• NAME
• SYNOPSIS
• REQUIRES
• DESCRIPTION
• METHODS
  • Repo Viewing
  • Image Handling
  • Repo Form Elements
  • Misc.
  • Context maintenance
  • Class Definitions
• AUTHOR
• SEE ALSO

NAME

SYNOPSIS

  require "gateway.pl";

  # Most common methods shown here.  See METHODS for others.

  # repo viewing

  print repo_view($obj);
  print repo_view($obj, &alternative_view)
  print repo_view_label($obj);
  print repo_view_row($obj);

  $url = repo_vlink($obj);

  $results = repo_query("Patient");
  print repo_table($results);

  # repo form elements

  print repo_choice($results, "chosen_patient");
  print repo_choice($results, "chosen_patient", "SCROLL", 5, "MULTIPLE");

  # image handling

  print repo_fullsize_jpeg($file);
  print repo_thumbnail($file);
  print repo_image_button($file, "button_1");

  # misc

  print repo_banner();
  print repo_get_url("http://www.yahoo.com";);
  print repo_smart_prompt($paramname, $type);
  print repo_attributes_prompt($r);
  $r = repo_attributes_parse($r);

  # built-in class defs
  # (all standard methods for User, File, Annotation, plus:)

  print File_view_icon($file);
  print File_view_contents($file);
  print File_view_image($file);
  
  print Annotation_view_icon($subject);
  print Annotation_view_icon_make($subject);
  print Annotation_subject($subject);

REQUIRES

DESCRIPTION

The Gateway provides methods for generating HTML tables of objects, and for generating form elements for choosing from a list of objects. There are methods for creating jpeg versions of image files, and for creating thumbnails and clickable image maps.

The Gateway is primarily used for developing scriplets for supporting workflow, and for defining the View Classes of repository object types. For each repository object type, the View Class consists of at least three functions that declare how a subject should appear at three abstraction levels: view_label (in the context of a string), view_row (in the context of a collection of objects), and view_page (in the context of a single focused object). The Label View returns a string (e.g. a patient's name), the Row View returns a list of values (to be used in an HTML table), and the Page View returns a full HTML page.

In addition, there are methods for managing the global context of the query session, including the user class, subject, and view class.

METHODS

Repo Viewing

repo_view($subject, $function, $param)

repo_view is a type-independent function that emits an html string for visualizing repository objects. This can be used in place of the specific view functions for a given object type. $subject may be a reference to a single object or a group of objects to be visualized. The optional $function specifies which view to use on the subject(s). If $function is not specified, the default views are used for the given object's class (view_page for a single object, view_row for multiple objects). Third parameter ($parm) is an optional parameter to be passed to the view function if it takes one.

repo_view_label($obj)

repo_view_label is a type-independent function that emits a label for a given object. This can be used in place of the specific view_label function for a given object type.

repo_view_row($obj)

repo_view_row is a type-independent function that emits a row-view for a given object. This can be used in place of the specific view_row function for a given object type.

repo_table($obj_list, $view_class, $param)

Displays a group of objects in table form. $obj_list should be a ref to a list of objects (such as that returned by repo_query). The objects must all be of the same type. The optional $view_class parameter specifies which view function to use (the default will be repo_view_row applied to the given object type). The optional $param may be supplied to be passed to the $view_class function.

repo_vlink($subject, $view_class, $context)

repo_vlink generates a url to a view of the given $subject. Uses the WIRM repo-viewer facility. The optional $view_class parameter may be used to specify a non-default view of the $subject. The optional $context parameter may be used to pass a context to the view. Note: $subject may be a ref to a repo, or an OID, or the results of a query (a group of repos).

repo_mlink($class)

generates a url to the Make Object wirmlet, using the given class.

repo_elink($subject)

generates a url to the Edit Object wirmlet, using the given subject, which may be an OID or a classname.

repo_rlink($subject)

generates a url to the Remove Object wirmlet, using the given subject, which may be an OID or a classname.

repo_login_link($subject)

generates a url to the User Login wirmlet.

repo_xlink($class, $filter, $order)

generates a url to the Explorer on the given class using the given filter.

Image Handling

repo_fullsize_jpeg($file)

Takes a ref to a File object or a File OID. Returns an IMG tag to a web-visible fullsize jpeg copy of the specified File. The image is converted to jpeg and copied into the vizualization cache by the viz facility.

repo_thumbnail($file)

Takes a ref to a File object or a File OID. Returns an IMG tag to a web-visible thumbnail sized jpeg copy of the specified File. The image is converted to jpeg and copied into the vizualization cache by the viz facility.

repo_image_button($file, $button_name)

Creates a clickable image-button using the specified file as the source image, to be used for server-side image maps. The specified $button_name will be passed as a form variable when the button is clicked, and the coordinates of the cursor can be retrieved using $button_name.x and $button_name.y.

Repo Form Elements

repo_types_choice($param_name)

Generates a scrolling list of all possible repository object types and simple types, using the specified parameter name.

repo_types_choice_complex($param_name)

Generates a scrolling list of all possible repository object types (excluding simple types), using the specified parameter name.

repo_choice($obj_list, $param, $type, $size, $multiple)

Given a list of repository objects ($repolist), generates a popup menu whose choices are labeled by the default labels of the objects. The OIDs of the selected objects will be returned as results. The results will be named using the given parameter name. The form element can be changed from popup menu to scrollable list by passing the value ``SCROLL'' as the third parameter. The viewable size may be set using the fourth parameter. By default, multiple choices are not allowed, but they may be allowed by passing the value ``MULTIPLE'' in the fifth parameter.

Misc.

repo_banner()

Emits a header to appear at the top of every web page. The banner should also provide a navigation bar and identify the repository being accessed. If the CGI programmer has created a function called ``custom_banner'' in the view definition file, it will be used by repo_banner. Otherwise, a default banner is emitted, which denotes the repository name and the user level.

repo_get_url($url)

Executes a remote query on the given $url and returns the results (text-only). This command only works if lynx is present on the system. Can be re-implemented to use the perl URI module.

repo_smart_prompt($paramname, $type)

Creates a form input element named $paramname appropriate for the attribute type given by $type.

repo_attributes_prompt($r)

$r can be either a classname or a ref to a repo or a repo template. Creates a table of form elements, one for each attribute of the class. If $r is a repo or repo template, the form elements will have default values using the attributes of $r. The form parameter names will be prefixed by ``att_''. Use repo_attributes_parse to parse the form.

repo_attributes_parse($r)

$r can be either a classname or a ref to a repo or repo_template. Parses the CGI parameters created by repo_attributes_prompt. Stores the submitted results into the attributes of the repo and returns it. Note: calling environment is responsible for committing the changes via repo_update or repo_new.

Context maintenance

To accommodate multiple user contexts, the UserClass of the query session is accessible from within the ViewClass methods, to allow the ViewClass designer to provide custom-tailored views. For example, to maintain patient privacy, the patient's LabelView might display the patient's name for privileged users, and only show a patient's research number for public users. A simple switch statement can thus be used to enforce privacy at every level of the system.

The context variables are stored in a hash called %CONTEXT, using keys ``subject'', ``view'', and ``user'', which are passed between cgi invocations as parameters cx_subject, cx_view, and cx_user.

Class Definitions

  Class_view_label
  Class_view_row_header
  Class_view_row
  Class_view_page
  Class_make (and associated sub-methods)

In addition, the following methods are available:

File_view_icon($file)

Display an icon view of the given file, which serves as a button that leads to a page view of the file when clicked. If the file is a recognized image type, the icon will be a thumbnail version of the file's contents. Otherwise a generic icon will be shown.

File_view_image($file)

Display a fullsize image of the given file, which serves as a button that leads to a page view of the file when clicked. File must be an image type.

File_view_contents($file)

Displays the contents of a file. If the file is an image, displays the image using the viz service (the image will be copied as a jpeg into a web-visible image cache, whose URL will be specified in an IMG tag). If the file is a text type, the ASCII contents of the file will be emitted in place. For all other types, the file will be copied to a web-visible location and a URL to that file will be provided.

Annotation_view_icon($subject)

If the given subject has an associated Annotation, returns a button which can be clicked to read a annotation. If the given subject has no annotation, a null string is returned.

Annotation_view_icon_make($subject)

Displays a button which can be clicked to generate a annotation. Uses the WIRM commet_add facility. The annotation will be associated with the given $subject.

AUTHOR

SEE ALSO