Dynamic variable names and invalid_character_err

Question

I'm neither an expert at structure notation nor dynamic
variable naming conventions and would appreciate any help with the
following. Thanks!
This code works fine.
<cfset idx="123">
<cfset form.product[idx]=StructNew()>
<cfparam name="form.product[idx].product_nm"
default="Raspberry Jam">
<cfform name="data_entry" method="post" format="flash"
height="525" width="675" action="formdump.cfm">
<cfformgroup type="tabnavigator" height="400"
width="650">
<cfformgroup type="page" label="Product #idx#">
<cfinput name="static_form_name" type="text"
label="Product" value="#form.product[idx].product_nm#" height="350"
width="600" readonly="yes">
</cfformgroup>
</cfformgroup>
</cfform>
The following code results in the following error:
"ORG.W3C.DOM.DOMEXCEPTION ERROR. Message: INVALID_CHARACTER_ERR: An
invalid or illegal XML character is specified." The only change is
in the "name" attribute of the <cfinput> tag:
<cfset idx="123">
<cfset form.product[idx]=StructNew()>
<cfparam name="form.product[idx].product_nm"
default="Raspberry Jam">
<cfform name="data_entry" method="post" format="flash"
height="525" width="675" action="formdump.cfm">
<cfformgroup type="tabnavigator" height="400"
width="650">
<cfformgroup type="page" label="Product #idx#">
<!--- Change value of name attribute from
"static_form_name" to "product[idx].product_nm" --->
<cfinput name="product[idx].product_nm" type="text"
label="Product" value="#form.product[idx].product_nm#" height="350"
width="600" readonly="yes">
</cfformgroup>
</cfformgroup>
</cfform>
Pam Grieger
[email protected]

Answer 1

Thanks for the info. Knowing what WON’T work is
helpful!
Here’s what I’m trying to do. I’m rewriting
one of my apps, switching out conventional HTML form controls for
<cfform> controls in Flash format. Many of the existing forms
in my app are for updating data contained in a central database.
When such a form is rendered to the screen, each form control is
pre-populated with existing data. All form controls are named
dynamically based upon the unique ID of the record being updated.
Here’s a streamlined but typical example:
<!--- User selected projects 14, 15, 16, and 17 for
update. Get existing project data. --->
<cfquery name="get_project_detail"
datasource="#application.DataSource#">
SELECT project_oid_nbr, project_nm
FROM project_table
WHERE project_oid_nbr IN (14,15,16,17)
ORDER BY project_oid_nbr
</cfquery>
<!--- Initialize the project_nm form control. Form names
are dynamic, based upon get_project_detail.project_oid_nbr. --->
<cfloop query="get_project_detail">
<cfparam name="form.project_nm_#project_oid_nbr#"
default="#get_project_detail.project_nm#">
</cfloop>
<!--- Create HTML form control. --->
<table>
<cfloop query="get_project_detail">
<tr>
<td>
<cfoutput>
Project #project_oid_nbr#:
<input type="text" name="project_nm_#project_oid_nbr#"
value="#Evaluate("form.project_nm_#project_oid_nbr#")#">
</cfoutput>
</td>
</tr>
</cfloop>
</table>
This has been working just fine. However, I’m wondering
if using the Evaluate() function is the most efficient way to go.
Therefore I wanted to use structure notation to avoid the
Evaluate() function, but as mentioned in my original post, this
naming convention won’t work with <cfform> tags.
Any suggestions as to the most efficient way to get the same
result while still using <cfform> tags? Thanks so much!