Difference: TWikiForms (4 vs. 5)

Revision 52001-09-01 - 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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  • 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.
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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: r26 < r25 < r24 < r23 | More topic actions...
 
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