A Few Form Proccessing Question

[N1CK3RS0N]

Hello,

 

I'm working on the installation for my CMS and I wanted to get some peoples opinions of how I should handle the data that is inputted throughout the installation process.

 

As it is now, I'm going to just use a session to save all the information to pass the information on to the next step. When I reach the final step it will create the SQL tables and input all the necessary data into the SQL tables based on the information gathered throughout the installation. I wanted to get some opinions as to if this is the best method to do things.

 

Also I wanted to know how I should process the data that's been submitted? Should I send the data from say "step 1" to "step 2" where it processes the information? If there was an error or invalid data input it would make them go back to the previous step. Or should I submit the data from "step 1" to itself, and if there's an error it just reloads the page with error message at top in red, and if there's no error it says "thank you, please click the next button to go to the next step" or something like that.

 

And last, I wanted to know how to make the submit button for the form only clickable if the necessary parts of the form has been filled out. Is that javascript?

 

Steps:

1. Language

2. License

3. Setup

4. Database

5. Configure

6. Admin

7. Finish

[JonnoTheDev]

Keep the user on the same step if there is invalid input.

Store each piece of data in a session variable.

Create the application using the session data after the final step.

Javascript is required to disable the button but I would just make it appear rather than be disabled. If your validation rules are in place then having a button disabled shouldn't matter anyhow