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# Client/Server Protocol


## General Protocol

The Client may asynchronously send requests to the Server. The Server
is expected to return responses as outlined below.

The response must contain at least a [Minimal Response]. Depending on
the request, it may provide additional responses as outlined in this
section.


### Minimal Response

Asynchronous request (read AJAX) initiated by the Client receive a
JSON Response from the server containing at least:

	{
		"status": "success"|"error",
		"message": "<message>"
    }
   
`status` indicates whether or not the request has been fullfiled by
the server (`"success"`) or encountered an error (`"error"`). On
`"error"` the Client must display `"<message>"` to the user. On
`"success"`, the Client may display `"<message>"` to the user.

Depending on the request, the server may provide additional
information in the response, as outlined below.


### HTML Form Element Validation Response

The Server may perform a serverside validation of values submitted as
part of a HTML Form submission. If the validation fails, it may notify
the Client by adding following name/value pairs to the response JSON
Stream

	{
		"status": "error",
		...
	    "field-name": "<field name>",
		"field-message": "<message>",
		...
	}
	
Only one validation failure per request can be reported to Client.

The Server is expected to set the status `"status"` to `"error"`, and
the Client is expected to treat the error as explained in [Minimal Response]
and must obey the rules of redirection as explained in [Redirection Response].

The Client must visibly highlight the HTML Form Element that caused the
validation failure.

`"field-name"`
:	The value of the `name` attribute of the HTML Form Element that
	caused the validation failure.
	
`"field-message"`
:	Message to the User, indicating the nature of the failure.


### Form Group Configuration Response

As part of the server response, the JSON stream may contain a key
`form-update`. This response is used to reconfigure HTML Form Elements
and Form Groups on the clientside, based on conditions evaluated on
the serverside. It contains an array of objects
having the following structure

    {
		...
		"form-update" : [
			{
				"form-element": "<element_name>",
				"hidden": true | false,
				"disabled": true | false,
				"required": true | false,
				"value": <value>
			},
			...
		],
		...
    }

`"form-element"`
:	 the name of the HTML Form Element as it appears in the `name` attribute.

`"hidden"`
:   whether the Form Group is visible (value: `false`) or invisible (value: `true`).
	
`"disabled"`
:   whether or not the Form Element is disabled HTML-wise.

`"required"`
:   whether or not the Form Element receives the HTML5 `required` attribute.

`"value"`
:	For textual HTML Form Input elements, it is supposed to be a scalar
	value, which is set on the element.
	
	When `"form-element"` references a `<select>` element, a scalar
    value selects the corresponding value from the option list. In
    order to replace the entire option list, use an array of objects
    as value to `"value"`, having this format
	   
	    [
			...
			{
				"value": 100,
				"text": "a",
				"selected": true
			},
			{
				"value": 200,
				"text": "b",
				"selected": false
			}
			...
        ]
		
	`"select"` is optional, as is `"text"`. If `"text"` is omitted, it
    will be derived from value.
	
	HTML checkboxes are ticked with a `"value"` of `true`. They are
    unchecked with `false`.
	
	HTML radio buttons are activated by providing the value of the
    radio button `value`-attribute to be activated in `"value"`.
	

### Element Configuration Response

As part of the server response, the JSON stream may contain a key
`element-update`. This key stores information on how to modify HTML elements identified by `id`. Modifying in this 
context refers to:

 * Setting attribute values
 * Deleting attributes
 * Setting content of a HTML element.
 
The content of `element-update` is outlined below

    {
        ...
        "element-update" : {
            "<element_id1>": {
                "attr": {
                    "<attr_name1>": "<value1>" | null,
                    ...
                    "<attr_nameN>": "<valueN>" | null
                },
                "content": "<element_content>"
            },
            ...
            "<element_idN>": {
                "attr": {
                    "<attr_name1>": "<value1>" | null,
                    ...
                    "<attr_nameN>": "<valueN>" | null
                },
                "content": "<element_content>"
            }
        },
        ...
    }
    
The presence of `element-update` is optional. `<element_idN>` refers to the element's `id`-attribute value. It used 
to uniquely identify the HTML element in the DOM. The properties `"attr"` and `"content"` are both optional.

Supplying `null` as value for `"<attr_nameN>"` will remove the attribute from the HTLM element identified by 
`"<element_idN>"`.

If the element has no `"<attr_nameN>"` attribute, the attribute will be created. In any case, the attribute's value will be set 
to the value specified by `"<valueN>"`. See above for handling of `null` value.

### Redirection Response

Depending on the request, the server may return redirection
information to the Client. It is up to the Client to respect the
redirection information.

The Client must not perform a redirect in case the status in
`"status"` is `"error"`.

The format of redirect information is outlined below

	{
		...
		"redirect": "no" | "url" | "client"
		"redirect-url": "<url>"
		...
	}
	

`"redirect"`
:	type of redirection. `"no"` advises the Client to stay on the
	Current Page. `"client"` advises the Client to decide where to
	redirect to. `"url"` advices the Client to redirect to the URL
	provided in `"redirect-url"`.
	
`"redirect-url"`
:	Used to provide an URL when `"redirect"` is set to `"url"`. It
	should be disregarded unless `"redirect"` is set to `"url"`.


## API Endpoints


### Form Update

The Client may request an updated set of Form Group Configuration and
HTLM Element states. In order for the Server to compile the set of
Form Group Configuration and HTML Element states, it requires the
entire HTML Form in the POST body, without any HTML Input Elements of
type `file`.

The Client must include the SIP using an HTML Input Element (most
likely of `type` `hidden`).

Request URL
:	api/load.php

Request Method
:	POST

URL Parameters
:	none

Server Response
:   The response contains at least a [Minimal Response]. In addition,
	a [Form Group Configuration Response] may be included.


### Form Save

The Client submits the HTML Form for persitent storage to the
Server. The submission should not contain `<input>` HTML Elements of
type `file`.

The Client must include the SIP using an HTML Input Element (most
likely of `type` `hidden`).

Request URL
:	api/save.php

Request Method
:	POST

URL Parameters
:	none

Server Response
:   The response contains at least a [Minimal Response]. In addition, a
	[Form Group Configuration Response],
	[HTML Form Element Validation Response] and/or
	[Redirection Response] may be included.


### File Upload

Files are uploaded asynchronously. Each file to be uploaded requires
one request to the Server, using a Multi part form with file content,
parameter `s` containing SIP, and parameter `name` containing the name
of the HTML Form Element.

Request
:	api/file.php

Request Method
:	POST

URL Parameters
:	`action=upload`

Server Response
:	The response contains a [Minimal Response].


### File Delete

Files are delete asynchronously. Each file to be delete on the
serverside requires on request to the Server. The parameters
identifying the file to be deleted are sent as part of the POST
body. The SIP of the request is included in the parameter name
`s`. The value of the `name` attribute of the HTML Form Element is
provided in `name`.

Request
:	api/file.php

Request Method
:	POST

URL Parameters
:	`action=delete`

Server Response
:	The response contains a [Minimal Response].


### Record(s) delete

Request the deletion of the record identified by the SIP. The SIP might contain a SIP_TABLE and/or a SIP_FORM.
If both are specified, SIP_FORM will be taken. With SIP_FORM, the tableName is derived from the form. 

Request
:	api/delete.php

Request Method
:	POST

URL Parameters
:	`s=<SIP>`

Server Response
:	The response contains a [Minimal Response].
	[Redirection Response] may be included.


## Glossary

SIP
:   tbd

HTML Form Element
:   Any `<input>` or `<select>` HTML tag. Synonymous to *Form Element*.

Form Group
:   The sourrounding `<div>` containing the `.control-label`,
    `.form-control` `<div>`s, and `.help-block` `<p>`.

Client
:   Application that enables a user to interact with QFQ, i.e. a Web Browser.


Current Page
:	The currently displayed page in the Client.

Redirect
:	Issued by the Server. It is a command prompting the Client to
	navigate away from the Current Page.