using MySQLi Check New Username to check for a duplicate license number

In my admin section, I would like to use the License Number field to check for duplicates. The issue is it needs to be done before they enter all the other data as there are tons of fields to enter.
I tried using the Check New Username SB. Created a button next to the Lic# form field entry point. Used that button as the trigger point, used the licensenumber field in the Form as the value. Also tried using the licensenumber in the WA_ValidatedEntries when the first didnt work.

Is there any chance this could work. Right now when I click the DupeCheck button it just goes to the next field..
Here is the code it generated.

<?php
if (isset($_POST["dupeCheck"]) || isset($_POST["dupeCheck_x"])) {
$CheckNew = new WA_MySQLi_Auth($conn_mdb1);
$CheckNew->Action = "checknew";
$CheckNew->Table = "maintbl";
$CheckNew->addFilter("licenseNumber", "=", "s", "".((isset($_POST["licenseNumber"]))?$_POST["licenseNumber"]:"") ."");
$FailedRedirect = "switch.php";
if (function_exists("rel2abs")) $FailedRedirect = $FailedRedirect?rel2abs($FailedRedirect,dirname(__FILE__)):"";
$CheckNew->FailRedirect = $FailedRedirect;
$CheckNew->execute();
}
?>

Thanks.

It should be possible. Is the dupeCheck field a type "submit" button? Honestly the right way to do this is probably to use the onblur event and use AJAX to check the duplicate value. I could help with this in a premier support ticket.

OK.. yes the Trigger is Button: dupeCheck pressed

If I cant figure it out I will see if he wants to pay for a Premier ticket.
Thanks.

He just cant afford a premier ticket right now. Let me show you what I have and if I could at least get your opinion.
I have started taking some online classes on jquery and ajax so I am trying but cant quite figure this one. The dialog box keeps reopening and I dont want to check 'prevent this page from creating additional dialogs'. Is this just because I am using the default dialog box?

It does find the duplicates, just fine.



the license box uses this onBlur="isUnique(this.value)"

process2.php

<?php require_once('../Connections/conn_mdb1.php'); ?>
<?php
if(isset($_POST['licenseNumber'])){
$licenseNumber = $_POST['licenseNumber'];
$sql = "select * from maintbl where licenseNumber='$licenseNumber'";
$result = mysqli_query($conn_mdb1 , $sql);
if($result->num_rows > 0){
echo "This License Number is already in use";
}
}
?>

and the script.

<script>
function isUnique(licenseNumber){
$.post("process2.php" , {licenseNumber:licenseNumber} , function(data){
if(data != "")
alert(data);
});
}
</script>

The validation script is blurring the field multiple times causing the repeated error. This should fix it:

<script>

var postDelay = false;

function doUniqueCheck(licenseNumber) {
$.post("process2.php" , {licenseNumber:licenseNumber} , function(data){
if(data != "")
alert(data);
});
}

function isUnique(licenseNumber){
 if (postDelay) clearTimeout(postDelay);
 postDelay = setTimeout('doUniqueCheck("'+licenseNumber+'")',200);
}
</script>

This looks like it would work, and if you implemented my solution it should only run once.

Another trick you could use is to store a global variable with the last license number checked and only check it if the license number has changed, that way it would never fire twice for the same entry.

OK

Our library uses OOP style, but really it doesn't matter. They can both be used together, it is just a personal preference kind of thing.