Gratitude Journal Forward/Backward buttons

[wdreames]

Create an enhancement that includes buttons to see the journal entries that were previously outputted during a single session. This would include both a 'previous' and a 'next' button. This would also need to be reset whenever a new session is made (possibly use the same logic as the random dataframe's reset timer. The only issue with that would be if more than one person used this page of the website (which would also be something to fix with the random dataframe's timer as well), but I should really get the only one using it. That may still be something worth thinking about, though)

[wdreames]

Brainstorming:

• Use the Command design pattern with execute() and undo() abstract functions
• Refactor my current logic into one PHP file, with commands for:
  • RequestSpecificEntry
  • RequestRandomEntry
• These would both send a string to a Receiver object that will update the text in the journal window.

Notes for this idea:

• For the undo function to work, I would also need to be able to pass in the current text on the screen. This should not be an issue
• The primary issue with this idea is that I would need to be able to save a state and create a stack of Commands to undo/redo. If the PHP script is effectively run for the first time every time it is called, this will not work. This may be able to be solved with PHP sessions.

I think this idea seems feasible and I will begin working on it

[wdreames]

I made some progress on implementing the above solution. Current remaining TODOs are:

• Update the JavaScript code in gratitude-journal.html to invoke get_journal_entries.php with proper Form parameters
• Get the Stack data structure to work in PHP (probably easier to do on my server)
• Implement the undo/redo functions
• Add buttons to invoke the undo/redo functions
• Format the webpage so the undo/redo buttons look nice

[wdreames]

The undo/redo buttons work now. All that is left is:

• Make the formatting nicer
• Determine what the functionality should be when the previous/next buttons are pressed when the undo/redo stacks are empty (respectively)

[wdreames]

Ideally, I think the buttons would be grayed-out when they cannot be used. Although I am unsure how feasible this idea is to implement

[wdreames]

I think I will also need to turn off the DOS protection for this file. It blocks me from viewing the journal if I press the undo/redo buttons too many times

[wdreames]

The buttons work!!! I haven't changed the DOS protection at all but the backwards and forwards buttons work, get grayed out when they cannot be used, and are also disabled when they cannot be used. I am quite happy with the end result :)