By Paul.CW on

It seems custom registration forms are possible by using several different modules.
Since PHP is the main language for Drupal, is it possible to create a custom registration form by going with straight PHP and not using any modules. Lets imagine a web site using PHP but not using Drupal, there would still be a registration form created and the information would be saved to the db. You could put as many questions on the form as you like. After that Drupal would access the db information for the roles and everything else it needed.

Could this be done?
Would it be easier?
Would it be more or less efficient?
Would it allow more intricacies such as answer relative additional questions?
Would it be diminishing the power of Drupal in some way?

Thanks you,

Comments

mm167’s picture

mm167 commented

ha ha ..so, u want to build 2 (sub)systems -

1) a registration sub-system
2) a Druapl

then ...integrate them together ....??

of course, u CAN ..and surely, it will be very interesting ....;-)

Could this be done?
SURE

Would it be easier?
ha ha, very easy if u ...

Would it be more or less efficient?
sure ..if u are very strong in coding

Would it allow more intricacies such as answer relative additional questions?
??

Would it be diminishing the power of Drupal in some way?
YES...a very creative way ...

Paul.CW’s picture

Paul.CW commented

mm167,
Thanks for your reply, but I need some clarification on your answer so I am sure I understand, I am a newbe.

Why would 2 sub systems be very interesting?

If Drupal is using a db, what difference does it make how information gets into the db, (or by what other means), whether entered by a Drupal module or other program, the information is there when Drupal modules look for it.

One of your answers was:
" Would it be easier?
ha ha, very easy if u ..."
I meant easier than using a half dozen different modules. It seems you didn't finish your answer, and your "ha ha's may be taken as an indication that it would be a far more difficult task than I can imagine.

Your answer to more or less efficient just said yes. Which one, more or less?

By more intricacies I meant, would it be easier to build dynamic registration forms, forms who's questions changed based upon a previous answer.

Your last answer:
"Would it be diminishing the power of Drupal in some way?
YES...a very creative way ..."
A very creative way,. . . indicates to me that there is usually something to be gained,(by creativity), but if it is taking power from Drupal, what is the end result. Is there more to be gained or lost in the long run.

Thanks for sharing,
Paul

gforce301’s picture

gforce301 commented

I would suggest writing your own module to do this **instead** of a standalone php login script.

Could this be done?
There are a good many modules that make changes to the registration form. You could examine these module and use them as a basis to write a module of your own.

Would it be easier?
Easier than what? If you write a module it 'may not' be easier than writing a standalone script, but it will be more maintainable and most likely a lot more secure.

Would it be more or less efficient?
More or less efficient than what? A module that uses the drupal api in the end leverages the power of drupal and this would provide an efficiency that might be greater than just raw coding speed of writing a standalone script.

Would it allow more intricacies such as answer relative additional questions?
Yes. A custom module would allow you to add any fields you wish to the registration form.

Would it be diminishing the power of Drupal in some way?
As a standalone script, I would say yes. There are many things that happen when a user registers and you would have to recreate all of the important ones or things might get out of whack. If, however, you coded a module to do this many of those things would happen for you and you would only have to make your additional functionality.

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