I am trying to set up DBMan for an interactive online writing project that mimics the steps of "writer's process". The idea is that one user would post a first draft, get a comment from a second user, revise it and post a second draft, get another comment, and then post a final draft.

The difficulty is that I want the users to see only the step that they are working on. I work with elementary school students, so this is a means of focusing them. I also want to ensure that the students can not accidentally erase each other's work.

BTW, this project is in Spanish.

So far I have gotten Draft One (Borrador Uno) set up, just adding a record. Conference One (Conferencia Uno) is set up and students can not erase the first draft or erase anyone else's comments.

This is all at:
http://www.mind.net/pes/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=escritura
ID: cuarto
Password: maravilla

However, what I want next is a means of doing a second distinct modify record in order to have students post their second draft. I want the students to be able to find their draft one and comments and post a draft two. I've fooled around with short/long form and but can't quite get a handle on an approach.

I get stuck on the fact that I can't seem to set up sequential distinct modification steps. Any ideas?

Thanks.

I know this might not be exactly what you are looking for but should provide some ideas:

Thread: http://gossamer-threads.com/p/000607
Subject: Custom Add_Form URL
Sandra - 30-Jul-99

If the URL has changed, please search the forum by the Subject of the thread.

Unoffical DBMan FAQ
http://redundantcartridge.com/dbman/

Thanks! I'll play with those ideas.
Charlie Bauer

ELL / Migrant Education Coordinator
Southern Oregon Education Service District

Consider this: draft one is a field seperate from draft two, but each paper is just one record. When the student writes the first draft, only applicable fields are available (others are hidden). The comments are added in appropriate fields, then only after review of the comments can the field for the second draft become "unhidden", at which point the field for the first draft is readonly.

Good! That's what I am playing with now, basically if and elseif statements for modifying. Seems to be working. Thanks for confirming that I'm on the right track.
Charlie Bauer

ELL / Migrant Education Coordinator
Southern Oregon Education Service District