Kyle M. Perkins

After 2.5 weeks working on the same thing, I'm calling it a night. I finally have the advanced record modifier done for a client. It uses jQuery to find eligible fields, turns them into a textbox on click, allows for editing of the content, and auto-saves it when the field is clicked out. I spent the past few weeks trying to get the .live function to work with the .bind function, only to have the whole system backfire on me. I finally did a small-scale model from scratch, and made the whole system work in 25 lines (with error trapping and notifications). I was baffled that I could get this 25-line jQuery to work properly and more, but couldn't get it in my original 200+ line script. I finally decided to scrap that and use my small scale model to do that. After some initial tweaking, it finally worked. I then had to add some features covering drop down boxes, and that worked as well. Afterwards, I made a tutorial video for the client showing the New system in action, and just emailed them about that. Here's the code now:

$(document).ready(function(){
 
  $("div.clickbox").live('click', function(){
 
    // find the box's name and value
 
    var boxname=$(this).attr('name');
 
    var boxval=$(this).text();
 
    if ($(this).has('form').length==0){ // dont add form if it exists
 
      $(this).html("
");
 
      $("#box").focus();
 
    }
 
    $("#box").blur(function(){
 
      var boxname=$("#box").attr('name');
 
      var boxval=$("#box").val();
 
      $.post("save.php", {name: boxname, box: boxval}, function(data){
 
        //alert(data); //troubleshooting
 
      });
 
      $.get('fetch.php', false, function(data){
 
        $("#results").html(data); //get the results as we add more
 
      });
 
      // replace the text box with the value
 
      $(this).parent().parent().html($("#box").val());
 
    });
 
    //dont submit the form if someone presses Enter
 
    $('#boxform').submit(function(){ return false; }); 
 
 });
 
  $('#results').load('fetch.php'); //initially show the results
 
});
 

I'm sure there is an easier way to do this, but for the basic jQuery knowledge I have, this works.

On the flip side, I have a lot to do for this client. My todo list is already growing, and it seems that they keep emailing me with new features and ideas. I hope they know that we have other clients waiting to get work done as well.

I came in this morning (early afternoon?) and was determined to finish the jQuery record modifier. I also received word that a tenant had some internet issues, so I made sure to take care of that first since I didn't get to see her Friday (like I promised). After about an hour of debugging and troubleshooting, I guessed that the wireless device was bad, so I went to the office, got a spare one (thank god), and replaced it. She was up and running in a matter of minutes.

I then got an email from the Executive Director of the building asking for some Tech help with installing a program. He was out of the office at the time, so I emailed him saying to tell me when he got back in and I'd take a look at it. I got a text from Keat saying to pick her up from school, and a short moment later, the Executive Director walks in and says he's here. I ask him to wait about 30 minutes, and I'll be right in. I went to go pick up Keat, got back, helped him install a piece of software, and got back in the office. By this time, it was 2:15. I hadn't even touched the system.

I finished up my Reader and went to tidy up some loose ends I had yesterday. IE was giving me a headache because of a new request the Client had asked (switching two sections on the main page). Everything was fine yesterday until I went to email them saying it was done, but I got the idea to check the page in IE first. I did that, and (of course) IE messed everything up. I tried to insert some IE-specific CSS, but IE didn't want that. I finally made the code inline, and still no luck - that's when I went home last night. After re-looking at it, I made one small change (deleting the space between -- and [ for the IE-specific CSS comment), and that worked. Finally, 1 task down. Time to work on the Record modifier.

...and that brings us to the beginning of the post. I'm glad to call that Task complete, but I can guarantee that for every 1 task completed for this client, I'm gonna get 2 more. It seems like my todo list will never end.

I'm trying to teach Keat how to do some basic coding (do cover some of the more basic work while I work on the advanced stuff), but it seems that we either can't find a common time to do it, or every time we CAN do it, something comes up and we can't train. We're looking to hire an additional developer soon (if this work load keeps up) and an HR person down the road. Don't know how salary will be, but I'll look into that once I'm done with this ever-growing todo list.

PS: I also beat R&C: Up Your Arsenal last night. It took forever to get R&C 1 to the point where I could get the 10% discount on weapons, and the boss fight only took me 4 tries, but I will give the overall game a 9/10 on fun.