Collecting data using FP & multiple databases

[Dianne]

Using FP, I created a series of webpages that collect data and drop it into
Access databases. It's important that users do not see Page 2 before
completing Page 1, and not see Page 3 before completing Page 2, and so on.
Then I attempt to match up the data from each database after the fact, using
IP addresses, date/time stamp. It becomes problematic when there is a lot of
traffic, and I end up tossing records that I cannot match.

What I would like to do is create a temporary repository so each user's data
remains intact and when they click the final Submit button, it drops into the
database. Is this even possible?

 

[e.pricecut]

You can just create a new record on page 1 with unique ID as an anchor
(IP+SessionID or generate a sid) and drop a cookie. Then update this
record on page 2,3 ... etc and fill other fields. This way you deal
with a single record in database for each visitor.

 

[Dianne]

Sorry, but you are talking over my head...
From your suggestion, I read up on how to drop a cookie, but don't
understand what you mean by "update this record on page 2,3."
Thanks!

 

[e.pricecut]

I understand you're having problem polling/matching data from different
tables which correspond to certain IP addresses at certain time.

So what I offered was this. Instead of having many tables, you can
combine all your tables into one table (consolidate all fields into one
table). Now, create a new table record on a first page and update
(update in this case is just a record UPDATE sql operation) table
fields corresponding to the page forms for the same record (created on
first page) on every other page - 2,3... For Update operation use the
generated and recorded on page 1 unique ID. And have this ID in cookie
so you can recover it on next pages for the record update. This would
ensure you only have one record in database for each visitor and your
data would not be scattered all over databases/tables.

 

[Dianne]

What happens when the user has cookies disabled?

 

[Dianne]

I found the multipage form feature in FP2003 and it does exactly what I want.
Thanks for your help - I figured out how to make this work because your
suggestions made to look in areas that I would not have done otherwise.