Htmldb_item.select_list_ referecing submitted results

Question

Hi,
I have the following situation. I have a "dynamic" table of questions with n number of rows. The table consists of 1 col for plain text, and 1 col of multiple select list. I generate this table with the form elements dynamically.
When I go to process and validate I store all the questions numbers in htmld_application.G_F01 and can reference them as: htmld_application.G_F01(i). I store all text results in htmld_application.G_F02 (same referencing). I can link the text answer to the question based on the looping counter 'i'. I store the select results in htmld_application.G_F03. Now for the select if I were only to chose 1 value for each select list I would be fine. It seems if I do a multiple select it stores each selected value in a new "row". As you can see this causes a problem since my list is out of order.
When reading the document for htmldb_select_list_from_query for the p_idx value it says: "Typically the p_idx parameter is constant for a given column."
Any idea on a work around? I'd like all the values in a select list for a given 'i' to be colon delimited. EX: select list A would return blue:red:orange in it's element rather then return it in 3 different positions.
Sorry this sounds a bit confusing. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
M

Answer 1

Scott,
Here's my entire situation. I've stripped unnecessary items to focus on the main problem.
Suppose I have a table that contains "dynamic" questions. The main columns are as follows:
question_id
question_name
There is also a table which stores the answers.
question_id
answer_text (for plain text answers)
answer_lovs(list of values if the user selects from a multiple select box)
The user can enter either a plain text answer or select from a multiple select box.
Ok so now we get to the part of displaying the questions. Here's what the code looks like
LOOP over all the questions
.... display quesiton name ...
     htmldb_item.hidden(p_idx => 1, p_value => question_id);
     htmldb_item.text(p_idx => 2, p_value => '');
     htmldb_item.select_list_from_query (p_idx => 3, p_attributes => ' multiple ', p_query => my query);
END LOOP;
Note that all the quesiton_id's are stored in idx = 1, text in idx =2, and answer_lovs in idx = 3. Also note that the select list is a multiple select list.
When the page is submitted the "array" (i.e. the htmldb_application.G_Fxx )should look like this:
question_ids [1,2,3]
answer_text ['a','b','c']
answer_lovs ['g','h','k']
The above example assumes that the user only selects 1 value in the multiple select lists.
If they select multiple values from the select list here's what happpens.
q 1 user selects 'g'
q 2 user selects 'j' and 'u'
q 3 user selects 'i'
the new "array" will look like this:
question_ids [1,2,3]
answer_text ['a','b','c']
answer_lovs ['g','j','u','k']
when I thought that the array would look like:
question_ids [1,2,3]
answer_text ['a','b','c']
answer_lovs ['g','j:u','k']
If you look at the last 2nd to last set of values the "order" is completely out of place. Anyway of doing something so my results turn out like the last set of values?
Please let me know if this makes sense.
Thanks. M.