Inserting at Position

[Mxjerrett]

This to me seems like it should be an almost simple solution, but for some reason, I'm having a brain fart.

I am building an extensive content management system for asp, complete with plugins and modules. The issue I'm running into is finding an efficient way of replacing the placeholder with the asp include.

Let me give you an example, in my past implementation, I had an extensive if... elseif... else statement that delimited the data with split command that would have to be hard coded into the index of the site.

My new solution is a little more elegant in theory, but I'm having issues implementing it.

The entire site is database driven, with records created for every page, there are tons of different modules scripted. These modules are held in another table on the database mapping out which include is needed for each different placeholder.

For example, I may have placeholders that look similar to

[$Calendar$]
[$Users$]
[$Blog Post$]
[$FacebookComments$]
etc

In the page table within the database, it may look similar to:

This is an example page created to showcase the power of the plugins. Below you'll find the gallery as well as a comment system.
[$Gallery$]
If you have any comments please post.
[$Comments$]
Thank you for your continued support
[$FacebookLike$]

As you can see from the example, I have 3 separate plugins in this single page, and my idea was something similar to:

Get position of placeholder
At placeholder position insert asp include
Continue page.
Repeat

Can anyone think of an elegant way of accomplishing this?

EDIT

Ok guys, I'm pretty sure I've managed to get this working. I don't wish to mark this resolved yet because I believe there may be a few bugs still. In case anyone was wondering, the method I chose was creating a custom method to run through the page, eliminate the placeholders, and in their place, use the execute command to execute functions that I had stored within the database. All the plugins have their own set of includes that are added to the index when they're installed.

This is fairly sloppy, so if anyone can think of some revisions for it I'd really appreciate it.

<% 

Function InsertPlugins(sData)
	Dim strData: strData=sData
	Dim lngUpper: lngUpper = 0
	Dim strPosition()
	Dim start
	Dim strPlaceholder
	Dim strPlugin
	Dim i

[DATABASE CONNECTION STRING HERE]
	
	Do Until rs2.EOF
		start = 1
		strPlaceholder = rs2.fields("pName")
		Do Until start = 0
			start = instr(start, strData, strPlaceholder)
			If start> 0 then
				Redim Preserve strPosition(10000,lngUpper)
				strPosition(0, lngUpper) = start
				strPosition(1, lngUpper) = strPlaceholder
				start=start+len(strPlaceholder)
				lngUpper = lngUpper + 1
			End If
		Loop
		rs2.movenext
	Loop
	rs2.close
	if int(lngUpper)>0 then
		for ii=0 to lngupper - 1
			temp1 = strPosition(0,ii)
			temp2 = strPosition(1,ii)
			strPosition(0,ii) = temp2
			strPosition(1,ii) = temp1
		next
		strPosition2 = arraySort(strPosition, 1, "Number")
		for ii=0 to lngupper - 1
			temp1 = strPosition2(0,ii)
			temp2 = strPosition2(1,ii)
			strPosition2(0,ii) = temp2
			strPosition2(1,ii) = temp1
		next
		response.write(left(strData,strPosition2(0,0)-1))
		For i=0 to lngUpper - 1
			if strPosition2(0, i) > 1 Then
				If i<lngUpper - 1 Then
					strPlugin = strPosition2(1,i)
					rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPlugin & "'",conn
					rs2.movefirst
					execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
					response.write(mid(strdata,strPosition2(0,i)+len(strPlugin), strPosition2(0,i+1)-strPosition2(0, i)-len(strPosition2(1, i))))
					rs2.close					
				else
					strPlugin = strPosition2(1,i)
					rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPlugin & "'",conn
					rs2.movefirst
					execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
					rs2.close
				End if
			else
				strPlugin = strPosition2(1, i)
				rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPosition2(1,i) & "'",conn
				rs2.movefirst
				execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
				rs2.close
				response.write(mid(strdata,strPosition2(0,i)+len(strPlugin), strPosition2(0,i+1)-strPosition2(0, i)-len(strPosition2(1, i))))
			End If
		Next
		response.write(mid(strData, strPosition2(0, lngUpper - 1) + len(strPosition2(1,lngUpper - 1))))
	end if
	InsertPlugins = lngUpper
end Function 

function arraySort(arToSort, sortBy, compareType)
	Dim c, d, e, smallestValue, smallestIndex, tempValue

	For c = 0 To uBound( arToSort, 2 ) - 1
		smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, c )
		smallestIndex = c

		For d = c + 1 To uBound( arToSort, 2 )
			if compareType = "Text" then
				if strComp( arToSort( sortBy, d ), smallestValue ) < 0 Then
					smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
					smallestIndex = d
				End if
			elseif compareType = "Date" then
				if not isDate( smallestValue ) then
					arraySort = arraySort( arToSort, sortBy, false)
					exit function
				else
					if dateDiff( "d", arToSort( sortBy, d ), smallestValue ) > 0 Then
						smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
						smallestIndex = d
					End if
				end if
			elseif compareType = "Number" then
				if cint( arToSort( sortBy, d ) ) < cint(smallestValue) Then
					smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
					smallestIndex = d
				End if
			end if
		Next
		if smallestIndex <> c Then 'swap
			For e = 0 To uBound( arToSort, 1 )
				tempValue = arToSort( e, smallestIndex )
				arToSort( e, smallestIndex ) = arToSort( e, c )
				arToSort( e, c ) = tempValue
			Next
		End if
	Next
	arraySort = arToSort
end function

%>

[Mxjerrett]

I'm fairly sure I've figured it out. After several hours of tinkering and research, I believed it's fool proof. At least I hope.


One request, if anyone can help me with a more efficient method of sorting my array, I'd be incredibly grateful.

<% 

Function InsertPlugins(sData)
	Dim strData: strData=sData
	Dim lngUpper: lngUpper = 0
	Dim strPosition()
	Dim start
	Dim strPlaceholder
	Dim strPlugin
	Dim i

[DATABASE CONNECTION STRING HERE]
	
	Do Until rs2.EOF
		start = 1
		strPlaceholder = rs2.fields("pName")
		Do Until start = 0
			start = instr(start, strData, strPlaceholder)
			If start> 0 then
				Redim Preserve strPosition(10000,lngUpper)
				strPosition(0, lngUpper) = start
				strPosition(1, lngUpper) = strPlaceholder
				start=start+len(strPlaceholder)
				lngUpper = lngUpper + 1
			End If
		Loop
		rs2.movenext
	Loop
	rs2.close
	if int(lngUpper)>0 then
		for ii=0 to lngupper - 1
			temp1 = strPosition(0,ii)
			temp2 = strPosition(1,ii)
			strPosition(0,ii) = temp2
			strPosition(1,ii) = temp1
		next
		strPosition2 = arraySort(strPosition, 1, "Number")
		for ii=0 to lngupper - 1
			temp1 = strPosition2(0,ii)
			temp2 = strPosition2(1,ii)
			strPosition2(0,ii) = temp2
			strPosition2(1,ii) = temp1
		next
		response.write(left(strData,strPosition2(0,0)-1))
		For i=0 to lngUpper - 1
			if strPosition2(0, i) > 1 Then
				If i<lngUpper - 1 Then
					strPlugin = strPosition2(1,i)
					rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPlugin & "'",conn
					rs2.movefirst
					execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
					response.write(mid(strdata,strPosition2(0,i)+len(strPlugin), strPosition2(0,i+1)-strPosition2(0, i)-len(strPosition2(1, i))))
					rs2.close					
				else
					strPlugin = strPosition2(1,i)
					rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPlugin & "'",conn
					rs2.movefirst
					execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
					rs2.close
				End if
			else
				strPlugin = strPosition2(1, i)
				rs2.open "SELECT * FROM tblPlugins WHERE pName='" & strPosition2(1,i) & "'",conn
				rs2.movefirst
				execute(rs2.fields("pFunction"))
				rs2.close
				response.write(mid(strdata,strPosition2(0,i)+len(strPlugin), strPosition2(0,i+1)-strPosition2(0, i)-len(strPosition2(1, i))))
			End If
		Next
		response.write(mid(strData, strPosition2(0, lngUpper - 1) + len(strPosition2(1,lngUpper - 1))))
	end if
	InsertPlugins = lngUpper
end Function 

function arraySort(arToSort, sortBy, compareType)
	Dim c, d, e, smallestValue, smallestIndex, tempValue

	For c = 0 To uBound( arToSort, 2 ) - 1
		smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, c )
		smallestIndex = c

		For d = c + 1 To uBound( arToSort, 2 )
			if compareType = "Text" then
				if strComp( arToSort( sortBy, d ), smallestValue ) < 0 Then
					smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
					smallestIndex = d
				End if
			elseif compareType = "Date" then
				if not isDate( smallestValue ) then
					arraySort = arraySort( arToSort, sortBy, false)
					exit function
				else
					if dateDiff( "d", arToSort( sortBy, d ), smallestValue ) > 0 Then
						smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
						smallestIndex = d
					End if
				end if
			elseif compareType = "Number" then
				if cint( arToSort( sortBy, d ) ) < cint(smallestValue) Then
					smallestValue = arToSort( sortBy, d )
					smallestIndex = d
				End if
			end if
		Next
		if smallestIndex <> c Then 'swap
			For e = 0 To uBound( arToSort, 1 )
				tempValue = arToSort( e, smallestIndex )
				arToSort( e, smallestIndex ) = arToSort( e, c )
				arToSort( e, c ) = tempValue
			Next
		End if
	Next
	arraySort = arToSort
end function

%>

[MarkT]

I haven't looked closely at the code but a quick glance appear that you know the name of your placeholder ahead of time and you're using that to find the position of where you want to do your insert. If that is the case couldn't you just use the Replace function instead of all the string manipulation?

[Mxjerrett]

I haven't looked closely at the code but a quick glance appear that you know the name of your placeholder ahead of time and you're using that to find the position of where you want to do your insert. If that is the case couldn't you just use the Replace function instead of all the string manipulation?

Yes and no, replace would be able to remove the function, but it isn't going to find the location of where I have to insert the calls to the appropriate function.

Example

strData=replace(strData,Placeholder,FunctiontoExecute)

If I were to simply replace the placeholder with the Function, it would just write the function to the page, instead of executing it.

[MarkT]

Couldn't you call the function, place the return in a variable and use that in the replace call. I may not be seeing the bigger picture here.

Ret = FunctiontoExecute ' call the function
strData=replace(strData,Placeholder,Ret )

[Mxjerrett]

MarkT, I actually just attempted what you said and it doesn't seem to worth. It throws a mismatch error.

The reason the example you showed doesn't work is some of these plugins' functions have extensive methods within them. Some of them writing to the form several times.

[Mxjerrett]

Well, this is somewhat frustrating. After rethinking it with a well rested and clear mind. I think I may have managed to restructure the functions to be able to handle piping the information over to the Plugin Function.

Here is what it looks like now

Function InsertPlugins(sData)
[DATABASE QUERY]
	
	strData=sData
	do until rs2.eof
		execute("funct =" & rs2.fields("pFunction"))
		strData=replace(strData,rs2.fields("pName"),funct)
		rs2.movenext
	loop
	if strData<>sData then 
		InsertPlugins2 = 1
		response.write(strData)
	end if
	rs2.close
End Function

Originally the subroutines my other code called were writing to the form within their own function. This new way should work, but I'll keep the old code just incase.

[AceInfinity]

Just wondering why you use the replace() function instead of insert()? I only vaguely read through your code, still a little confused.

Dim str As String = "this is string value"
str = str.Insert(str.IndexOf("string"), "my ")

edit: Disregard my post... I didn't see this was for asp.net, I assumed some kind of vb script.

[Mxjerrett]

Just wondering why you use the replace() function instead of insert()? I only vaguely read through your code, still a little confused.

Dim str As String = "this is string value"
str = str.Insert(str.IndexOf("string"), "my ")

edit: Disregard my post... I didn't see this was for asp.net, I assumed some kind of vb script.

Mine is asp, are you saying your code is asp.net?

[AceInfinity]

Mine is asp, are you saying your code is asp.net?

No, and that's why I mentioned in my post to disregard my answer.

edit: Disregard my post... I didn't see this was for asp.net, I assumed some kind of vb script.

[Maverickz]

Just curious why you want the code in a DB. Seems that would be a PITA to update the code. Why not just put the code Server Side Include files and then include them where you want?

[Mxjerrett]

Just curious why you want the code in a DB. Seems that would be a PITA to update the code. Why not just put the code Server Side Include files and then include them where you want?

I do have all the functions within includes, it's a module based system, when they want to execute the code they use the CMS and put something like [$ContactF$] then it reads the plugin table, when it finds the appropriate plugin, it executes the appropriate function found in the SSI

[Maverickz]

I do have all the functions within includes, it's a module based system, when they want to execute the code they use the CMS and put something like [$ContactF$] then it reads the plugin table, when it finds the appropriate plugin, it executes the appropriate function found in the SSI

To me the easiest thing would be to just have them use SSI format wherever they want the plugin to go:
<!--#include virtual="/includes/myFunction.inc" -->

However if you really want to use the [$ContactF$] format, it might make more sense to write an ISAPI filter to preprocess the document before IIS parses it. Have the ISAPI filter replace [$ContactF$] with <!--#include virtual="/includes/myFunction.inc" --> then have IIS parse it and the includes should work as normal.

So the flow would be as follows:

1. Customer requests somepage.asp from IIS
2. IIS sees that your ISAPI filter is to be used for .asp extentions and passes the request to the ISAPI filter
3. The ISAPI filter retrieves the document requested and replaces the Text as needed.
4. The ISAPI filter returns the document to IIS for processing.
5. IIS executes the code in the includes as normal and returns the HTML to the customer.

[Mxjerrett]

To me the easiest thing would be to just have them use SSI format wherever they want the plugin to go:
<!--#include virtual="/includes/myFunction.inc" -->

However if you really want to use the [$ContactF$] format, it might make more sense to write an ISAPI filter to preprocess the document before IIS parses it. Have the ISAPI filter replace [$ContactF$] with <!--#include virtual="/includes/myFunction.inc" --> then have IIS parse it and the includes should work as normal.

So the flow would be as follows:

1. Customer requests somepage.asp from IIS
2. IIS sees that your ISAPI filter is to be used for .asp extentions and passes the request to the ISAPI filter
3. The ISAPI filter retrieves the document requested and replaces the Text as needed.
4. The ISAPI filter returns the document to IIS for processing.
5. IIS executes the code in the includes as normal and returns the HTML to the customer.

I wouldn't know of a decent way of deploying this in mass. This is a deployable CMS system that allows for quick installation on someone's server. I'm not sure how I could make it modify ISAPI filters directly.

[Maverickz]

If you use an installer to deploy, it should be able to configure this. If you just want to unzip and go then yeah not so easy.

[Mxjerrett]

If you use an installer to deploy, it should be able to configure this. If you just want to unzip and go then yeah not so easy.

Yeah, you just move the files to the server and run the initialing page.