How does zen_set_field_length() work?

[TheOracle]

Thus, the use of the zen_set_field_length() function would usually not be encouraged for form fields related to TEXT database fields.

Strange. From includes/templates/template_default/tpl_account_edit_default.php file, I found this result (originally from the downloaded package - unmodified):

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('customers_referral', '', zen_set_field_length(TABLE_CUSTOMERS, 'customers_referral', 15), 'id="customers-referral"'); ?>

The zen_set_field_length is actually used with the zen_draw_input_field function. I have received a PM regarding this page, also, particularly (which has this reported problem). If I understand correctly, these two functions should not be related together ? If not, what would be the proper replacement ?

Then, from admin/includes/modules/document_product/collect_info_metatags.php file, I found this result:

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('metatags_title[' . $languages[$i]['id'] . ']', (isset($metatags_title[$languages[$i]['id']]) ? stripslashes($metatags_title[$languages[$i]['id']]) : zen_get_metatags_title($pInfo->products_id, $languages[$i]['id'])), zen_set_field_length(TABLE_META_TAGS_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION, 'metatags_title', '150', false)); //,'id="'.'metatags_title' . $languages[$i]['id'] . '"');?>

From includes/templates/template_default/tpl_password_forgotten_default.php file, I found this result:

<?php echo zen_draw_input_field('email_address', '', zen_set_field_length(TABLE_CUSTOMERS, 'customers_email_address', '40') . ' id="email-address"') . '&nbsp;' . (zen_not_null(ENTRY_EMAIL_ADDRESS_TEXT) ? '<span class="alert">' . ENTRY_EMAIL_ADDRESS_TEXT . '</span>': ''); ?>

Would these, also, require modifications ?

[DrByte]

Okay ... let's look at the zen_set_field_length() results on your server .... What value is it returning for those fields?

Does it do the same if you check the same page on several other servers?

I suspect the problems you're encountering are related to my 3rd point about differences in supplying meta-data due to varying server configurations.

[TheOracle]

Supposing it's condition no. 3, what would I need to look for on my server configuration in order to be more adaptive with the Meta-tags modules ?

[DrByte]

How about post a link to techsupp.php for both servers you're aware of which are having this problem. .... or better yet, supply a detailed list of similarities between the servers where this is not working right vs another server that "is" working right.

Also, need to look at what rights are granted to the MySQL user in each case.... is it "ALL" rights, or is it selectively granted only certain specific rights?

[TheOracle]

Also, need to look at what rights are granted to the MySQL user in each case.... is it "ALL" rights, or is it selectively granted only certain specific rights?

I believe they're actually under specific rights. Would that provoque an impact over zen_set_field_length ?

Since, when I use other PHP scripts, I can easily use arrays that allows me to gather the right length value.

For instance;

$setting['length_size'] 

I can call it under an HTML Form without any problems. Let's buld an example:

<FORM action="http://www.mysite.com/file.php" METHOD="post">
<input type="hidden" name="action" value="test">
<input type="text" name="test_field" size="<?php echo $setting['length_size']; ?>">
</form>

Then, when I refresh my page, I can actually see that the size has changed.

Althought, when I properly use the zen_set_field_length module over Zen-Cart, I modify the value number (under the parenthese) and the value does show differently (from view-source). Althought, the textarea, for instance, does not expand further when I increase the value. This is what it is all about actually.

I'm trying to see if there's a modulation handling error from zen_set_field_length under includes/functions/functions_general.php file but I'm not that good to work under these types of functions.

I just wish there was, actually, a way to make the transcription work correctly once we, either, increase or decrease the numeric value under that module. Unfortunitely, others, (not alot but a few), has also reported this problem as I thought I was the only one encountering it. Quite strange.

[DrByte]

the textarea, for instance, does not expand further when I increase the value. This is what it is all about actually.

okay.

The function works this way:

zen_set_field_length($tbl, $fld, $max=70)

1. the database is checked to see what the defined maximum length of the field is in the table
2. the result is compared with the "max" value passed (default = 70)
3. If the field in the database is longer than the "max" value supplied as 3rd parameter in zen_set_field_length(), then the maximum is used.
If the database field is shorter, the shorter value is used.

If you wish to override it completely and set your own width regardless of the database settings, substitute the PHP for the relevant HTML, like this:

zen_set_field_length(a, b, c) 

becomes this:

size="46" maxlength="45" 

(46 for size, and 45 for max, adding 1 extra char position for visibility reasons)

[TheOracle]

My first general function lesson.

2. the result is compared with the "max" value passed (default = 70)

Is there a specific reason why the value should be set to a maximum value of 70 ? And ... technicly ... why 70 ? Is there a specific purpose for setting this value particularly ?

As for this one:

(46 for size, and 45 for max, adding 1 extra char position for visibility reasons)

Yes, I agree. However, if I do choose to specify these length size manually, it will affect my HTML form presentation itself or it doesn't really matter ?