Basic question: how to include plain links in an iform.

[C.E. Coleman]

This seems like a basic enough question but like so many things iform, nothing works like normal web based pages. As a web developer and fairly new iform developer I find some HTML basics don't function as expected.

On that note, I am trying to include an ordinary link on one of my iforms to a plain text htm document that contains a reference chart. The chart doesn't need to return info or interact in any way with a VGR, just needs to open in another window. The document is in the same directory with the iform.htm so I am using the typical a href=style link. It opens a window but does not show the document. Should I use a JS popup instead?

I have been curious as to how this system calls htm files. Doesn't seem to work like an ordinary set of htm files on a typical web server.

Any assistance or advice here would be mightily appreciated. The Mck manuals are limited and this group has been a huge, huge help. Many thanks!

C. E. Coleman

[Scott Morris FMC]

First, I'd ask whether the form is VGR or Standard mapped, because (believe it or not) it makes a difference.  For some good advice on where you can put files (and how to reference them) so that they're accessible for your iForms (external links like this or external JS / CSS files), take a look at the "Accessory Files" section of Russ's post at:

http://heo-iforms.blogspot.com/2012/07/ftp-notes-and-rules.html

He suggests putting those files in these two folders:

LIVE accessory files:
/u/live/htdocs/heo/web/dbmi/iformgen

TRAIN accessory files:
/u/train/htdocs/heo/web/dbmi/iformgen

[C.E. Coleman]

Actually, I did see this info about directory structure. It was my understanding that all facilities use this same directory structure, until I got to my latest project and nothing is where it should be. I had a terrible time just trying to reference my css file in a template for a set of iforms and tensions ran high between me and a co-worker as I insisted that the css file was not working and tried to create the proper directories, only to be told that this facility wasn't doing it that way. Crazy frustration. Finally got it to work by using an example from another form - their way.

As for the form, it is VGR, and the chart is in the same directory as the iform html. I have been curious about how the HEO directories work as they seem quit different than a regular web server. They requested we added some zynx reference page links that were on some old entry forms and these work when they are dropped in the iform html page, for the most part. Just cant' get why one html page can't effectively show another page in the same directory. Pittfalls of having web developer habits, I guess.

C.E.Coleman

[Scott Morris FMC]

As I understand it, the main reason that same-directory plain links of that nature don't work is that the pages aren't pulled and rendered like on a standard web server.  Remember that it goes through a parser first to replace all of your @@ variables and BASE_URL.  I'm not sure what directory it ends up in (although I might be able to figure that out during the week), but you end up with some other re-worked page when it's all said and done.

[Scott Morris FMC]

Ok, I just went in and tried to do some snooping.  It looks like if you call an iForm from the CAF application, it creates a "new window" and populates it with your iForm content (after it does a search & replace for whatever @@ variables and BASE_URL it can find).  So, while your page may be in such and such a folder, your browser sees it as "about:blank" with "dynamic" content added to it.

The official recommendation is to put your other files somewhere under BASE_URL so that you can reference it that way.

[C.E. Coleman]

Thank you so much Scott. I have been curious how things are getting rendered on these servers. It seemed so odd I couldn't call a file directly in HTML and not having any sort of admin access to servers to see the lay of the land, its been an adventure to say the least. This does explain a lot. I knew I couldn't call an iform from another without the VGR, but no idea how the entire process works behind the scenes. I did post in the thread about calling one ifrom from another and I am still having trouble getting mine to work, but at least I know why I can't just call a plain file now. Nothing works you like you think it should, especially if you are used to good old fashioned Windows or Apache Linux servers and their accompanying application environments. Fairly new to this and I seem to spend a lot of days like a deer in the headlights.

You have been such a huge help. There is so little information out there and your site has been a godsend. Thanks again for all your help.

C. E. Coleman

[Scott Morris FMC]

Yeah, writing iForms for HEO is "a horse of another color" in many respects.  The fact that there is so little information out there is what really prompted me to start the ball rolling and I'm so glad to see that it's being used!