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I have a form with an image upload ( agent_image) working nicely. The problem i have is when i edit a record using an identical form, except for some html formatting which shows the current image, and don't want to change the image, ie leave agent_image blank, the table updates the image record with null. I've tried various methods including some custom code i found on forums pages here and in the FAQ pages, but cant get it to work, every time i try the file upload field is always overwritten to null in the data save.
I have the ghost formatting of the field to be correct, but if the file upload field is left blank it doesn't select the ghost value just the empty field on data save.

I am using J3.8.2 and CF6 latest release.

debug if I upload an image in edit form:Array ( [validate_fields2] => Array ( [log] => Automatic validation enabled. [var] => 1 ) [upload12] => Array ( [path] => /home/domains/vol3/797/1404797/user/htdocs/webapp/uploads/agents/ [agent_image] => Array ( [extensions] => Array ( [0] => jpg [1] => jpeg [2] => png [3] => gif ) [saved] => 1 ) [var] => Array ( [agent_image] => Array ( [path] => /home/domains/vol3/797/1404797/user/htdocs/webapp/uploads/agents/20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg [filename] => 20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg [name] => et-finger_jack.jpg [size] => 122720 ) ) ) [save_data4] => Array ( [data] => Array ( [aid] => 1 [chronoform] => edit_agent [event] => submit [agent_image] => 20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg [name] => xxxxx [email] => xxxxxx [phone] => xxxxxx [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb [button6] => [a2e59797cfd7e007061e0cdfe2dddcbc] => 658joab2vchn2dofbknldpvm85 [b9ef1604eaada687139b7d361fdfc189] => 49i7qj45rf8vosjv6tp3qkkm31 [joomla_user_state] => logged_in [slider-mybgcarousel] => 0 [_ga] => GA1.2.92911649.1490033135 [_gid] => GA1.2.2126637492.1510587806 [Itemid] => 287 [option] => com_chronoforms6 [view] => form [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:49:20 ) [_success] => Data saved successfully [log] => Array ( [0] => UPDATE `jos_chronoengine_chronoforms_data_add_agent` AS `Agent` SET `agent_image` = '20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg', `name` = 'xxxxxxxx', `email` = 'xxxx@xxxx.com', `phone` = 'xxxxx', `bio` = 'Big guy. Small smile bbbb', `modified` = '2017-11-24 19:49:20' WHERE `aid` = '1' AND `aid` = '1'; ) [var] => Array ( [agent_image] => 20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg [name] => xxxxx [email] => xxxx@xxxx.com [phone] => xxxxxx [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:49:20 ) ) [read_data5] => Array ( [log] => Array ( [0] => SELECT `Agent`.`aid` AS `Agent.aid`, `Agent`.`user_id` AS `Agent.user_id`, `Agent`.`created` AS `Agent.created`, `Agent`.`modified` AS `Agent.modified`, `Agent`.`name` AS `Agent.name`, `Agent`.`email` AS `Agent.email`, `Agent`.`phone` AS `Agent.phone`, `Agent`.`agent_image` AS `Agent.agent_image`, `Agent`.`bio` AS `Agent.bio` FROM `jos_chronoengine_chronoforms_data_add_agent` AS `Agent` WHERE `Agent`.`aid` = '1' LIMIT 100; ) [var] => Array ( [Agent] => Array ( [aid] => 1 [user_id] => 0 [created] => 2017-11-09 11:46:31 [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:49:20 [name] => xxxxxx [email] => xxxxxx@xxx.com [phone] => xxxxxx [agent_image] => 20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb ) ) ) )

debug output on submit if i leave the agent_image field blank:Array ( [validate_fields2] => Array ( [log] => Automatic validation enabled. [var] => 1 ) [upload12] => Array ( [path] => /home/domains/vol3/797/1404797/user/htdocs/webapp/uploads/agents/ [agent_image] => Array ( [extensions] => Array ( [0] => jpg [1] => jpeg [2] => png [3] => gif ) [info] => File is not present. ) [var] => Array ( ) ) [save_data4] => Array ( [data] => Array ( [aid] => 1 [chronoform] => edit_agent [event] => submit [agent_image] => [name] => xxxxxxx [email] => xxxxx@xxxxx.com [phone] => xxxxxxx [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb [button6] => [a2e59797cfd7e007061e0cdfe2dddcbc] => 658joab2vchn2dofbknldpvm85 [b9ef1604eaada687139b7d361fdfc189] => 49i7qj45rf8vosjv6tp3qkkm31 [joomla_user_state] => logged_in [slider-mybgcarousel] => 0 [_ga] => GA1.2.92911649.1490033135 [_gid] => GA1.2.2126637492.1510587806 [Itemid] => 287 [option] => com_chronoforms6 [view] => form [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:52:46 ) [_success] => Data saved successfully [log] => Array ( [0] => UPDATE `jos_chronoengine_chronoforms_data_add_agent` AS `Agent` SET `agent_image` = '', `name` = 'xxxxxx', `email` = 'xxx@xxxxx.com', `phone` = 'xxxxxx', `bio` = 'Big guy. Small smile bbbb', `modified` = '2017-11-24 19:52:46' WHERE `aid` = '1' AND `aid` = '1'; ) [var] => Array ( [agent_image] => [name] => xxxxxxx [email] => xxxxx@xxxxx.com [phone] => xxxxxx [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:52:46 ) ) [read_data5] => Array ( [log] => Array ( [0] => SELECT `Agent`.`aid` AS `Agent.aid`, `Agent`.`user_id` AS `Agent.user_id`, `Agent`.`created` AS `Agent.created`, `Agent`.`modified` AS `Agent.modified`, `Agent`.`name` AS `Agent.name`, `Agent`.`email` AS `Agent.email`, `Agent`.`phone` AS `Agent.phone`, `Agent`.`agent_image` AS `Agent.agent_image`, `Agent`.`bio` AS `Agent.bio` FROM `jos_chronoengine_chronoforms_data_add_agent` AS `Agent` WHERE `Agent`.`aid` = '1' LIMIT 100; ) [var] => Array ( [Agent] => Array ( [aid] => 1 [user_id] => 0 [created] => 2017-11-09 11:46:31 [modified] => 2017-11-24 19:52:46 [name] => xxxxxxx [email] => xxxx@xxxxx.com [phone] => xxxxxx [agent_image] => [bio] => Big guy. Small smile bbbb ) ) ) )

I have read through the manual of CF6 too, but all i can find is

Some fields may not appear in the data array after the form is submitted if they did not have any selections or changes made, to
avoid this issue which has some negative side effects, there is a “Ghost” feature available for these fields, it should be enabled
by default and in most scenarios you should keep it enabled.
The ghost value is set to an empty string by default, which means that if no selection is made then send an empty string under
this field name, but you can change it to something else if you have a specific requirement.

My ghost value is there , but hidden which i believe is correct, however it doesn't override agent_image field if no file is selected to upload.

Here's the html output for the file upload field - agent_image :
<div class="field "><label for="agent_image">Change / Add Image</label> <input type="hidden" name="agent_image" value="20171124194920_et-finger-jack.jpg" data-ghost="1"> <input name="agent_image" id="agent_image" type="file"></div>

I've tried adding the following custom code after file upload and before data save actions:
<?php if(!$this->data('agent_image')){ unset($this->data('agent_image')); } ?>

But i get a blank screen , turning php errors on development i get:

Can't use method return value in write context in /.../htdocs/libraries/cegcore2/admin/extensions/chronofc/helpers/parser.php(100) : eval()'d code on line 3

Hi Ben,

The ghost value should be the way to solve this, I will try to find out what is causing it not to work, but the "unset" line should also work if you change it to:
unset($this->data['agent_image']);

Best regards

Hi Max,

I've changed it to
<?php if(!$this->data('agent_image')){ unset($this->data['agent_image']); } ?>
and tried :<?php if(!$this->data['agent_image']){ unset($this->data['agent_image']); } ?>

But still removes the existing image on save even if the fle upload is incorrect.

Any help appreciated

Ben

Hi Maxx,

Any news on the ghost file not working, did you find out why? Still cant get it to work, everything else is working perfectly.

Thanks

Ben

Hi Ben, same problem.
​
Look at https://www.chronoengine.com/forums/posts/t104687/p373817#p373817 for my form it works.
​
p.

Thanks Pigna. I ended up doing something similar. I read the data to get the old / existing data set ( i need this for comparison s for other functions to work anyway) then added a custom code action with the var result option switched on and result added to files field in save data function . So it compares checks to see if the new file exists, if not it just updates the old filename with the new one. Your way is easier though if I didn't need the existing data set.

<?php 
$img = $this->data['agent_image'];
if(!$img){$img = $this->get('read_data18.Agent.agent_image');}
echo $img;
?>