Append data rows to spry dataset

Question

Hello,
Is thre anyway to append data to already loaded spry dataset?
so that the rows displayed in spry area will automatically updated.
ie, my plan is to load and xml to a dataset and again append
some more data to the dataset on request .
please help...
thanks,
devlosh

Answer 1

Hi Devlosh,
Here's a possbile way to accomplish this. You'll need to
write a few lines of code but the steps are as follows.
Intro:
There are currently two datasets types that can be used with
spry:regions. One is the basic DataSet (uses data that a developer
is feeding it) and the other is the XMLDataSet (takes its data from
an XML file, using XPath to filter the rows).
Steps:
1. You'll have to use a basic DataSet for displaying the
records. Instantiate one on the page (don't feed any data to it)
and then build your markup (spry:region / spry:repeat that uses
this DataSet). A basic sample on how a simple DataSet is used is
presented here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/DataSetSample.html
2. Use a second XMLDataSet that points to the server files
that brings chunks of data (5 records at a time):
"getData.cfm?start=1".
3. Register a function as an observer for the XMLDataSet for
the "onPostLoad" event (here's a sample of using observers:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/DataSetObserver.html).
This function should get the data from the XMLDataSet and attach it
to the data in the first DataSet. Like this:
//ds1 is the DataSet, ds2 is the XMLDataSet
var start = ds1.data.length;
// get data from XMLDataSet and feed it to the DataSet used
to display in spry:regions
for (var idx = 0; idx < ds2.data.length; idx++)
var row = ds2.data[idx];
row['ds_RowID'] = (start + idx);
ds1.dataHash[row['ds_RowID']] = row;
ds1.data.push(row);
// call loadData on ds1 to trigger the display of data
ds1.loadData();
4. Right after the instantiation of this XMLDataSet, call
ds2.loadData(); in order to trigger the downloading of the first
chunk of data
5. Build a "Get Next Data" button and call a function that
does:
ds2.setURL('getData.cfm?start=[NEXT_START]');
ds2.loadData();
Hope this helps you,
Best regards,
Dragos