Nine digit zip codes Oops

[Jim Ault]

The 'submit' button on a page will do one of two things.  Either
   send a GET string
   send a POST message
------ I meant to add this ----------

The USPS page uses 'post', as shown on the line below
<FORM name="form1" action="zcl_0_results.jsp" method="post"  
OnSubmit="return validate(form1)">
where action-> the script (handler),
and the method tells the script to look inside the $_POST array for  
data that has been passed.
BUT , your browser runs a javascript before sending, and validates the  
form
  (search for 'function validate(field) { // check if input ok )
----------

The GET is a simple method of send a web page address & the data pairs.
- this method has a limit of about 1000 chars and is sent so that a  
program sniffing packets can see the entire string

The POST is a more capable method that sends the web page address &  
another message block that can contain a variety of encoded data.
- this method does not have a limit and the variables cannot be  
sniffed if sent using SSL. or encryption, etc.

In your case, the LC 'post' command is the 'submit' button action.
In the LC library, the web page address and the message are formatted  
for you

Think of the receiving web page as a hander in LC.
The post message calls the handler and passes the variables defined by
      pVar1=string&pVar2=integer&pVar3=state&pVar4=city

Now the server program gets called, crunches, and returns what it is  
programmed to return, just like a LC handler or function.

The POST command can also send images (as binary endoded as a text  
block), sounds, videos, files, etc.
The key is to format the message so that the sever program can know  
how to decode the text and where the parts begin and end, if multiple  
parts are sent in one message.  This is the function of 'multi-part  
boundaries' (long random strings that divide the parts)

On Nov 27, 2010, at 3:46 PM, James Hurley wrote:

> Richard,
>
> I'm beginning to get it. I should put
>
>>> visited
>>> =1&pagenumber=0&firmname=&address2=620+moulton&address1=&city=los 
>>> + 
>>> angeles 
>>> &state=ca&urbanization=&zip5=90031&submit.x=48&submit.y=8&submit=Fin
>
>
>
> into field 1--or, of course, the data appropriate to my addresses.
>
> But where did this "visited" line come from? Where in the process of  
> sending the "submit" does this line present itself?
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>> Richard,
>>
>> Thanks. I am astonished that this is possible.
>>
>> I'm afraid I am missing something. I tried entering my data (my  
>> home address--it appears that is what you did) in the USPS page
>>> http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/
>>
>> I then copied and pasted that source code into field 1 in LiveCode.  
>> (I didn't see any reference to my data--my address--in that html  
>> text.)
>>
>> I used your script in a button and obtained some html text in field  
>> 2. But there is no reference in field 2 to my street address.
>>
>> I don't mind working on the parsing to do the put and get, but I'm  
>> sure I missing the ingredient where my data (address, city and St)  
>> goes into field 1. I think that is what I am missing.
>>
>> I don't see "visited=1&pagenumber=0 etc. anywhere in field 1 or 2.
>>
>> Floundering,
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>

Jim Ault
Las Vegas