Database Form Functions with HTML

When the form (web page) opens for the first time, the text input controls are made read-only. You must make a conscious attempt to add or change data by clinking the relevant button. When you click the Add or Edit button, the text input controls are put in a state that lets you type in data. After this, they are made read-only (see how below). They remain read-only for all other modes or conditions. When the web page opens for the first time, the field values of the text input controls are the field values (first six) of the first record (row) of the recordset.

Navigation Buttons Operation

When the form comes up for the first time, the field values of the text input controls are the field values of the first row of the recordset. So the Show-First (|<<) and Show-Previous (<<) buttons are disabled. This is because you are already at the first row of the recordset; the Show-First button has to be disabled; you cannot go to any row lower than that, so the Show-Previous button also has to be disabled. If the recordset is empty the Show-Next (>>) and Show-Last buttons are also disabled; there are no rows for you to navigate to.

As you are navigating, while you are at any row between the first and last, all the navigation buttons are enabled. When you reach the last row, the Show-Next (>>) and Show-Last buttons will be disabled. If you go back until you reach the first button, the Show-First (|<<) and Show-Previous (<<) buttons will be disabled.

The Add Operation

When you click the Add button, to set the form into the add-mode, the text input controls are freed for you to type. The Edit, Delete, Find and Sort buttons are disabled. They are disabled because it is not proper for you to edit, delete, find or sort while in the add-mode.

After you have just finished typing, a row of what you have just typed cannot automatically be made in the recordset or the Transmitted Table. An event has to be triggered before the row is created in the recordset and a copy made in the Transmitted Table. It is up to us to decide what event should be triggered.

For this, I decided that if any of the enabled buttons is clicked, the text input controls should be made read-only; a row of the information typed should be created in the recordset; and a copy of this row should be added to the Transmitted Table. Then any button that was disabled, because the Add button was clicked, becomes enabled. This action (enabling) ends the add process (add-mode).