Multi-Record (NON-DB) block - duplicate records

Question

I have a non-db block called 'EDITOR_INFO' that captures all the editor's information. The block has the following fields in it: editor_name,editor_type,address_lines1 thru4, city, state, zip, taxid_ssn_type,taxid_ssn.
I need to check to make sure that the user is not entering the duplicate editors. How can I adapt the infamous Kevin Clarke's solution to this (if at all)? What would be my datablock, control block etc?
Can any one pls. provide any guidance.
Thanks,
Chiru
Edited by: Megastar_Chiru on Nov 8, 2010 3:55 PM
Edited by: Megastar_Chiru on Nov 8, 2010 3:56 PM

Answer 1

Chiru, if all you need is to add/query records in a block, you should consider making a data-block instead of control-block. And use POST to post the data into table which will let you check against the table if a record exists or not.
But if you want to have it done using a control-block then follow below sample steps.
In WHEN-VALIDATE-RECORD of your control block, you can check if entered record is already in the table or not.
If it exists, then raise error message and stop until user corrects the data... if it does not exist, then INSERT into the table.
For this scenario, I created a small table with two columns.
CREATE TABLE TABLE_A (Col1 NUMBER, Col2 VARCHAR2(30));Now I created a form with a control block (BLOCK2). It has 10 records with vertical layout and two control-items on it (TEXT_ITEM4 and TEXT_ITEM5). And below is code used on WHEN-VALIDATE-RECORD.
-- WHEN-VALIDATE-RECORD
DECLARE
  temp VARCHAR2(1);
  CURSOR c_check_existance IS
  SELECT 'X'
    FROM table_a
   WHERE col1 = :BLOCK2.text_item4;
BEGIN
    :GLOBAL.Valid_Records := 'N';
     IF :block2.text_item4 IS NOT NULL THEN          
          OPEN c_check_existance;
          FETCH c_check_existance INTO temp;
          IF c_check_existance%FOUND THEN
               CLOSE c_check_existance;
                                                :GLOBAL.Valid_Records := 'N';
               MESSAGE('Record already exists in table');
               RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
          ELSE
               INSERT INTO table_a (col1, col2)
                            VALUES (:block2.text_item4, :block2.text_item5);
                                                :GLOBAL.Valid_Records := 'Y';
          END IF;
          CLOSE c_check_existance;
     END IF;
END;Remember, when making a control block like a data block, you have to code everything yourself.