根据表单选择限制表单提交

Question

I have a consumer website that gives users an approval form that I want allow the users to submit their approvals but I want to limit the form number submissions based on the certain selections made and a combination of previous selections submitted. As of now, the users always have access to the form even after they approve it and I would like to stop submissions after they approve it.

There are 3 set of selections:

Set 1 [Initial Options at first, none of the other sets should be shown.]

Approve (radio button)

Disapprove (radio button)

Set 2 [This set is dependent on Set 1's selection. If the "Disapprove" from Set 1 is selected, then this set should be shown. Otherwise it will be hidden.]

Revision (radio button)

Correction (radio button)

Set 3 [This set is dependent on Set 2's selection (and of course Set 2 being visible). If the "Revision" or "Correction" is selected from Set 1, then show either "Revision text" or "Correction text" based on the corresponding selection from set 2.]

Revision text (textarea)

Correction text (textarea)

Set 2 is dependent on Set 1's, and Set 3 is dependent on Set 2's selection.

Ok, these are the submission total I would like based on the selections:

• If the user... first approves , dynamically set the total submissions to 1 . Form will not submit the next time, counting the current submission as 1.

• If the user... first disapproves , dynamically set the total submissions to 2 . Remaining one more submission, counting the the current submission as 1.

• If the user... first approves and then disapproves , dynamically set the total submissions to 3 . Remaining one more submission, counting the the current submission as 1.

• If the user... first disapproves and then approves , dynamically set the total submissions to 2 . Remaining one more submission, counting the the current submission as 1.

• If the user... first disapproves and then chooses revision , show the revision textarea and dynamically set the total submissions to 2 . Remaining one more submission, counting the the current submission as 1.

• If the user... first disapproves and then chooses correction , show the correction textarea and dynamically set the total submissions to 2 . Remaining one more submission, counting the the current submission as 1.

This is the general pattern I would want to the submission limits. So basically, if the user approves they can no longer submit the form after the current submission. If the user disapproves they are only allowed 2 additional submissions. I haven't fully worked it out, but Im hoping to get some suggestions and help from some experts.

Another thing to consider are any alternatives if the user has javascript disabled and their cookies turned off (if the given solution requires them.)

Answer 1

To deal with "no javascript", you need to make the site work without script support. That is always a good first step. All your validation and logic must be replicated on the server anyway because you have no control over the client.

Once you have the page working without script, you can then script the client (say by doing submissions with AJAX) to provide a more functional or efficient user interface.