[ZPT] complex macro usage

[James Carroll]

Hi, I'd like to do something that is probably too complex for a metal:define-macro.  I've got a complex set of javascript and html for a javascript date selector, and it would be great to get the complexity out of my page templates.

I'd like to do something like the (invalid) following code:

<span  metal:define-macro="dateInput"
       tal:define="name <metal:fill-slot="name">"
       tal:define="idname string:${name}id"
       tal:define="buttonname string:${name}button"
       tal:define="initalValue <metal:fill-slot="value">">

In here I would use name, idname, buttonname and initalvalue repeatedly, including inside some dynamically generated javascript.  (I've pasted the complex stuff below.)
 
</span>

Even though I would like to use macros for this sort of thing, I think it's too complex to ever work.  I'm thinkning of doing it with a python script, then I would
 
<span tal:replace="dateInput python:here.makeDateSelector('shipDate', shipment['date'])"></span>

but this doesn't seem right either.  I'm coming from a background of some complex JavaWebComponents in the Tapestry framework.

What's the best way to do this sort of thing?  



The real body of my macro is something like:

<span  metal:define-macro="dateInput"
       tal:define="name string:jim">

<input type="text" name="receivedFromCustomer" id="recFromCust" value="8/27/2003" size="12" tal:attributes="value rma/receivedFromCustomer | nothing" onBlur="magicDate(this)"/>
<button type="reset" id="recFromCustButton">...</button>
<script type="text/javascript">
    Calendar.setup({
        inputField     :    "recFromCust",      // id of the input field
        ifFormat       :    "%m/%d/%Y",       // format of the input field
        showsTime      :    true,            // will display a time selector
        showsWeek      :    false,            // made this up (jc)
        button         :    "recFromCustButton",   // trigger for the calendar (button ID)
        singleClick    :    true,           // double-click mode
        step           :    1                // show all years in drop-down boxes (instead of every other year as default)
    });
</script>
</span>

So you see I have a lot of javascript where I probably can't use metal:fill-slot.

Thanks in advance!
-Jim

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