Setting uid cloumn characters limit

Im mysql db table Chonoforms creates a new column called "uid";If I'm correct uid column assign a unique id every user that submit the form.
Can I limit the number of characters of "uid",setting the varchar limit,eg to 10?

Hi raygold,

Yes I think you can.

But note that the UID isn't necessarily unique (though it's very unlikely that it isn't); and shortening it increases the chances of a duplicate.

If you really need a unique id then you should generate your own and check it for uniqueness.

Bob

How can I generate unique id?
Shoul I edit Chronoforms or database table option?

Hi raygold,

Please see this article from The ChronoForms Book - that includes the code you need.

Bob

Thanks I found your article very helpful.
Since I'm not interesting to add a bar code,but only generate an unique user id for every user that submit the form,I simplified the procedure in three steps as follows:

1. I added this code in the "On Submit before" box:

<?php
if ( ! $mainframe->isSite() ) { return; }
JRequest::setVar('ident', generateIdent());

/*
 function to generate a random alpha-numeric code
 using a specified pattern
  *
 * @param $pattern string
 * @return string
 */
function generateIdent($pattern='AA9999A')
{
  $alpha = array("A","B","C","D","E","F","G","H",
    "J","K","L","M","N","P","Q","R","S","T","U","V","W",
    "X","Y","Z");
  $digit = array("1","2","3","4","5","6","7","8","9");
  $return = "";
  $pattern_array = str_split($pattern, 1);
  foreach ( $pattern_array as $v ) {
    if ( is_numeric($v) ) {
      $return .= $digit[array_rand($digit)];
    } elseif ( in_array(strtoupper($v), $alpha) ) {
      $return .= $alpha[array_rand($alpha)];
    } else {
      $return .= " ";
    }
  }
  return $return;
}
?>

2. The following code in the Email template(sent to user):

<div>Your code: {ident}</div>

3. And this code in the "After submit text" box:

<div>Your registration code is: {ident}</div>

Could you tell me if the steps above are correct or If I forgotten something?

Hi raygold,

That looks good.

Just to underline for other readers: like the uid, that code will not necessarily give you a unique id. If it is vital that it is unique then you need to store issued codes and add a few extra lines to check the the generated value hasn't been used before.

Bob

Thanks for the clarification.🙂

Hi again,
I have another question: how is possible store the "ident" item in form db table?
Should I set form code or database table?

Hi raygold,

Normally I'd save the form results and include the id as a column in that table using the DB Connection. If you aren't saving the form results you can still create a little table and just save the id.

Bob

I have set form to save results in db table.
Should I add the "ident" id manually,through tables manager feature?

Hi raygold,

Yes add an new column either with the Table Manager or with PHPMyAdmin.

Bob