SYNOPSIS

Example of typical use in a Catalyst controller:

sub edit : Chained {
my ( $self, $c ) = @_;

my $form = $c->stash->{form};
my $book = $c->stash->{book};

if ( $form->submitted_and_valid ) {

# update dbic row with submitted values from form

$form->model->update( $book );

$c->response->redirect( $c->uri_for('view', $book->id) );
return;
}
elsif ( !$form->submitted ) {

# use dbic row to set form's default values

$form->model->default_values( $book );
}

return;
}

SETUP

For the form object to be able to access your DBIx::Class schema, it needs to be placed on the form stash, with the name "schema".

This is easy if you're using Catalyst-Controller-HTML-FormFu, as you can set this up to happen in your Catalyst app's config file.

For example, if your model is named "MyApp::Model::Corp", you would set this (in Config::General format):

    <Controller::HTML::FormFu>
        <model_stash>
            schema Corp
        </model_stash>
    </Controller::HTML::FormFu>

Or if your app's config file is in YAML format:

    'Controller::HTML::FormFu':
        model_stash:
            schema: Corp

METHODS

default_values

Arguments: $dbic_row, [\%config]

Return Value: $form

    $form->model->default_values( $dbic_row );

Set a form's default values from the database, to allow a user to edit them.

update

Arguments: [$dbic_row], [\%config]

Return Value: $dbic_row

    $form->model->update( $dbic_row );

Update the database with the submitted form values.

create

Arguments: [\%config]

Return Value: $dbic_row

    my $dbic_row = $form->model->create( {resultset => 'Book'} );

Like ``update'', but doesn't require a $dbic_row argument.

You need to ensure the DBIC schema is available on the form stash - see ``SYNOPSIS'' for an example config.

The "resultset" must be set either in the method arguments, or the form or block's "model_config".

An example of setting the ResultSet name on a Form:

    ---
    model_config:
      resultset: FooTable
    
    elements:
      # [snip]

options_from_model

Populates a multi-valued field with values from the database.

This method should not be called directly, but is called for you during "$form->process" by fields that inherit from HTML::FormFu::Element::_Group. This includes:

HTML::FormFu::Element::Select

HTML::FormFu::Element::Checkboxgroup

HTML::FormFu::Element::Radiogroup

HTML::FormFu::Element::ComboBox

To use you must set the appropriate "resultset" on the element "model_config":

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          resultset: TableClass

BUILDING FORMS

single table

To edit the values in a row with no related rows, the field names simply have to correspond to the database column names.

For the following DBIx::Class schema:

    package MySchema::Book;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        id     => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        title  => { data_type => "TEXT" },
        author => { data_type => "TEXT" },
        blurb  => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
    
    1;

A suitable form for this might be:

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Text
        name: author
      
      - type: Textarea
        name: blurb

might_have and has_one relationships

Set field values from a related row with a "might_have" or "has_one" relationship by placing the fields within a Block (or any element that inherits from Block, such as Fieldset) with its ``nested_name'' in HTML::FormFu set to the relationship name.

For the following DBIx::Class schemas:

    package MySchema::Book;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        id    => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
    
    __PACKAGE__->might_have( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
    
    1;
    package MySchema::Review;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("review");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        id          => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        book        => { data_type => "INTEGER", is_nullable => 1 },
        review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
    
    1;

A suitable form for this would be:

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Block
        nested_name: review
        elements:
          - type: Textarea
            name: review_text

For "might_have" and "has_one" relationships, you generally shouldn't need to have a field for the related table's primary key, as DBIx::Class will handle retrieving the correct row automatically.

You can also set a "has_one" or "might_have" relationship using a multi value field like Select.

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Select
        nested: review
        model_config:
          resultset: Review

This will load all reviews into the select field. If you select a review from that list, a current relationship to a review is removed and the new one is added. This requires that the primary key of the "Review" table and the foreign key do not match.

has_many and many_to_many relationships

The general principle is the same as for "might_have" and "has_one" above, except you should use a Repeatable element instead of a Block, and it needs to contain a Hidden field corresponding to the foreign key.

The Repeatable block's nested_name must be set to the name of the relationship.

The Repeable block's increment_field_names must be true (which is the default value).

The Repeable block's counter_name must be set to the name of a Hidden field, which is placed outside of the Repeatable block. This field is used to store a count of the number of repetitions of the Repeatable block were created. When the form is submitted, this value is used during "$form->process" to ensure the form is rebuilt with the correct number of repetitions.

To allow the user to add new related rows, either "empty_rows" or "new_rows_max" must be set - see ``Config options for Repeatable blocks'' below.

For the following DBIx::Class schemas:

    package MySchema::Book;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        id    => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
    
    __PACKAGE__->has_many( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
    
    1;
    package MySchema::Review;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("review");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        book        => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
    
    1;

A suitable form for this might be:

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Hidden
        name: review_count
      
      - type: Repeatable
        nested_name: review
        counter_name: review_count
        model_config:
          empty_rows: 1
        elements:
          - type: Hidden
            name: book
          
          - type: Textarea
            name: review_text

belongs_to relationships

Belongs-to relationships can be edited / created with a ComboBox element. If the user selects a value with the Select field, the belongs-to will be set to an already-existing row in the related table. If the user enters a value into the Text field, the belongs-to will be set using a newly-created row in the related table.

    elements:
      - type: ComboBox
        name: author
        model_config:
          resultset: Author
          select_column: id
          text_column: name

The element name should match the relationship name. "$field->model_config->{select_column}" should match the related primary column. "$field->model_config->{text_column}" should match the related text column.

many_to_many selection

To select / deselect rows from a "many_to_many" relationship, you must use a multi-valued element, such as a Checkboxgroup or a Select with multiple set.

The field's name must be set to the name of the "many_to_many" relationship.

default_column

If you want to search / associate the related table by a column other it's primary key, set "$field->model_config->{default_column}".

    ---
    element:
        - type: Checkboxgroup
          name: authors
          model_config:
            default_column: foo

link_values

If you want to set columns on the link table you can do so if you add a "link_values" attribute to "model_config":

    ---
    element:
        - type: Checkboxgroup
          name: authors
          model_config:
            link_values:
              foo: bar

additive

The default implementation will first remove all related objects and set the new ones (see <http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?DBIx::Class::Relationship::Base#set_$rel>). If you want to add the selected objects to the current set of objects set "additive" in the "model_config".

    ---
    element:
        - type: Checkboxgroup
          name: authors
          model_config:
            additive: 1
            options_from_model: 0

``options_from_model'' is set to 0 because it will try to fetch all objects from the result class "Authors" if "model_config" is specified without a "resultset" attribute.)

COMMON ARGUMENTS

The following items are supported in the optional "config" hash-ref argument to the methods default_values, update and create.

base

If you want the method to process a particular Block element, rather than the whole form, you can pass the element as a "base" argument.

    $form->default_values(
        $row,
        {
            base => $formfu_element,
        },
    );

nested_base

If you want the method to process a particular Block element by name, you can pass the name as an argument.

    $form->default_values(
        $row,
        {
            nested_base => 'foo',
        }'
    );

CONFIGURATION

Config options for fields

The following items are supported as "model_config" options on form fields.

accessor

If set, "accessor" will be used as a method-name accessor on the "DBIx::Class" row object, instead of using the field name.

ignore_if_empty

If the submitted value is blank, no attempt will be made to save it to the database.

null_if_empty

If the submitted value is blank, save it as NULL to the database. Normally an empty string is saved as NULL when its corresponding field is numeric, and as an empty string when its corresponding field is a text field. This option is useful for changing the default behavior for text fields.

delete_if_empty

Useful for editing a ``might_have'' related row containing only one field.

If the submitted value is blank, the related row is deleted.

For the following DBIx::Class schemas:

    package MySchema::Book;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        id    => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
    
    __PACKAGE__->might_have( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
    
    1;
    package MySchema::Review;
    use base 'DBIx::Class';
    
    __PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
    
    __PACKAGE__->table("review");
    
    __PACKAGE__->add_columns(
        book        => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
        review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
    );
    
    __PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
    
    __PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
    
    1;

A suitable form for this would be:

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Block
        nested_name: review
        elements:
          - type: Text
            name: review_text
            model_config:
              delete_if_empty: 1

label

To use a column value for a form field's label.

Config options for fields within a Repeatable block

delete_if_true

Intended for use on a Checkbox field.

If the checkbox is checked, the following occurs: for a has-many relationship, the related row is deleted; for a many-to-many relationship, the relationship link is removed.

An example of use might be:

    elements:
      - type: Text
        name: title
      
      - type: Hidden
        name: review_count
      
      - type: Repeatable
        nested_name: review
        counter_name: review_count
        elements:
          - type: Hidden
            name: book
          
          - type: Textarea
            name: review_text
          
          - type: Checkbox
            name: delete_review
            label: 'Delete Review?'
            model_config:
              delete_if_true: 1

Note: make sure the name of this field does not clash with one of your DBIx::Class::Row method names (e.g. ``delete'') - see ``CAVEATS''.

Config options for Repeatable blocks

empty_rows

For a Repeatable block corresponding to a has-many or many-to-many relationship, to allow the user to insert new rows, set "empty_rows" to the number of extra repetitions you wish added to the end of the Repeatable block.

new_rows_max

Set to the maximum number of new rows that a Repeatable block is allowed to add.

If not set, it will fallback to the value of "empty_rows".

Config options for options_from_model

The column used for the element values is set with the "model_config" value "id_column" - or if not set, the table's primary column is used.

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          resultset: TableClass
          id_column: pk_col

The column used for the element labels is set with the "model_config" value "label_column" - or if not set, the first text/varchar column found in the table is used - or if one is not found, the "id_column" is used instead.

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          resultset: TableClass
          label_column: label_col

To pass the database label values via the form's localization object, set "localize_label"

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          localize_label: 1

You can set a "condition", which will be passed as the 1st argument to ``search'' in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          resultset: TableClass
          condition:
            type: is_foo

You can set a "condition_from_stash", which will be passed as the 1st argument to ``search'' in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.

"key" is the column-name to be passed to search, and "stash_key" is the name of a key on the form stash from which the value to be passed to search is found.

    element:
      - type: Select
        name: foo
        model_config:
          resultset: TableClass
          condition_from_stash:
            key: stash_key

Is comparable to:

    $form->element({
        type => 'Select',
        name => 'foo',
        model_config => {
            resultset => 'TableClass',
            condition => {
                key => $form->stash->{stash_key}
            }
        }
    })

You can set "attributes", which will be passed as the 2nd argument to ``search'' in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.

ENUM Column Type

If the field name matches (case-insensitive) a column name with type 'ENUM' and the Schema contains enum values in "$resultset->column_info($name)->{extra}{list}", the field's options will be populated with the enum values.

FAQ

Add extra values not in the form

To update values to the database which weren't submitted to the form, you can first add them to the form with add_valid.

    my $passwd = generate_passwd();
    
    $form->add_valid( passwd => $passwd );
    
    $form->model->update( $row );

"add_valid" works for fieldnames that don't exist in the form.

Set a field read only

You can make a field read only. The value of such fields cannot be changed by the user even if they submit a value for it.

  $field->model_config->{read_only} = 1;
  
  - Name: field
    model_config:
      read_only: 1

See HTML::FormFu::Element::Label.

CAVEATS

To ensure your column's inflators and deflators are called, we have to get / set values using their named methods, and not with "get_column" / "set_column".

Because of this, beware of having column names which clash with DBIx::Class built-in method-names, such as "delete". - It will have obviously undesirable results!

REMOVED METHODS

new_empty_row

See "empty_rows" in ``Config options for Repeatable blocks'' instead.

new_empty_row_multi

See "new_rows_max" in ``Config options for Repeatable blocks'' instead.

Range constraint

See "empty_rows" in ``Config options for Repeatable blocks'' instead.

SUPPORT

Project Page:

<http://code.google.com/p/html-formfu/>

Mailing list:

<http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/html-formfu>

Mailing list archives:

<http://lists.scsys.co.uk/pipermail/html-formfu/>

GITHUB REPOSITORY

This module's sourcecode is maintained in a git repository at <git://github.com/fireartist/HTML-FormFu-Model-DBIC.git>

The project page is <https://github.com/fireartist/HTML-FormFu-Model-DBIC>

AUTHOR

Carl Franks

CONTRIBUTORS

Based on the code of "DBIx::Class::HTML::FormFu", which was contributed to by:

Adam Herzog

Daisuke Maki

Mario Minati

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright (C) 2007 by Carl Franks

Based on the original source code of DBIx::Class::HTMLWidget, copyright Thomas Klausner.

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself, either Perl version 5.8.8 or, at your option, any later version of Perl 5 you may have available.