[ic] Re: table drive component template for complex searches

[Ed LaFrance]

At 08:42 PM 6/10/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>Barry Treahy, Jr. wrote:
>
>>I need to create a component for page construction, preferably table 
>>driven, what will allow for choices to be made from radio, check box, and 
>>entered values.  There are enough similarities between our product lines 
>>that being table driven could make this task much simpler in the long run.
>>
>>An subset example from one of our product lines would need these types of 
>>choices:
>>
>>Frequency:
>>    [   ] 26.5 Ghz
>>    [X] 18.0 Ghz
>>    [X] 12.4 Ghz
>>    [   ] 11.0 Ghz
>>
>>Power Rating:
>>    [X] 2 watts
>>    [X] 5 watts
>>    [   ]O 10 watts
>>
>>Interface Genders:
>>    *  Male/Female
>>    O Female/Female
>>    O Male/Male
>>
>>Low VSWR:    [  ]
>>
>>Attenuation value:  ______
>>
>>And then with the input from this dynamically created form, a search 
>>would need to be constructed to scan through the products table.  A side 
>>note, the intent isn't to search for a precise hit through  a description 
>>or title column as individual metric columns for each parameter exist, 
>>but rather reduce the 30,000 SKU's and infinite choice combinations down 
>>to a manageable few SKU's and then present those SKU's to the prospective 
>>buyer. Before I attempt to do something that has already been created by 
>>someone else who wouldn't mind sharing their efforts, has any one done 
>>any thing like this?
>>
>>Can anyone provide a push start on this or at least a recommended 
>>direction to head?
>
>I've been forging ahead on this, perhaps a case of the 
>blind-leading-ones-self, but so far I have a form establish which is not 
>data driven as I had hoped, at least not yet :-)
>
>I'm still trying to figure out how to handle the content selection.  I 
>have the following search:
>
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_searchtype" value="db">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_sort_field" value="category">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_sort_field" value="sku">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_sort_field" value="">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_coordinated" value="yes">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_map" value="
>mv_searchspec=FREQMAX
>mv_searchspec=POWER
>mv_searchspec=VSWR
>mv_searchspec=BODY
>mv_searchspec=GENDERS
>mv_searchspec=INTERFACES
>mv_searchspec=DBRANGES">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="freqmax">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="power">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="vswr">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="body">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="genders">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="interfaces">
>  <input type=hidden name="mv_search_field" value="dbranges">
>
>by gleaning hints from the archives and docs, it does select product but 
>the challenge I'm running into is that first, this should be an AND 
>reduction between the fields, yet the returned results appear to be an OR.
>
>Additionally, the water is murkied because within the field such as POWER, 
>if the person checks that he wants to see both 2 and 5 watt choices, the 
>search seems to be applying an AND to the field search where I really need 
>the logic to operate as an OR.
>
>So, so summarize where I need to reach, each field test if non-black needs 
>to reduce the results selected in an AND test between themselves. Within 
>each field, if multiple choices are available, each choice needs to be 
>considered as an OR test:
>
>    (FREQMAX eq 18 OR FREQMAX eq 12.4) AND (POWER eq 2 or POWER eq 5) and 
> BODY eq STD
>
>for example...
>
>Anyone???
>
>Barry

Given the proliferation of ANDing and ORing, you really should consider 
going SQL with this - it is a better vehicle for complex searches IMHO.  In 
either case, I would also suggest that you collect all search data as a 
separate step - evaluate it (which allows you to perform manipulations if 
needed), then pass it to a search. There are some examples of this in the 
UI and elsewhere in foundation. A direct search form post is too 
restrictive I think.

- Ed L.


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