Yeah, ok, so I am a troublemaker! Another change request from me:

It would be vastly more useful to have DF give us the option of storing form submission data in a flat database table. It sorta/kinda could be done now using SQL completion events, EXCEPT the fact that the data stored in the QuestionResponse table wouldn't always match the data in the flat table. At the moment, DF data is very difficult to access, and nearly useless in terms of integrating with other modules.

I am sure this is an obvious change, so I won't spend a huge amount of time on this email, unless you need more convincing.

Kevin

Kevin,

I have some good news for you...this functionality already exists.  Check out this post (and it has several other useful links).

www.datasprings.com/Products/Product-Forums/tabid/727/forumid/5/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/5849/language/en-US/Default.aspx#5853

Troy

Thanks. I am aware of these examples. This falls into the kinda/sort works with SQL completion events category.

Again, the goal is to be a forms package user rather than an SQL database developer. Maintaining the storage of the data should be done by DF.

Using these SQL examples, I get two copies of the data. The entire forms system uses data stored in the DynamicForms_QuestionResponse table. To get this information into the flat table, I have to both duplicate the data and take extreme care that all cases where the data could get updated are also covered by an SQL event that can keep the flat table updated.

It would be much better for DF to use the flat table instead.

Kevin,

Hi. Yes this is why Dynamic Forms does automatically save all of the data, allows you to go to each record and review the data, and then also allows you to export the data to excel. We only offer the flat table or other types of SQL uses as not everyone is in the same boat and it needs to be able to handle many different type of implementations (what if you were integrating it with another module, or what if you were integrating it with existing records, etc...). As noted on the demonstrations though under 'considerations' , "1) You do not have to pull results from a 3rd party module. There is a 'View Results' feature within Dynamic Forms where you can delete results, view a specific set of results, or export the results to Excel."

That being said many customers are using multiple systems where they might need the data to get moved to, update, or work flow type of situations. Others are needing advanced functionality in reports for search-able fields, charts, list and detail view, etc... The purpose of Dynamic Forms was never to become a full reporting module as there are many other components that handle and offer more features for advanced reporting.


-Chad