[Zope] accessing zsql methods from external methods (1.10.2 and 1.11pr1)

[Dr. Ross Lazarus]

AAhhhhh. I feel zope much better. Calling self.showcont() works like a
charm. Thanks Brian ! Solved even without seeing the traceback.

May I suggest an adjustment to the zsql methods documentation which is
sadly quite wrong (!!!) to prevent further head banging out there in the
zope community. If I get time, I'll write this up as a howto since it's
a really important, simple and useful trick.

Brian Lloyd wrote:
> 
> > I'm stumped.
> >
> > I need a simple example of how to get an external python
> > method to grok
> > a working zsql query.
> >
> > I have a zsql query which works fine, called showcont, returning the
> > entire contents of a small table.
> >
> > I have a simple external method based on the hint on page 11
> > of the zsql
> > methods user's guide which implies that an external method should get
> > something useful back from showcont() - I've stripped it to the basics
> > so I expect to get some horrible but familiar text back without adding
> > any python complications - I just want this to work !!!
> >
> > ===========testzsql.py in Extensions directory
> > # testing external methods
> > def test(self):
> >      s = ''
> >      for cont in showcont():
> >           for contitem in cont:
> >                s = s + contitem + '<BR>'
> >      return s
> > =========
> > The external method is loaded into the same folder as the zsql method
> > and function test is called as testzsql.
> >
> > I put a <!--#var testzsql--> into a dtml method and get...tracebacks.
> > Basically, they all point to the fourth line - the showcont()
> > call seems
> > to break.
> 
> At first glance, I'd guess that the problem is that you are not
> qualifying the showcont() method ( but I cant be sure without
> seeing the actual traceback ).
> 
> Note that the "magical" namespace binding that happens in DTML does
> *not* happen in external methods -- in other words, you need to
> qualify the method yourself: self.showcont() instead of just showcont(),
> assuming that your showcont() method lives in the same folder.
> 
> Hope this helps!
> 
> Brian Lloyd        brian@digicool.com
> Software Engineer  540.371.6909
> Digital Creations  http://www.digicool.com

-- 

Dr Ross Lazarus
Associate Professor and Sub-Dean for Information Technology
Faculty of Medicine, A27, R126a, University of Sydney,
Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
Tel: (+61 2) 93514429 Mobile: +61414872482
Fax: (+61 2) 93516646 Email: rossl@med.usyd.edu.au
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/people/rossl.htm