Creating page items from pl/sql procedure and using them on a page

Question

I have a page containing 2 select lists (P21_DEPARTMENTS and P21_DATE). Originally I added them as items that were "select list with submits". The problem is that based on the clearance level of the currently logged on user I only wanted the P21_DEPARTMENTS to be a select list if the user was an administrator. If however the user is not an admin then I want the page to have a hidden form field called P21_DEPARTMENTS that stores the user's department and has a label item that has the department name.
There is also a report region that generates a table based on the department selected from the select list (if the user is an admin) or the value stored in the hidden form field if the user is not.
My problem is that I cannot have both those items on the same page and use the HTML built-in authentication to determine which item should be rendered because I need to use the same ID for both items so that the stored procedure in my report region doesn't break. HTML does not permit items to share the same ID.
I tried to circumvent the problem by creating a stored procedure that performs all of the item rendering in the procedure and uses "htp.p()" to output all of my HTML code. This solution would allow me to pass a parameter into the procedure informing me as to whether or not the user is an administrator. If the user is an administrator the procedure would use a conditional statement and render a select list. If not, the hidden form field and label option would be used instead.
I finally got the stored procedure working perfectly. Now I am encountering the most bizarre thing. Since the "select list with submit" was not working (I used the same code that gets generated when I created other items using htmlDB's GUI) I decided to use a JavaScript function instead that gets triggered by the onChange event. I send along the value that is currently selected in the select list and in the function I set:
location.href='http://www.myoraclesite.com/pls/htmldb/f?p=111:21:729740000000000000::NO::P21_DEPARTMENTS:1';
In theory this should work. The problem is that it doesn't. The page reloads and the P21_DEPARTMENTS select list is not pre-selected.
The only thing I can think of is that when htmlDB generates page items that you've created with it's own admin tool it assigns some internal guid or something as opposed to when someone tries to generate dynamic page items of their own from a pl/sql procedure it's like the application doesn't even know they exist.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
My only other solution would be to create a totally separate page (one for admin and another for non-admin). I would really like to avoid this.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I would love to be able to generate my menus and
various other items in my htmlDB applications in much
the same way I can using ASP, PHP and Cold Fusion.
Users should have the ability to write server-side
code wherever they feel like it. The way htmlDB works
right now I spend more time trying to figure out how
to create simple effects and generate simple
interfaces when I need to be building a portal. Ami - it's important to understand that HTML DB is not like other languages. Thus, trying to force concepts which are common in other languages into HTML DB will often result in more work.
It's definitely worth the time to go over the HTML DB 2-day Developer, which can be found here: http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/htmldb/pdf/B14377_01.pdf
I can build a portal using Classic ASP, C#, PHP or Cold
Fusion in like 1/10 of the time that it takes me to
build one using htmlDB. I understand that this is not
meant for the hard-core programmer but no web
programming application in today's day and age should
prevent experts from getting under the hood.And I can build a Portal in HTML DB in 1/10 the time it will take me to do it in any other language. It's like anything else - proficiency comes with practice and work.
As for getting under the hood, there is plenty of places you can do that with HTML DB. Keep in mind that HTML DB itself is an HTML DB application, so the limits on what you can build with HTML DB are virtually limitless.
Sorry for the vent there. After spending the last 2
days trying to figure out how to implement such a
straightforward thing and now being informed that it
can't be done kind of bugged me.I understand your frustration, as I've been there before. My rule for beginners is that if you are writing more than a line or two of code in the first week, you're doing something wrong. Stop, take a break, and then use the ample resources (including searching this forum) to help solve your problem. There are plenty of resources available for you to learn about HTML DB on the HTML DB home page: http://otn.oracle.com/htmldb
Good luck,
- Scott -