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Dynamic form Label / form input type

TOPIC: Dynamic form Label / form input type

Dynamic form Label / form input type 02 Apr 2013 08:28 #7015

  • MorganL
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I will try to describe best I can and see if anyone can advise how best to do this in Cook.

I have a table called contact_types, and a table called contacts

In contact types, I have fields of name, and variable1, variable1_type (variable2 and 3 in same format). The type is an enumeration list of either string (0), or boolean (1)

In contacts I have name, contact_type (foreign key to contact_types), variable1 value, variable2 value and so on.

I want the label in contacts to have the name from contact_types and to determine if the type should be a boolean type or string type and give appropriate field type. I dont need this to be ajax as I am happy for and can easily code a message to popup on the screen when someone is creating a contact that says 'you must press save after selecting contact type'

Working example

Someone defines a contacttype of

name - IT Consultant
Variable_1_type = Boolean
Variable_1_string = 24 hour callout
Varianle_2_type = String
Variable_2_string = Operating systems supported


and when someone creates a new contact of type IT Consultant and clicks SAVE the fields for these variables (that are always known as var1value,var2value,var3value) that are

24 hour callout (YES / NO)
Operating system Supported = INPUT BOX

The information in these field is always saved as a string, I just need the label and form type to lookup from contact_type and render appropriately.

Any starting tips greatly appreciated
Morgan Leecy MCSE

Novell / Linux
PHP. MYSQL, Apache, node.js
Coldfusion, JQuery, HTML5
Joomla
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Re: Dynamic form Label / form input type 02 Apr 2013 11:57 #7016

  • MorganL
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I have most of it done and working HOWEVER i have one stumbling block that I can work through manually by not using the form XML file.

I need to be able to make the system use either of the following depending on what the variable type is

<field name="variable_1_value"
label="XXX_FIELD_VARIABLE_1_VALUE"
alias="variable_1_value"
filter="STRING"
type="cktext"/>

<field name="variable_1_value"
label="com_xxx_FIELD_VARIABLE_1_VALUE"
alias="variable_1_value"
filter="BOOL"
type="ckcombo"
nullLabel="XXX_JSEARCH_SELECT">
<option value="0">XXX_FIELDS_BOOL_NO</option>
<option value="1">XXX_FIELDS_BOOL_YES</option>
</field>

I have tried using a different alias as a referal with no success, and of course changing the name means the variable is not passed. Is there a way of altering the XML so that two fields can have the same field name, but will be of different types depending on what is called?
Morgan Leecy MCSE

Novell / Linux
PHP. MYSQL, Apache, node.js
Coldfusion, JQuery, HTML5
Joomla
The administrator has disabled public write access.

Re: Dynamic form Label / form input type 02 Apr 2013 12:38 #7017

  • MorganL
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OK I know this is a one man discussion =) however I have implemented a sticking plaster fix which I open up the floor for abject criticism and offers of betterment

Here goes

in the contact.xml file I did a hybrid select box like so
<field name="variable_1_value"
				label="XXXX_FIELD_VARIABLE_1_VALUE"
				alias="variable_1_value"
				filter="STRING"
				type="ckcombo"
				nullLabel="XXXX_JSEARCH_SELECT">
				<option value="0">XXXX_FIELDS_BOOL_NO</option>
				<option value="1">XXXX_FIELDS_BOOL_YES</option>
		</field>

this generates a simple select list for when the type is boolean BUT will also allow strings due to the filter=STRING and not the usual filter="BOOL"

I then modified the contact.php MODEL by adding the following to the query
$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_1_desc AS `_contact_type_var_1_desc`');
				$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_2_desc AS `_contact_type_var_2_desc`');
				$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_3_desc AS `_contact_type_var_3_desc`');
				$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_1_type AS `_contact_type_var_1_type`');
				$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_2_type AS `_contact_type_var_2_type`');
				$this->addSelect('_contact_type_.var_3_type AS `_contact_type_var_3_type`');

I then altered the template file to
<dt><label id="jform_variable_1_value-lbl" for="jform_variable_1_value" class=""><?php echo $this->item->_contact_type_var_1_desc; ?></label></dt>
    <dd>
		<?php if ($this->item->_contact_type_var_1_type == 0)  { ?>
			<input type="text" id="jform_variable_1_value" name="jform[variable_1_value]" class="inputbox " value="<?php echo $this->item->variable_1_value; ?>" size="32">	
		<?php } else { ?>
		<?php 
			$field = $fieldSet['jform_variable_1_value'];
			echo $field->input; ?><?php }; ?>
	</dd>

so if the type is 0 (string) a manually coded input box is generated, if the type is 1 (yes or no select box) the standard field is generated,

It works, happy for now, most of it seems to follow the standard generated component. Ideally I would like to have two entries in the XML and just call it the typical way, but i cant see how this would be done
Morgan Leecy MCSE

Novell / Linux
PHP. MYSQL, Apache, node.js
Coldfusion, JQuery, HTML5
Joomla
The administrator has disabled public write access.

Re: Dynamic form Label / form input type 02 Apr 2013 12:51 #7018

  • MorganL
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and the final version of the view now checks that the variable is actually required
<!-- Variable 2 -->
	<?php if ($this->item->_contact_type_var_2_desc)  { ?>
		<dt><label id="jform_variable_2_value-lbl" for="jform_variable_2_value" class=""><?php echo $this->item->_contact_type_var_2_desc; ?></label></dt>
		<dd>
			<?php if ($this->item->_contact_type_var_2_type == 0)  { ?>
				<input type="text" id="jform_variable_2_value" name="jform[variable_2_value]" class="inputbox " value="<?php echo $this->item->variable_2_value; ?>" size="32">	
			<?php } else { ?>
			<?php 
				$field = $fieldSet['jform_variable_2_value'];
				echo $field->input; ?><?php }; ?>
		</dd>
	<?php } ?>
<!-- Variable 2 end -->
Morgan Leecy MCSE

Novell / Linux
PHP. MYSQL, Apache, node.js
Coldfusion, JQuery, HTML5
Joomla
The administrator has disabled public write access.
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