List display problem

8 posts by 3 authors in: Forums > CMS Builder
Last Post: July 10, 2008   (RSS)

By kkegans - July 8, 2008

I am generating a list using RAND() as the order by on the sorting page and using VIEWER OPTIONS set to show 10 records per page with prev & next page links.

The problem I have is that every time the PREV or NEXT links are used, the order changes in the LIST RESULTS, consequently the same item will appear on more than one page of the list. I know I probable have something screwed up, but can't see what it is. Any suggestions?



Kurt
CMSB Rocks!
Thanks,
Kurt

Re: [kkegans] List display problem

By Donna - July 8, 2008

Hi Kurt!

Well, that's actually working as intended -- random means just that: Every time the list is generated, it's going to pull in random listings, so some of those might be duplicated.

Can you let me know what the intended result is? Maybe we can come up with a different way of setting it up. :)
Donna

--
support@interactivetools.com

Re: [Donna] List display problem

By kkegans - July 8, 2008

Donna,

I would expect the list to be generated differently each time it was generated, but I would not expect the list to be regenerated every time the user moves from the first page of a partial list to the next.



If the list generated theses results: D,R,H,E,B,U,M,W,X,U,Z,Q,Y,P,C,T,X,N,I,G,O,... and you were only displaying 5 record, the PREV , Page 1 of 3 NEXT, I would expect this:

D,R,H,E,B prev - next

U,M,W,X,U prev - next

Z,Q,Y,P,C prev - next

T,X,N,I,G prev - next

NOT THIS:

D,R,H,E,B prev - next

R,M,Z,D,C prev - next

Z,D,X,T,B prev - next

Z,M,D,R,B prev - next

That does not represent PREVIOUS and NEXT, but a NEW LIST comprising a completely new random order after each PREV or NEXT is selected.

I expect the next page to be a continuation of the original list until the list end is reached, and the previous page to repeat exactly the ordered items on the preceding page.



Kurt
CMSB Rocks!
Thanks,
Kurt

Re: [Dave] List display problem

By kkegans - July 8, 2008

Dave and Donna,

That could really be a show stopper! For any type of sales listing, Auto, Homes, etc, especially where there will potentially be a few hundred record, generating the complete page and then parsing the results with java script to display a true NEXT/PREVIOUS wolud be pretty futile.

Is there any way to store the ordered list of results (INDEX), by user, in a server side file keyed to the user session or a session variable? That would allow the retreival of the next(X) records or previous(X) records to be selected. This would result in a true NEXT PAGE or PREVIOUS PAGE

The file would have to expire after a set period of non-access, like a session id and I guess that could present a problem as a watchdog routine would need to be running all the time to clean up the [font "Verdana"]orphaned indexes.

I know there has to be a solution, as my competition already has their databases working this way.with hundreds of records and many pages of display. Each session maintains the same ordered results, but each session is generated completely differently.
CMSB Rocks!
Thanks,
Kurt

Re: [kkegans] List display problem

By Dave - July 8, 2008

Hi Kurt,

It's all possible, but not supported by default in CMS Builder. Can you post some links of other sites that work like this and let me know so more details about what you're trying to do? You can email me directly at dave@interactivetools.com if it's confidential.

Hope that helps!
Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com

Re: [Dave] List display problem

By kkegans - July 8, 2008

Dave,



I dove into the source of the pages I emailed you and it looks like you were right on. They seem to be outputting the entire results list and then parsing the pages using some Java Script.......
CMSB Rocks!
Thanks,
Kurt

Re: [kkegans] List display problem

By Dave - July 10, 2008

Hi kkegans,

So it sounds like that might be a solution. I know we've been talking about this over email. If you have any other questions about this feel free to post.

Hope that helps!
Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com