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Request a parameter for the server behavior – Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 User Manual

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DREAMWEAVER CS3

User Guide

597

Using the loop directive’s _length and _index variables

The loop directive includes two built-in variables that you can use for embedded

if

conditions. The variables are:

_length

and

_index

. The

_length

variable evaluates to the length of the arrays processed by the loop directive,

while the

_index

variable evaluates to the current index of the loop directive. To ensure that the variables are only

recognized as directives, and not as actual parameters to be passed into the loop, do not enclose either variable in

@@

s.

An example of using built-in variables is to apply them to the

import

attribute of the page directive. The

import

attribute requires comma separation of packages. If the

loop

directive extends around the entire

import

attribute,

you would only output the attribute name

import=

on the first iteration of the loop—this includes the closing double

quote (")—and not output a comma on the last iteration of the loop. Using the built-in variable, you can express this
as follows:

<@loop (@@Import@@)@>

<@ if(_index == 0)@>import="

<@endif@>@@Import@@<@if (_index == _length-1)@>"<@else@>,

<@ endif @>

<@endloop@>

Request a parameter for the server behavior

Server behaviors often require that the page designer supply a parameter value. This value must be inserted before
the server behavior’s code is inserted into the page.

You create the dialog box by defining the designer-supplied parameters in the code. Then you generate a dialog box
for the server behavior, which prompts the page designer for a parameter value.

Note: A parameter is added to your code block without your intervention if you specify that your code should be inserted
relative to a specific tag chosen by the page designer (that is, you chose Relative to a Specific Tag in the Insert Code pop-up
menu). The parameter adds a tag menu to the behavior’s dialog box to let the page designer select a tag.

Define the parameter in the server behavior code

1

Enter a parameter marker in the code where you want to insert the supplied parameter value. The parameter has

the following syntax:

@@parameterName@@

2

Enclose the

formParam

string in parameter markers (

@@

):

<% Session(“lang_pref”) = Request.Form(“@@formParam@@”); %>

For example, if the server behavior contains the following code block:

<% Session(“lang_pref”) = Request.Form(“Form_Object_Name”); %>

To require the page designer supply the value of

Form_Object_Name

, enclose the string in parameter markers (

@@

):

<% Session(“lang_pref”) = Request.Form(“@@Form_Object_Name@@”); %>

You can also highlight the string and click the Insert Parameter In Code Block button. Enter a parameter name and
click OK. Dreamweaver replaces every instance of the highlighted string with the specified parameter name enclosed
in parameter markers.

September 4, 2007