Saving Partial Form Data Submission for Long-Term Report

I have created (with the help of you all) a form that submits a users goals and accomplishments to a mysql database which can then be viewed by the user and their boss once each month. It works fine... but, it would be great if it could do more. The current form requires the user to fill it out in it's entirety before submitting.

But we all get interrupted in our busy days, or get inspired by spur of the moment ideas. I would like this form/database to "save" data so the user would have the option of filling out a portion of the form and complete the entire form over the course of a few days or even weeks.

I have started to look into repopulating the form text fields from the database. But I am not sure if this is the best solution. It makes me think that the solution is to break up one long form into many smaller parts that could update the database. The bottom line is I want to end up with one report per user per month.

As I am quite the newbie, I have little idea as to how to do this or what the best method would achieve these results. Is there anyone who could point me in the general direction towards a solution? Your help is greatly appreciated.

I see two possible approaches:
1. divide your data into small tables, each served by a form that is short and lends itself to a short timespan of use.

2. Make use of the DB capabilites, generate a record from initial input, save it. Then keep it open for updating as the form is filled out. Add this to a select list of unfinished records until it's complete. Use the update command to push the data into a record and when finsihed set a flag you can query on for the list of unfinished records.
Cheers
RK

While I suspected a series of shorter forms might be the answer, I am curious about the nothion of repopulating the form with data from my mysql database.

The scenerio I envision is that when the user links to their report form it is "populated" with their last report results. One reason this interests me is that there are some long-term goals in the report that only change every three months. Having this data automatically appear in the form will save the user time retyping (though it also favors a smaller database especially for "long-term goals").

But mostly the repopulating of the form data would allow for two links at the bottom of the form.

1. Updates the existing row, allowing the user to submit in batches and ammend if they so desire.

2. Inserts results into a new row.

So is this an idea, or do I just have my head up my *** (as I often suspect)?
And if this is an idea, do you have any leads for populating form text inputs with the data? PHP, JavaScript? Thanks for your thoughts!

you're in good shape, no wierd anatomical contortions.

to populate a form

build query to retrieve data
apply query element to form object value ie label.caption/text1.text as a means of displaying/editing.

if editing then use text.text as the new value to update the table.

If a new record then it does an insert using the same values.

you will be using sql and whatever db connections your tool allows. easy in ColdFusion if web based, desktop VB is good with SQL2000. Wouldn't want to try it with Javascript simply for not being sure of support resources when you need help with specific syntax items, etc. If you are willing to invest in a good library for JS then probably wouldn't be an issue. Just some ideas. From here you have to get down in the code. What are your available tools?

Cheers
RK

I use Adobe GoLive to edit the source code and create the HTML. I also have phpmyadmin and Navicat, but I'm ok with a terminal (even though I am a Mac user).

well, I don't know your tools (except golive) so that kind of limits my input as to where to go from here. But the direction as stated is one I've used before. Just thumbed through a copy of "Mastering GoLive4" and it looks pretty light on the DB side of things. If you do need a web connected db then your best choices are PHP and CF.

cheers.
RK

I'll give it a shot with PHP. Thanks for your advice!