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Description
Current record binding is a key feature of the data binding
functionality included in Dynamic HTML. Current record binding
allows a page author to merge data with HTML elements on the
client. The data is supplied by a data source object included in
the page. Individual HTML elements reference the data source
object using the DATASRC and DATAFLD attributes. DATASRC is set
to '#' plus the ID of the data source object. DATAFLD is set to the
name of the column name that holds the data. (DATASRC and DATAFLD
are W3C-proposed extensions to HTML.)
The feature is named "current record binding" because the data displayed in the bound elements is from the columns of the current record of the data source. When the page author, through script or another element on the page, changes the position of the current record, the data from the new, current record is displayed in the elements. This is very much like the data binding supported in Microsoft Visual Basic, but it does not require controls -- you can bind directly to HTML elements.
The key advantage to current record binding is that the data display is done on the client. A round trip to the server is not necessary to obtain the next record of the data set, you don't have to maintain the client state on the server or hidden in the client page, and you don't have to write a CGI script. With the enhanced user experience and increased speed of browsing, it's easy to see the direct benefits of current record binding.
Browser compatibility
Today only Internet Explorer 4.0 supports data binding. It is possible for other browsers to
use server-side scripting to provide similar functionality; however, you must keep track of the client state and construct the pages on the server to send to the client.
Sites that already support server-side data access might include a single page that can take advantage of Internet Explorer 4.0 data binding features as well as supporting down-level browsers. In general, this takes about 10 percent more effort than building the page to support server-side data access alone. This cost can be quickly recovered when considering the decreased number of server hits and usability benefits to Internet Explorer 4.0 users.
Usage
The current record binding feature can be used to construct data input
forms and show detailed information on a record-by-record basis.