an...>]

> Hello.
>
> I've been trying out FormProc the last couple of days.  Overall, I think
> it is an excellent tool.  Very nice work!  I would like to share some of
> my impressions being a first time user.  I also have a few questions.

Thanks.  I always look forward to comments and questions from others.

>
> My first question is how do you set up a field with no validator?  When
> I configure a field like:
>
> <formproc:element name="address" />
>
> or even
>
> <formproc:element name="address">
>     <formproc:write-method>setAddress</formproc:write-method>
> </formproc:element>
>
> It throws a ResourceException.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but this field
> configuration seems valid.  if not, an exception with some description
> of the problem would be helpful.  Like "ResourceException: Missing
> required --- tag" for example.

I have modified the source in the CVS to allow both forms of the element
method as described above.

>
> Secondly, I received this error that seems due to the fact that I had
> fields in my form that were not included in the configuration file:
>
> [DEBUG]:com.anthonyeden.lib.resource.ResourceFileMonitor - Starting
> FileMonitor
> [DEBUG]:com.anthonyeden.lib.resource.ResourceFileMonitor - FileMonitor
> running.
> [DEBUG]:org.formproc.FormManager - Formproc configuration loaded
> [DEBUG]:org.formproc.servlet.HttpForm - Processing servlet request.
> [DEBUG]:org.formproc.Form - Validating field action
> [DEBUG]:org.formproc.Form - getName: action
> [DEBUG]:org.formproc.Form - Found form element.
> java.lang.NullPointerException
> 	at org.formproc.Form.validate(Form.java:300)
> 	at org.formproc.Form.process(Form.java:266)
> 	at org.formproc.servlet.HttpForm.process(HttpForm.java:38)
> 	at EntryForm.handle(EntryForm.java:49)
>
> Wouldn't it be better to gracefully ignore fields in the form that are
> not included in the xml configuration file?  Or at least throw a
> meaningfull exception with some description of the problem with the
> config file?

I have modified the source code in the CVS so that fields which are not in
the XML configuration are ignored.  I have created a new class
PassFormValidator which implements this functionality.

I have not tested these modifications yet, but I have modified the example
app to simulate this new behavior - I just need to run it.

Sincerely,
Anthony Eden