Redesign of Table with Multiple Forms in Each Row

[ll]

Hi all,
I've inherited a site and am currently looking to redesign a page that
displays a table of course curriculum, with each row representing a
"Topic" of the curriculum. There is a courseID that exists throughout
the site, identifying each course.

Within each row of the aforementioned table, there are 4 columns,
consisting of MainTopics, their associated SubTopics, uploaded
LectureNotes for that MainTopic, and finally a DeleteRow button in the
last column.
The way this page was originally done was very workable, although it
is a little tedious. Each MainTopic is actually an individual form
with textarea containing a description of the MainTopic and a Save
submit button. Likewise, in the second column, each SubTopic is its
own form, consisting of a textarea containing a description of the
SubTopic and a Save button and a Delete button. In the third column,
listed are any uploaded LectureNote documents in link form, along with
a Delete button. In the fourth column, there is a DeleteRow button
which, as it states, deletes the entire row. *Note: Each row can only
have one MainTopic, although it can have multiple SubTopics and
multiple uploaded LectureNotes.

In the code, there is a SQL statement that queries the MainTopic table
first, getting the MainTopicID. The first MainTopic is then displayed
in the first column of the table. Next, another SQL statement queries
the SubTopic table, referring to its (foreign key) MainTopicID to
select the appropriate SubTopic. The associated SubTopic(s) are then
displayed in the second column of the table. Next, a SQL statement
queries the LectureNote table, referring to its (foreign key)
MainTopicID to select the appropriate LectureNote. The associated
LectureNote(s) are then displayed in the third column of the table.
The DeleteRow button then occupies the fourth column before the
MainTopic loop goes on to form another table row.

I would like to be able to do three things in redesigning this page:
1. Save updates to the entire row with a single submit button (one on
each row, rather than one by each textarea).
2. Change the MainTopic number for the entire row (for MainTopic,
SubTopic(s), LectureNote(s), and DeleteRow button with drop down
select/save.
3. Create a "copy" function that will allow the user to, by perhaps a
dropdown box, select MainTopic and associated SubTopic(s) and
LectureNote(s) from another course (with another courseID) and then
copy that course's MainTopics, SubTopics, LectureNotes to the current
course.

Would this be do-able with classic ASP? My main intent is to stay as
close to the original design as possible, although if it does require
a re-build, that's ok. Would AJAX perhaps make this an easier task to
comlete?

I can post code, if that would be more helpful.

Thanks for any help or resources,
Kind Regards,
Louis

 

[ll]

this is too much information....try to boil it down to a specific question for this type of forum.

--You can do virtually anything, with enough coding.

--AJAX may be easier, but that depends upon your skillset...

Thanks Jon,
To narrow it down, giving the page the ability to have changeable main
topic numbers would be the top priority. As each column of the html
table's rows has a separate form (e.g. main topic form, sub topic
form, uploaded doc form), how would it be possible, using a drop down
box, to update each column's db table (main topic Foreign Key) in a
single step? As they are separate forms, that creates an obstacle.
Would there have to be one form for each line of the html table in
order to do this?

Thanks again,
Louis