Submit NULL entry for a field

I have a field in my form that if it is left blank, I want the value entered into the DB to be NULL. It keeps submitting a value of 0. The DB Table allows null values as I set the value to NULL from the DB Admin tool but not when I submit the Chronoform. How do I have the value be set to null if the field is blank?
​
thanx,

Hi vividal,
​
I think that if you unset that value from the form data then MySQL will use the default NULL value.
​
Bob

Sorry I dont understand what you mean by unset that value from the form data.

Hi vividal,
​
You can use PHP in a Custom Code action before the Save Data action to check the value submitted and unset* it. See Page 34 of the manual for the basics
​

if ( empty($this->data('input_name')) ) {
  $this->data('input_name', NULL, true);
}

Bob
​
* Looking at page 34 I'm not sure that you can use unset() so the code above sets the value to NULL

Hi,
​
unset also can be used:

if(empty($this->data["name"])){
unset($this->data["name"]);
}

Best regards

So I can't get either of these to work (or several other combinations that I have randomly tried). should this be placed in a "Customer Code" or a "PHP" action (I have tried both). If I skip trying the IF statement and just go to "hard set" the value I can set it to a value like 5, but I can't get it to set to NULL.
​
If I put this is a PHP action it works
$this->data(home_score,5,true); // works just fine
​
If I change it to this, nothing happens
$this->data(home_score,NULL,true); // doesnt work
​
thoughts?

Hi vividal,
​
Please try this:

if(empty($this->data["name"])){
unset($this->data["name"]);
}

in a php action just before the "Save data" action.
​
Best regards

I have put the following in as you requested (I tried with " around it too
​
if(empty($this->data[home_score])){
unset($this->data[home_score]);
}
​
this is what gets returned now
​
​
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected 'unset' (T_STRING) in/home4/vividal/public_html/chvlny.org/libraries/cegcore2/admin/extensions/chronofc/functions/php/php_output.php(6) : eval()'d codeon line2

Please use the double quotes as in my code

if(empty($this->data["home_score"])){
unset($this->data["home_score"]);
}
​
does the same thing
​
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected 'unset' (T_STRING) in/home4/vividal/public_html/chvlny.org/libraries/cegcore2/admin/extensions/chronofc/functions/php/php_output.php(6) : eval()'d codeon line2

Max-any more thoughts on this, I really need to get this figured out. thx

Hi vividal,
​
This code should work:

if(empty($this->data["name"])){
unset($this->data["name"]);
}

There are some hidden characters in the code posted before, but the version here should work!
​
Best regards

I am still getting a php error with this code
​
if(empty($this->data["away_score"])){
unset($this->data["away_score"]);
}
​
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected 'unset' (T_STRING) in/home4/vividal/public_html/chvlny.org/libraries/cegcore2/admin/extensions/chronofc/functions/php/php_output.php(6) : eval()'d codeon line2

Array
(
    [option] => com_chronoforms6
    [cont] => manager
    [chronoform] => tourn-game-edit
    [game_id] => 92
    [event] => submit
    [aid] => 92
    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 18:00:00
    [away_score] => 
    [home_score] => 
    [location_id] => 53
    [button13] => 
    [intercom-lou-tvfkokak] => 1
    [joomla_user_state] => logged_in
    [5c8a1c575b995dbdf3c3e56651c22852] => b7ef4c221c1d34607f660b5b0ae45236
    [88ce27ccca7738dcd49df6b5d9f53e1b] => ffe1d3a997e49d463ed9098194bd93f7
    [Itemid] => 
)

Array
(
    [php20] => Array
        (
            [returned] => 
            [var] => 
        )

)

OK so update to where I am at with this (STILL NOT WORKING). I am not convinced however that this is Chrono issue but perhaps someone can help on the MYSQL side. I have tried different things and have gotten this to do what I expect on the Chrono site using a custome code action (not PHP). See the code and the debug below.
​
Even though the SQL Statement shows `away_score` = 'NULL' it is getting changed to 0. Is mysql doing this (the column is set to allow NULL and a default value of NULL)?
​
​
CODE:
​
<?php
$away = $this->data["away_score"];
if (empty($away)) {
$away='NULL';
}
$this->data["away_score"] = $away;

?>
​
​

Array
(
    [option] => com_chronoforms6
    [cont] => manager
    [chronoform] => tourn-game-edit
    [game_id] => 92
    [event] => submit
    [aid] => 92
    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 18:00:00
    [away_score] => NULL
    [home_score] => 
    [location_id] => 53
    [button13] => 
    [intercom-lou-tvfkokak] => 1
    [joomla_user_state] => logged_in
    [5c8a1c575b995dbdf3c3e56651c22852] => b7ef4c221c1d34607f660b5b0ae45236
    [88ce27ccca7738dcd49df6b5d9f53e1b] => 6a3a1b80edd7d0d55e45b989d80b8410
    [Itemid] => 
)

Array
(
    [validate_fields2] => Array
        (
            [log] => Automatic validation enabled.
            [var] => 1
        )

    [save_data12] => Array
        (
            [data] => Array
                (
                    [created] => 2018-02-23 17:36:19
                    [user_id] => 0
                    [aid] => 92
                    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 18:00:00
                    [away_score] => NULL
                    [home_score] => 
                    [location_id] => 53
                )

            [_success] => Data saved successfully
            [log] => Array
                (
                    [0] => INSERT INTO `LO_TournamentGames` (`created`, `user_id`, `aid`, `game_start`, `away_score`, `home_score`, `location_id`)  values  ('2018-02-23 17:36:19', '0', '92', '2018-02-23 18:00:00', 'NULL', '', '53') ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE `created` = '2018-02-23 17:36:19',`user_id` = '0',`aid` = '92',`game_start` = '2018-02-23 18:00:00',`away_score` = 'NULL',`home_score` = '',`location_id` = '53';
                )

            [var] => Array
                (
                    [created] => 2018-02-23 17:36:19
                    [user_id] => 0
                    [aid] => 92
                    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 18:00:00
                    [away_score] => NULL
                    [home_score] => 
                    [location_id] => 53
                )

        )

)

HI vividal,
​
NB NULL (without quotes) and 'NULL' (with quotes) are not the same. Without quotes it is a NULL value, with quotes it it a text string.
​
Bob

Yes I have tried all 3 ways no quotes, single quote, double quote. With no quotes, nothing gets passed to the SQL statement. see debug below
​
<?php
$away = $this->data["away_score"];
if (empty($away)) {
$away=NULL;
}
$this->data["away_score"] = $away;

?>
​
​

Array
(
    [option] => com_chronoforms6
    [cont] => manager
    [chronoform] => tourn-game-edit
    [game_id] => 178
    [event] => submit
    [aid] => 178
    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 20:00:00
    [away_score] => 
    [home_score] => 
    [location_id] => 50
    [button13] => 
    [intercom-lou-tvfkokak] => 1
    [joomla_user_state] => logged_in
    [5c8a1c575b995dbdf3c3e56651c22852] => 8b7145ca8ec89cf0d3acf8756bcd0c01
    [88ce27ccca7738dcd49df6b5d9f53e1b] => 4109e935f032820445ce41227027dc5f
    [Itemid] => 
)

Array
(
    [validate_fields2] => Array
        (
            [log] => Automatic validation enabled.
            [var] => 1
        )

    [save_data12] => Array
        (
            [data] => Array
                (
                    [created] => 2018-02-24 12:59:36
                    [user_id] => 623
                    [aid] => 178
                    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 20:00:00
                    [away_score] => 
                    [home_score] => 
                    [location_id] => 50
                )

            [_success] => Data saved successfully
            [log] => Array
                (
                    [0] => INSERT INTO `LO_TournamentGames` (`created`, `user_id`, `aid`, `game_start`, `away_score`, `home_score`, `location_id`)  values  ('2018-02-24 12:59:36', '623', '178', '2018-02-23 20:00:00', '', '', '50') ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE `created` = '2018-02-24 12:59:36',`user_id` = '623',`aid` = '178',`game_start` = '2018-02-23 20:00:00',`away_score` = '',`home_score` = '',`location_id` = '50';
                )

            [var] => Array
                (
                    [created] => 2018-02-24 12:59:36
                    [user_id] => 623
                    [aid] => 178
                    [game_start] => 2018-02-23 20:00:00
                    [away_score] => 
                    [home_score] => 
                    [location_id] => 50
                )

        )

)

Hi vividal,
​
The code below should work:

if(empty($this->data["away_score"])){
unset($this->data["away_score"]);
}

But please do not copy and paste it in your PHP action, please type it there and let me know how it works.
​
Best regards

still produces a 0 in the DB field when nothing is entered in the form.

Please add a debugger after the PHP action, what do you get in the debugger ?

OK so i still can't get it work with a PHP Action. I get the following
​
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in/home4/vividal/public_html/chvlny.org/libraries/cegcore2/admin/extensions/chronofc/functions/php/php_output.php(6) : eval()'d codeon line1
​
using custom code action with PHP code I dont get the error . below is the debug. Please note that I have started with a new form and DB Table b/c i needed to go "live" with my other table and came up with a work around where I change all read 0 to NULL before publishing info (but that wont really work long term). the New form/Table uses the field name blanknum. Below is the debug after the custom code.
​
​

Array
(
    [option] => com_chronoforms6
    [cont] => manager
    [chronoform] => test-null-write
    [event] => submit
    [text] => test-blank number field
    [blanknum] => 
    [button3] => 
    [intercom-id-tvfkokak] => 15798103-86f9-464c-9027-ab218218f9a9
    [intercom-lou-tvfkokak] => 1
    [5c8a1c575b995dbdf3c3e56651c22852] => eeb5b5864bf178ce4795e272e3c0af51
)

Array
(
    [validate_fields2] => Array
        (
            [log] => Automatic validation enabled.
            [var] => 1
        )

)

Hi vividal,
​
Ok, you can try to do it a different way:

$provider = $this->data;
unset($provider['some_var']);
$this->set('test', $provider);

Then use {var:test} as the data provider.
​
Best regards