Delete documents over the Web using Ajax and JavaScript

The following step-by-step instructions explain how to delete document(s) over the Web using Ajax -- without having to refresh the current open window.

1. Write your own table tag inside a view that you're going to show on the Web. This will give you the freedom to have complete control over the feel and look.

2. In the first column, write the following code for showing a checkbox:

   "<tr id="+@Text(@DocumentUniqueID)+">
   <td width=10%><input id="$$SelectDoc_"+
   @Text(@DocNumber)  +""  type=checkbox  value=" + 
   @Text(@DocumentUniqueID) + "></td>"

3. Now, make more columns with what you need and put them into the <td> as follows:

   "<td align=left>" + @Text(urfield) + "</td>"

4. Check the view property "Treat view contents as HTML."

5. Embed this view into a form inside the <table> tag as follows:

   <ur delete button goes here>
   <table border=0 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2  
   width=100%> <ur embedded view 
   come here> </table>

6. On the "Delete" button, click the call function called "getChkBoxValue()."

7. Put the code below in your JavaScript:

   var strUIDs="";
   var Sep="";
   var req;
   var count=0;
   function getChkBoxValue()
   {
        var msg;
   msg= "Are you sure you want 
   to delete the selected document ? ";
   var agree=confirm(msg);
        if (agree)
        {
   var chkboxes = 
   document.getElementsByTagName("input");
   for(i=0;i<chkboxes.length;i++)
     {
    if(chkboxes.item(i)
   .attributes["type"].value == "checkbox") 
     {
    if (chkboxes.item(i).checked &
   & chkboxes.item(i).value !="0")
            {
     strUIDs = strUIDs +Sep+chkboxes.item(i).value  ;
     document.getElementById(chkboxes.item(i).value).
   style.display='none';
       Sep="~@~";
         }  
         }
     }   
    url="http://137.55.222.154/Rishi/CustomerDetails.nsf/
   deleteDocument?OpenAgent&processUNID="+strUIDs;
     loadXMLDoc(url);
   }
        else
           {
               return false 
            }     
       
   }
   
   function loadXMLDoc(url)
   {
    req = false;
     
       if(window.XMLHttpRequest) {
        try {
   
   req = new XMLHttpRequest();
           } catch(e) {
   
   req = false;
           }
   
       } else if(window.ActiveXObject) {
       try {
   req = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
   } catch(e) {
   try {
     req = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
   } catch(e) {
   req = false;
    }
   }
       }
   if(req)
     {
   req.onreadystatechange = processReqChange;
   req.open("GET", url, true);
   req.send("");
    }
   }
   
   
   function processReqChange()
    {
    
       if (req.readyState == 4) 
      {
   
           if (req.status == 200) 
            {
                 xmlStr=req.responseText
               alert(xmlStr);
           } 
          else 
          {
   alert("There was a problem 
   retrieving the XML data:n" + req.statusText);
           }
       }
   }
   
   function toggleChkBox()
   {
      
    if (document.forms[0].chkAll.checked) 
      {
         selectAll();
        }
        else
        {
        deselectAll();
        }
   }
   
   
   function selectAll() {
    d = document.forms[0];
    for (i = 0; i < d.elements.length; i++) 
   {
      if (d.elements[i].type == "checkbox")
     {
        d.elements[i].checked = true;
      }
    }
   }
   
   function deselectAll() {
    d = document.forms[0];
    for (i = 0; i < d.elements.length; i++) {
      if (d.elements[i].type == "checkbox") {
        d.elements[i].checked = false;
      }
    }
   }
   
   var j=1;
   function HideBorder()
   {
      var chkboxes = 
   document.getElementsByTagName("input");
      for(i=0;i<chkboxes.length;i++)
      {
    if(chkboxes.item(i).attributes[
   "type"].value == "checkbox") 
         {
   if (chkboxes.item(i).id
   .indexOf("$$SelectDoc_") ==0)
               {
   document
   .getElementById("$$SelectDoc_"+j)
   .style.borderRight='0';
   document
   .getElementById("$$SelectDoc_"+j)
   .style.borderLeft='0';
   document
   .getElementById("$$SelectDoc_"+j)
   .style.borderTop='0';
   j++;
     }   
         }
    }   
     
   }
   

   ***In the above JavaScript, there is: an XMLHTTp call for the agent to delete the document; the function to get selected document UID; the function to remove ugly borders from the checkbox; and the last function called "toggleChkBox" -- which is used to select and deselect all checkboxes from one single checkbox , per Yahoo style.

8. The next step is to write an agent called "deleteDocument" and paste the below code :

   On Error Goto errhandler
    
   Print "Content-Type:text/plain"
   
   Dim session As New NotesSession
   Dim currDb As NotesDatabase
   Dim coll As NotesDocumentCollection 
   Dim strEmpId  As String 
   Dim doc As NotesDocument 
   Dim currDoc As NotesDocument
   Dim tmpdoc As NotesDocument 
   Dim view As NotesView 
   
   Set currDb= session.CurrentDatabase 
   Set currDoc=session.DocumentContext 
   Set view=currDb.GetView("DeleteDocument")
    
   strRowDocUID= 
   Strrightback(currDoc.QUERY_STRING(0),"=")
   strDocUID=Split(strRowDocUID,"~@~")
   
   For i=0 To Ubound(strDocUID)
   Set tmpdoc= 
   currDb.GetDocumentByUNID(strDocUID(i))
   Call tmpdoc.replaceitemvalue("Delete","Yes")
   Call tmpdoc.save(True,False)
   Next
    
   Print i & "  document(s) successfully deleted" 
    
   Exit Sub
   errhandler:
   Print "Error" & Str(Err) & ": " & Error$
   Exit Sub

9. Now, write the following selection formula to the view you are showing on the Web.

   SELECT Form="frmCustomerDetails" 
   & Delete !="Yes"

10. The last step is to write one agent to delete those documents whose flag is Delete="Yes."

MEMBER FEEDBACK TO THIS TIP

The method used above is only secure if the agent "deleteDocument" is flagged as "Run as Web User." Otherwise, anyone with read access could delete documents in the database.
—Markus K.

******************************************

In my opinion, just because you can accomplish this with Ajax, doesn't necessarily mean you should. With something like deleting documents, that could be misused. I think this tip adds a layer of unneeded complexity. The function already exists using various standard methods over the Web, such as URL commands, etc. I think you should wait for a reload if they are deleting multiple documents.
—Jason H.

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