Web pages rely on page parameters and page variables to share data between Web pages or to pass data from one page to another. For more information about page parameters and variables, see “Managing page data”.
4GL JSP pages provide a straightforward way to keep track of parameters and variables during development. You can define parameters and variables from the Page Properties dialog box. The 4GL extensions to the Web Target object model help manage the parameters and variables when the page is processed by JSP servers.
You can set target page parameters for a non-4GL page, but to take advantage of the Web Target user interface for parameter binding, the linking page must be 4GL enabled.
The type of value you can pass to a target page parameter depends on the navigation style you select. You can navigate to another page through a hyperlink, a form submit, or a server-side redirect script. However, if you use only the hyperlink navigation style, you lose the advantages of 4GL functionality for passing parameters.
The 4GL form submit style is equivalent to setting FORM element attributes as follows: the ACTION attribute to the target URL and the METHOD attribute to POST. The entire 4GL page is considered as a single form. You select the target URL on the Destination tab of the Page Properties dialog box. Parameters on the target page are automatically bound to parameters, variables, or controls on the linking page that have the same names.
For more information on navigation style and its effects on passing parameters, see “About page navigation”.
Typically, the steps involved in passing parameters from one page to another include:
Setting up parameters for a target page from the 4GL JSP Page wizard or the Parameters page of the Page Properties dialog box.
Setting up the parameters, variables, or control values on the linking page that you want to send to the target page.
Selecting the binding type and setting the value you want to bind from the linking page to the target page.
Automatic selection of binding type and bind value
When you use a 4GL form submit navigation style (by selecting
the target page on the Destination tab of the property sheet for
the linking page), binding type and bind value are automatically
selected. These noneditable selections are based on name matching
between parameters on the target page and parameters, variables,
or controls on the linking page.
For information on referring to parameters and variables in scripts on 4GL JSP pages, see “Adding scripts to 4GL JSP pages”.
