ASP and Browser Compatibility

[Seabelle]

Hi ASP Gurus,
I have a theory question for you. I discovered today that one of my asp pages (a detail page, led to from a results page) does not work in Netscape 4.08. When the user upgraded to Netscape 6.1 everything was great. Is there a general rule of which versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer are fully compatible with asp pages?
Thanks for your help!

[KodeKrash]

ASP has nothing to do with the browser. The HTML output that the ASP generates is the issue, not the server side ASP.

[Seabelle]

Considering that I had done essentially no formatting yet, what would be the causes from an html standpoint? I have white background color, black default font, and used the standard table layout and inserted my record details into individual cells.

I do have one line of javascript to provide the user with a link to go "back" to the previous page they were on. Could this be the culprit?

[westmich]

Could be - can you post a link to the page?

[dhtmlgod]

Yeah, a link would be the best idea, or even then code.

[Seabelle]

Some background first: the website is for a real estate agent and the asp section is for searchable property listings. The page which produces the error message is a detail page which is reached when a user is viewing a results list and clicks on a link to view more info about one of the results. So the flow is:

Search -> Results -> Detail

The error message occurred for a user who has Netscape 4.08.

Here's a link to the live detail page:
http://66.70.51.249/detail.asp

And here's the code for it: (warning, I'm using UltraDev, please don't get mad that it has extranneous stuff in it, I'm still learning how to hand-code) I believe the error is the javascript for the "back" command which allows the user to go back to the previous page; it's at the very end of the code/page on line 440.


<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT"%>
<!--#include file="Connections/connProperties.asp" -->
<%
set rsDetail = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
rsDetail.ActiveConnection = MM_connProperties_STRING
rsDetail.Source = "SELECT * FROM PropertiesFull"
rsDetail.CursorType = 0
rsDetail.CursorLocation = 2
rsDetail.LockType = 3
rsDetail.Open()
rsDetail_numRows = 0
%>
<%
' *** Recordset Stats, Move To Record, and Go To Record: declare stats variables

' set the record count
rsDetail_total = rsDetail.RecordCount

' set the number of rows displayed on this page
If (rsDetail_numRows < 0) Then
rsDetail_numRows = rsDetail_total
Elseif (rsDetail_numRows = 0) Then
rsDetail_numRows = 1
End If

' set the first and last displayed record
rsDetail_first = 1
rsDetail_last = rsDetail_first + rsDetail_numRows - 1

' if we have the correct record count, check the other stats
If (rsDetail_total <> -1) Then
If (rsDetail_first > rsDetail_total) Then rsDetail_first = rsDetail_total
If (rsDetail_last > rsDetail_total) Then rsDetail_last = rsDetail_total
If (rsDetail_numRows > rsDetail_total) Then rsDetail_numRows = rsDetail_total
End If
%>
<%
' *** Move To Record and Go To Record: declare variables

Set MM_rs = rsDetail
MM_rsCount = rsDetail_total
MM_size = rsDetail_numRows
MM_uniqueCol = "Address"
MM_paramName = "address"
MM_offset = 0
MM_atTotal = false
MM_paramIsDefined = false
If (MM_paramName <> "") Then
MM_paramIsDefined = (Request.QueryString(MM_paramName) <> "")
End If
%>
<%
' *** Move To Specific Record: handle detail parameter

If (MM_paramIsDefined And MM_rsCount <> 0) Then

' get the value of the parameter
param = Request.QueryString(MM_paramName)

' find the record with the unique column value equal to the parameter value
MM_offset = 0
Do While (Not MM_rs.EOF)
If (Cstr(MM_rs.Fields.Item(MM_uniqueCol).Value) = param) Then
Exit Do
End If
MM_offset = MM_offset + 1
MM_rs.MoveNext
Loop

' if not found, set the number of records and reset the cursor
If (MM_rs.EOF) Then
If (MM_rsCount < 0) Then MM_rsCount = MM_offset
If (MM_size < 0 Or MM_size > MM_offset) Then MM_size = MM_offset
MM_offset = 0

' reset the cursor to the beginning
If (MM_rs.CursorType > 0) Then
MM_rs.MoveFirst
Else
MM_rs.Close
MM_rs.Open
End If
End If

End If
%>
<%
' *** Move To Record: if we dont know the record count, check the display range

If (MM_rsCount = -1) Then

' walk to the end of the display range for this page
i = MM_offset
While (Not MM_rs.EOF And (MM_size < 0 Or i < MM_offset + MM_size))
MM_rs.MoveNext
i = i + 1
Wend

' if we walked off the end of the recordset, set MM_rsCount and MM_size
If (MM_rs.EOF) Then
MM_rsCount = i
If (MM_size < 0 Or MM_size > MM_rsCount) Then MM_size = MM_rsCount
End If

' if we walked off the end, set the offset based on page size
If (MM_rs.EOF And Not MM_paramIsDefined) Then
If (MM_offset > MM_rsCount - MM_size Or MM_offset = -1) Then
If ((MM_rsCount Mod MM_size) > 0) Then
MM_offset = MM_rsCount - (MM_rsCount Mod MM_size)
Else
MM_offset = MM_rsCount - MM_size
End If
End If
End If

' reset the cursor to the beginning
If (MM_rs.CursorType > 0) Then
MM_rs.MoveFirst
Else
MM_rs.Requery
End If

' move the cursor to the selected record
i = 0
While (Not MM_rs.EOF And i < MM_offset)
MM_rs.MoveNext
i = i + 1
Wend
End If
%>
<%
' *** Move To Record: update recordset stats

' set the first and last displayed record
rsDetail_first = MM_offset + 1
rsDetail_last = MM_offset + MM_size
If (MM_rsCount <> -1) Then
If (rsDetail_first > MM_rsCount) Then rsDetail_first = MM_rsCount
If (rsDetail_last > MM_rsCount) Then rsDetail_last = MM_rsCount
End If

' set the boolean used by hide region to check if we are on the last record
MM_atTotal = (MM_rsCount <> -1 And MM_offset + MM_size >= MM_rsCount)
%>
<html>
<head>
<title>Detail Property Description</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This Property Is <%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("PropertyStatus").Value)%>. It Is <%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("PropertyType").Value)%>.</p>
<table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>Price </b><%= FormatCurrency((rsDetail.Fields.Item("Price").Value), 0, -2, -2, -2) %></td>
<td width="32%"><b>Association Dues </b><%= FormatCurrency((rsDetail.Fields.Item("AssociationDues").Value), 0, -2, -2, -2) %></td>
<td width="40%">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>Address </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Address").Value)%></td>
<td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>City </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("City").Value)%></td>
<td width="32%"><b>State </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("State").Value)%></td>
<td width="40%"><b>Zip </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Zip").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>Neighborhood </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Neighborhood").Value)%></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td width="40%"><b>MLS Area </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("MLSArea").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>Description </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Description").Value)%></td>
<td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><b>Lot Size </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("LotSize").Value)%></td>
<td><b>Heated Square Feet </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("HeatedSquareFeet").Value)%></td>
<td width="40%">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Bedrooms </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Bedrooms").Value)%></p>
</td>
<td><b>Bathrooms </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Bathrooms").Value)%></td>
<td><b>Total # Rooms </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Rooms").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Year Built </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("YearBuilt").Value)%></td>
<td><b># Floors </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Floors").Value)%></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Parking </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Parking").Value)%></td>
<td><b># Vehicles </b><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Vehicles").Value)%></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<table width="60%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td>
<div align="left"><b>Inside Features</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<p>
<p>
<p>
<table width="60%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td width="59%">Central Air Conditioning</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("AC").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Basement</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Basement").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Cable Ready</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Cable").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Dishwasher</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Dishwasher").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Disposal</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Disposal").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Eat-In Kitchen</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("EatInKitchen").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Center Island In Kitchen</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("CenterIsland").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Eating Area</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("EatingArea").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Elevator</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Elevator").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Family Room</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Family").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Fireplace</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Fireplace").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Forced Air Heating</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("ForcedHeat").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Formal Dining Room</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("FormalDR").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Handicap Access</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("IntHandicap").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Hardwood Floors</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Hardwood").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Microwave</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Microwave").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Paid Utilities</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("PaidUt").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Pets Allowed</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Pets").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Refrigerator</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Refrig").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Security System</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("SecuritySys").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Storage Space</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("IntStorage").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Washer/Dryer</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("WasherDryer").Value)%></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="60%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td>
<div align="left"><b>Outside Features</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="60%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center">
<tr>
<td width="59%">Balcony</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Balcony").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Boat Ramp</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("BoatRamp").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Boat Slip</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("BoatSlip").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Clubhouse</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Clubhouse").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Courtyard</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Courtyard").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Cul-De-Sac</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Culdesac").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Deck</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Deck").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Eastern Exposure</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("EasternExp").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Fenced Yard</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Fenced").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Fitness Center</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Fitness").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Gated Community</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Gated").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Golf Course Community</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Golf").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Handicap Access</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("ExtHandicap").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Historical District</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Historical").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Horses Allowed</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Horses").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Northern Exposure</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("NorthernExp").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Patio</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Patio").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Playground</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Playground").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Sauna</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Sauna").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Screened Porch</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("ScreenedPorch").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Secure Building</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("SecureBldg").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Southern Exposure</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("SouthernExp").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Spa</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Spa").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Swimming Pool</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Swimming").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Tennis Court</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Tennis").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Territorial View</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Territorial").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Water View</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("WaterView").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Waterfront Property</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("WaterFront").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Western Exposure</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("WesternExp").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Wooded View</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("WoodedView").Value)%></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="59%">Workshop</td>
<td width="41%"><%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Workshop").Value)%></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>For more information, call my 24 hour recorded hotline 1(800)272-8763 and enter
<%=(rsDetail.Fields.Item("AdNum").Value)%> at the prompt.</p>
<p><a href="javascript:history.go(-1);">Click here to return to the previous page.</a></p>
<p><a href="search.asp">Click here to search again.</a></p>
</body>
</html>
<%
rsDetail.Close()
%>

[iTec]

Im using NS 4.7 and IE 5.5 and there is NO differece in the rendering.... maybe NS was just playing up when you were looking at it

[Seabelle]

In case anyone needs the search page link, it is
http://66.70.51.249/search.asp I'm not sure whether it matters if you go directly to the detail page or arrive there from the results page.

The properties in the database right now are completely fictional and silly.

Could it be that it was viewed using Netscape Communicator 4.08 as opposed to Netscape Navigator 4.7? I'm not completely clear on the differences between Communicator and Navigator.

Thanks, iTec for letting me know it works for you.

P.S. Sorry for the ugliness of the page, I'm not doing any "beautification" until I get all my asp bugs worked out.

[newsomer]

I am using Netscape Communicator 4.77

I receive "The parameter is incorrect. " when I try to get the detail from your list.

The list produces the following address/values string:
http://66.70.51.249/detail.asp?Address=789 Cypress Lane

Netscape just hates spaces in the http address. Your Address parameter "789 Cypress Lane" has two spaces in it. If you must use these spaces and it appears you must here, use Server.URLEncode() to convert the string to a browser friendly string.

I did a manual edit and converted the spaces to %20 and my Netscape went through flawlessly.


Bob Newsome

[moospot]

I am using Navigator 4.08 and I can see the page fine as well. Like newsomer said, it's a matter of fixing the spaces in your querystring.

[newsomer]

Originally posted by moospot
I am using Navigator 4.08 and I can see the page fine as well. Like newsomer said, it's a matter of fixing the spaces in your querystring.

Querystring dammit! I read and write this word every day and I cannot use it to make my post understood?

I hate getting old(er).

[Seabelle]

I'm not quite sure what Newsomer meant by that last post but I'm so glad to hear that the spaces are to blame, at least I know the reason why now. But it also seems that it only happens for users of Communicator ... not Navigator? Hmmm.

Regardless, I wasn't clear on how to use Server.URLEncode() in the query string .... Help!

Do I need to change "SELECT * FROM PropertiesFull" to something more elaborate, involving the Server.URLEncode() stuff?

Thanks a million!!

[shane]

Seabelle,

It's the result.asp page that the problem is on. As the others said, you need to encode the property link.

You've probably got something like this

strLink = "<a href=""/details.asp?address=" & _
Trim(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Address").Value) & """>" & _
Trim(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Address").Value) & "</a>"

Just encode the address variable first before appending it to the link variable.

strAddress = Trim(rsDetail.Fields.Item("Address").Value)
strAddress = Server.URLEncode(strAddress)
strLink = "<a href=""/details.asp?address=" & strAddress & """>" & _
strAddress & "</a>"

I've never used Ultradev but I'd be suprised if it didn't have a setting to encode a particular field in these circumstances.

[newsomer]

Originally posted by shane

strAddress = Server.URLEncode(strAddress)

Exactally

In my second post I was slapping my forehead because I didn't use the term 'querystring' which would have made my first post easier to understand.


Bob

[Seabelle]

Okay guys I went with choosing a different parameter to pass to the detail page instead of changing the coding. I'm using the ID number which is the unique field and is a numeric field that will never have spaces. Newsomer, would you mind trying it again and seeing if it will work this time? Thanks!

[wdmny]

All of that code is used just on that details page ? It looks like your code could be streamlined ALOT and it would also be a lot simpler.

[Seabelle]

I know! Isn't it obNOXious?? That's what I get for having chosen to learn asp via UltraDev. The Site Point gang ('D, Goober, and all) have pounded into my head that I need to hand code and believe me I will be trying that from now on. But for the time being I am trying to meet a deadline and get this one website finished for a client. Whenever I get the asp all figured out, my design partner will apply the CSS and it'll look fantastic *and* work perfectly.

In addition to learning how to handcode I have a goal of getting into SQL instead of using Access. This particular site is so small and gets so little traffic that Access was a good fit especially since I already am familiar with it.

[newsomer]

Same browser (N4.77) different machine/location but I see no reason for it not to work and it came through just fine.

Cheers,


Bob

[Seabelle]

Thanks for checking, I'm glad it's working now!