New to jsp programming with html/tomcat(need help).

[nikhilsharma]

Hello,

I need help to complete a task, well the idea is to develop a help desk that will allow a user to make requests for information and then for example I reply back to that request, sort of like a forum. It also has to show the current status of user requests for any questions that have been posed by the user. For example, showing the date and time from when the user has submitted a request. Followed by the status for example pending if the question has not been answered and "answered" if the question has been answered.

I have looked at some tutorials, but most of those only tell me how to create a form which takes a users input for example, registration form and those details are then posted back to the user. But in my case, I will have to take details from the user but then post them back of what I have replied with.

Can someone please help. Any ways/ideas on how I can start this.

Thanks.:)

[DarrylBurke]

Don't double post. The thread you started in the Servlets forum has been deleted.

db

[isuru]

Well, you can use forms to submit data(request) to the database.
And query data according to your need. For example you need to show requests where the status == "answered"

[nikhilsharma]

so first of all generate a html page in which asks the user to submit any information they would like to have answered and then also create a separate JSP page which manages it. but I am still confused on how to reply back to the users request. Will I have to create an additional JSP page, what will I have to do?. Thanks.

[Tolls]

Write down the individual elements (stories, use-cases, whatever you want to call them).
So, Ask Question, View Questions, Answer Question (note these are off the top of my head and may not be suitable).

Then pick one and model it.
Don't attempt to do all this in one go.

[HowardHyde]

nikhilsharma,
"I am still confused on how to reply back to the users request"
Your JSP page calls another JSP that is the template for the reply, by naming that other JSP in the first one's HTML <form ACTION="Reply.jsp">.
If you want greater programatic control, use servlets; JSPs get compiled into servlets. If you want more sophisticated UI tools, use Java Server Faces. If your data is more complex than flat files and needs to be kept even if someone trips over the power cord to the webserver, use a database.
Howard Hyde, author, 'Java Web Database Application Development' (JavaWebDB.com).

[nikhilsharma]

Hello,

thanks for all your replies. As I am quite new to JSP programming I am not too sure on what some of you guys have posted. I would like to get started on this by doing small bits at a time. Could you please help me in how I can get started with this as once I have started to code, hopefully everything will fall in and will make sense. Thanks.

[HowardHyde]

NikhilSharma,

I would like to get started on this by doing small bits at a time.

Click this link to see a detailed elaboration of JSP programming, small bits at a time: A Trivial JSP Application
Hope this helps.
-Howard