Smarty

[janm]

I want to update a mysql database with text file information arranged in CSV or tab-delimited format using Smarty templates.
As the text files can vary in format - Is it possible to display two windows side by side with a list of field names from an input text file in a left-hand window and a list of pre-ordained field names from a 'bucket' database table in the right-hand window.
The intention is to drag selected field names on the left window to match field names in the right-hand window.
I can then execute the appropriate scripts to update the database from the selected fields.
I have seen this operate in other database systems. Can I do it with Smarty?

[kills]

[boots]

well...I'd say its doable (to some degree depending on how much cross-browser support you need and how much javascript you are willing to write) but I don't know of any prebuilt solutions that you can use out-of-the-box. Since you will need forms and layout control, putting those elements into a template seems natural.

Monte wrote a nice plugin library to help deal with forms which includes field pickers, etc. You might be able to adapt some of his work and add drag/drop functionality to get your desired effect (or perhaps it will give you ideas on how to approach your problem). It would make sense, of course, to deal with all of the processing and data loading in a PHP script.

So basically, this is probably more of a javascript project and if you go the Smarty route, I'd think you would want to be automating the insertion of the appropriate javascript/html functionality using plugins and generic templates.

Monte's library is called SmartyFormtool and he announced it here: http://www.phpinsider.com/smarty-forum/viewtopic.php?t=2982

[janm]

Thank Boots - I'll give it a go. Naturally I read and process the file in php - updating the database as I go. I have developed scripts that can do that - but your 'field-picker' suggestion sounds like a good start for a re-useable interface - in my favourite tool - Smarty