FP97: Drop-Down Populated by IDC Query Shows Code Not Data

• Microsoft FrontPage 97 for Windows with Bonus Pack

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a drop-down form field into the detail section of an .htx file, FrontPage does not include a way to populate the drop- down with data from the IDC query.

CAUSE

The HTML construction necessary to achieve this effect is character based rather than tag based. This particular implementation, although popular, is not defined in any of the working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force. When FrontPage parses this type of construction, it is unable to fit it within a logical tree based on HTML standards.

RESOLUTION

To create a list box populated by an IDC query that returns the value of the selected option, use the HTML Markup command on the Insert menu in FrontPage Editor and insert code similar to the following

   <SELECT name="your_list_box">
      <%begindetail%>
      <option><%The_field_you_want_from_your_recordset%></option>
      <%enddetail%>
   </SELECT>

WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE CODE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this code "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about publishing dynamic data on the Web, see Chapter 8 of the online documentation for IIS. Note that Chapter 8 of this documentation is available at the following Web site:

   http://www.microsoft.com/iis/usingiis/resources/IIS2docs/08_iis.htm

   http://www.microsoft.com

REFERENCES

To view the HTML 2.0 specification for the SELECT tag, see the following World Wide Web Consortium Web site at:

   http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/MarkUp/html-spec/
   html-spec_8.html#SEC8.1.3

   http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/TR/WD-html32#select

...http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-html40-970708/

NOTE: Because the Microsoft Web site is constantly updated, the site address may change without notice. If this occurs, link to the Microsoft home page at the following address:

   http://www.microsoft.com