Variable in database query?

[walkeraj00]

Here is a function I am attempting to use in a web application I'm
developining. Basically, I am attempting to create a function to generate a
<select> variable in a form. I want the select variable's default option to be
based upon the value that's already in the database. So, for instance, if the
selectbox is for value F_E1, and the value in the database is "YES", then I
want "yes" to be pre-selected in the form. What I wanted to do was pass a
string that said something like "F_E1" to the function, which would then
generate a form entry based on the database value of query.F_E1.

The error I'm getting is as follows: The variable RubaReports. ends with a "."
character. You must supply an additional structure key or delete the "."
character.

Any ideas?

<cffunction name="gen_select">
<cfargument name="field_name" type="string" required="yes">
<cfoutput query="RubaReports">
<cfif RubaReports.#field_name# IS "N/A" OR RubaReports.#field_name# IS "">
<select name="#field_name#">
<option value="Yes">Yes</option>
<option value="No">No</option>
<option value="N/A" selected>N/A</option>
</select>
<cfelse>
<select name="#field_name#">
<option value="Yes"<cfif RubaReports.#field_name# IS "Yes">
selected</cfif>>Yes</option>
<option value="No"<cfif RubaReports.#field_name# IS "No">
selected</cfif>>No</option>
<option value="N/A">N/A</option>
</select>
</cfif>
</cfoutput>
</cffunction>

[Dan Bracuk]

First, you have to scope your field_name variable. The scope is arguments.

I know you have to change RubaReports.#field_name# to something else, but I
forget what. Perhaps, something like this.

RubaReports["#field_name#"]

or something else

[walkeraj00]

Yes, of course! That is the correct syntax, I believe, but now I am getting
the following error:

Complex object types cannot be converted to simple values.
The expression has requested a variable or an intermediate expression result
as a simple value, however, the result cannot be converted to a simple value.
Simple values are strings, numbers, boolean values, and date/time values.
Queries, arrays, and COM objects are examples of complex values.

The most likely cause of the error is that you are trying to use a complex
value as a simple one. For example, you might be trying to use a query variable
in a <CFIF> tag. This was possible in ColdFusion 2.0 but creates an error in
later versions.

The error occurred in /oradced/webpages/dca/ruba/report/Ruba_Detail.cfm: line
19

17 : <cfargument name="field_name" type="string" required="yes">
18 : <cfoutput query="RubaReports">
19 : <cfif RubaReports["#field_name#"] IS "N/A" OR
RubaReports["#field_name#"] IS "">
20 : <select name="#field_name#">
21 : <option value="Yes">Yes</option>

Well, that's exactly right! I'm trying to use a query inside of a <cfif> tag!
What's the solution to this? An intermediate variable?

[Dan Bracuk]

Probably a row number.

[walkeraj00]

Here's the working code. I eliminated the last error by simply making an
intermediate variable. Dan, it was unnecessary to specifically scope the
argument. I just wasn't using it right.

<cffunction name="gen_select">
<cfargument name="field_name" type="string" required="yes">
<cfoutput query="RubaReports">
<cfset fieldresult=RubaReports["#field_name#"]>
<cfif fieldresult IS "N/A" OR fieldresult IS "">
<select name="#field_name#">
<option value="Yes">Yes</option>
<option value="No">No</option>
<option value="N/A" selected>N/A</option>
</select>
<cfelse>
<select name="#field_name#">
<option value="Yes"<cfif fieldresult IS "Yes"> selected</cfif>>Yes</option>
<option value="No"<cfif fieldresult IS "No"> selected</cfif>>No</option>
<option value="N/A">N/A</option>
</select>
</cfif>
</cfoutput>
</cffunction>