Difference: TWikiForms (4 vs. 5)

Revision 501 Sep 2001 - MikeMannix

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META TOPICPARENT name="WebHome"
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  You can search for topics with specific form data using the %SEARCH% variable - see TWikiVariables.
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Goodby to TWikiCategoryTables

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TWikiCategoryTables Are History

 
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<		This is a more general replacement for the TWikiCategoryTable? capability, in particular Forms are defined by special topics, where as categories were defineind using special templates.
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>		Form Templates more powerful, flexible replacement for the original TWikiCategoryTable.
 

Changes from the Category Table System

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<		Main changes from TWikiCategoryTable: The templates for category view/edit have been dropped.and render to HTML on viewing
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>		Main changes from TWikiCategoryTable: The templates for category view/edit have been dropped, and the forma renders to HTML on viewing.
 
Form Templates Category Tables
defined by topics defined in a template file
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  On upgrading, the administrator must produce a form template topic for each web that uses the old Category Tables. twikicatitems.tmpl defines the categories and is used in the conversion. The form template must be set as the first item in the WebPreferences variable =WEBFORM. If it's not present, view works, but edit results in an oops dialog result. If things aren't working correctly, there may be entries in data/warning.txt.
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Form Template Elements

  • Form Template: A set of fields defining a form. (Class in OO speak; used to be called category table definition)
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  • Field Type: The type of a field when editing a form. The type defines the HTML INPUT tag widgets when editing a topic:
    • select: Drop down box or selector
    • checkbox: One or more check boxes
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    • checkbox+buttons: One or more check boxes, plus set and clear buttons to set/clear all check boxes
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    • checkbox+buttons: One or more check boxes, plus [Set] and [][Clear] buttons to set/clear all checkboxes
 
    • radio: One or more radio buttons
    • text: A one-line text field
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    • textarea: A general text area - size is rowsxcols e.g. 40x10
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    • textarea: A general text area - size is rowsxcols 40x10
 
  • Field Value: Value of a form field. Can be one or more values from a fixed set (select, checkbox, radio type) or free form (text type). (Used to be called category item value)

Defining a Form Template

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<		Form templates are defined by topics, one topic per form template. A form template topic has descriptive text mixed with the form template definition in the form of a TWiki table.
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>		A Form Template is simply a page containing your form, defined in a table where each row is one form field.
 
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Examples

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  1. Create a new topic with your Form name: MyForm, ExpenseReport, InfoCategory, RecordReview, whatever you need.
  2. Create a TWiki table, with each column representing one element of an entry field: Name, Type, Size, Values, and Tooltip msessage (see sample below).
  3. For each field, fill in a new line; for the type of field, select from the list.
  4. Save the topic.

Example: Form Template 
| *Name:* | *Type:* | *Size:* | *Values:* | *Tooltip message:* |
| TopClass | select | 1 | Select one..., Private, Public | must fill |
| Target   | checkbox+buttons | 3 | 1, No.2, No.3 | Select OS |
| Version | text | 16 | | OS version |
 

Defining a Form in One Topic

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  • A form template topic defines the form
  • Values of fields that have more then one value, e.g. of type radio, select and checkbox can be defined by field value template topics
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<		Above Example:
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Code from:
 
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NoDisclosure? option blah blah...
PublicSupported? option blah blah...
PublicFAQ? option blah blah...
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Notes

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Various Implementation Notes

 
  • This format allows you to define field items with / without WikiNames, depending on your needs.
  • The topic can be protected in the usual manner so that not everybody can change the form template - see TWikiAccessControl
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  • The first item in the list is the default item. Alternative initial values can be given in a topic template such as WebTopicEditTemplate or using fieldFLD=value or for checkboxes fieldFLDcheckbox=1 in URL
  • The topic definition is not read when a topic is viewed
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Specification

Enabling Forms for a Web

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Enabling Forms by Web

 
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<		By default topics can be edited in free form. A form can be added to a topic to give it more structure. Forms are enabled on a per web basis.

The WEBFORMS variable in WebPreferences is optional and defines a list of possible form templates e.g.

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>		Forms are enabled on a per web basis. The WEBFORMS variable in WebPreferences is optional and defines a list of possible form templates e.g.
 
  • Set WEBFORMS = BugForm, FeatureForm, BookLoanForm
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<		With this present an extra button is added to the edit view. If the topic doesn't have a form an Add Form button appears at the end of the topic. If a form is present a Change button appears in the top row of the form to the right of the form name. The buttons leads to a screen that enables no form to be selected of one of those specified by WEBFORMS.
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>		With WEBFORMS enabled, an extra button is added to the edit view. If the topic doesn't have a form an [Add Form] button appears at the end of the topic. If a form is present, a [Change] button appears in the top row of the form. The buttons lead to a screen that enables no form to be selected or one of those specified by WEBFORMS.
  A default form template (i.e. new topics get this default form) can be provided by creating the WebTopicEditTemplate topic in a Web and adding a form to it. Initial form values can be set here.

Addtionaly a new topic can be given a form using the formtemplate parameter in the URL. Initial values can then be provided in the URLs or as form values. Names being:

  • Not checkboxs - nameFLD e.g. ?BugPriorityFLD=1
  • Checkbox - nameFLDvalue=1 e.g. ?ColourFLDRed=1. Note that all boxes with a tick must be specified.
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Creating New Topics with Forms

When you create a new topic in a web that has the WEBFORMS Preferences variable set, an [Add Form] button appears at the bottom of the page. If the WebTopicEditTemplate topic has a form added, the form will appear with values set; press [Change] to remove the template or to switch to a different one.

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Setting Up Multiple Form Options

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  • The optional WEBFORMS variable defines alternative Form Templates that can be selected after pressing [Change] button on the Edit page
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  • The optional WEBFORMS variable defines alternative Form Templates that can be selected after pressing [Change] on the Edit page
 
  • A template topic can use any form template
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  • Decided not to ask user to choose a template or form template when creating a topic as goes against the KISS of Wiki systems.
 
  • New topics with a form get instantiated by simple HTML forms asking for a topic name. If there is a SubmitExpenseReport topic were you can create new expense reports, a SubmitVacationRequest topic and so on. These can specify the required template topic and hence form. HUH?
View topic | History: r24 < r23 < r22 < r21 | More topic actions...
 
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