I think the solution is use the third table "article_author" with both, author_id and article_id having an autocomplete widget. Then, add a button there to [create author if not exist][1].
I think all this can be performed in a [single form][2] kind regards. [1] http://www.web2pyslices.com/main/slices/take_slice/65 [2] http://www.web2pyslices.com/main/slices/take_slice/102 2011/2/4 Johann Spies <johann.sp...@gmail.com>: > I would like to invite web2py users who enjoy such challenges to think with > me about solving the following problem: > > Take two tables: > > db.define_table('article', > Field("author_id", 'list:reference outeur'), > Field("title")) > > db.define_table('author', > Field('surname'), > Field('initials')) > > Table 'article' contains 137000 records and author about 108000. > > The field definition of 'author_id' as list:reference would be ideal but in > this case the list is too large and breaks javascript in the browser causing > any crud.create or crud.update to take about 70 seconds to show the form. > > I am looking for a solution to be able to enter a new article while the same > screen the user can either select an existing entry in 'author' or add a > new author linked to the article if the author does not exist in the > database. Keep in mind that one article can have several authors of which > some may be in the database already and we try to avoid duplicate entries > for the same author. > > Using an autocompletion widget for the author might have been useful if only > one author per article was allowed. > > One possible solution is to create a third table for many-to-many relations: > > db.define_table('author_article', > Field('article_id', db.article,requires = > IS_IN_DB(db,'article.id')), > Field('author_id', db.author,requires = > IS_IN_DB(db,'author.id'))) > > In such a case how would one approach the entry forms in such a way that the > user does not nead to choose different screens/menu options when the author > is new or already in the database or when there are many authors for the > same article? > > Regards > Johann > > > Regards > Johann > -- > May grace and peace be yours in abundance through the full knowledge of God > and of Jesus our Lord! His divine power has given us everything we need for > life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by > his own glory and excellence. > 2 Pet. 1:2b,3a > >
