Summary and Conclusions

• HTML alone can provide very simple single field validation for static forms. The validation is build into the HTML on the Server side.
• JavaScript can extend HTML's basic functionality by providing a means to validate existing HTML form components that are placed on the page. Some inter-field checking can also be accomplished but there is no control to dynamically alter the display.
• Java Applets provide a way to do extensive single and inter-field validation at the expense of additional development. The Applets do not integrate well into existing HTML components so you are usually going to use one or the other.
• ActiveX provides another way to do extensive single and inter-field validation. This integrates fairly easily when using existing controls but is not universally supported.
• There is no one solution to all problems. Web Developers should learn all techniques and use the best one (or combinations) based on the project requirements.

Additional comments about the project include:

• Java 1.1.3 is needed for real control in implementing inter-dependent fields. You must be very careful with existing Java 1.0.2 implementations in most Browsers today.
• ActiveX is the best choice to develop client side interfaces that resemble existing Windows and Motif based GUIs. However, the single vendor solution is a problem for many environments.
• It takes much longer to develop this stuff then it looks!!
• Debug capabilities seem primitive compared to C/C++ development. (This is partly a learning curve issue as I did not have time to fully learn the JDK and ActiveX environments.)