Dynamic data in dropdown to show form description

Hi,

I want to create a dropdown which will show the "Description" of all forms created in chronoforms5. I am using a DB read to read the "params" field from the #__chronoengine_chronoforms table. Now what should I write in the element settings of the dropdown element?

Regards,
Satyam

Hi Satyam,

Assuming your model id in the "db read" is "Form" then you can add this in the "dynamic data" in the dropdown settings:

Model: Form
value: id
text: params.discription

Regards,
Max

There is a lot of other data in the params field.
To use it it has to be cleaned is bit.

[list=]Put a DB Read in the actions and select the chronoengine_chronoforms table
Set the Enable Model ID to Yes an give it a Model ID id_sel (in this example)
In the Fields list: id, params
Save it
Put a Custom Code action in the On found of the DB Read and put the following code in it:[/list]

<?php

$arrlength=count($form->data['id_sel']);

for($x=0;$x<$arrlength;$x++) {
  $id_sel=$form->data['id_sel'][$x]['id'];
  $params_sel=$form->data['id_sel'][$x]['params'];

  $params2=stristr($params_sel, '","setup"', true); 
  $params3=substr($params2, 16);

  $form->data['params'][$x]['id']=$form->data['id_sel'][$x]['id'];
  $form->data['params'][$x]['params']=$params3;
}
?>

This creates a new array with just the ID and the cleaned Params

[list=]In the Designer put a dropdown on the form.
Go to Dynamic Data and set Enabled to Yes
Data Path: params
Value Key: id
Text Key: params[/list]


Rob

Hi Max,

Just read your suggestion..
It sound much simpler, but I tried something like that some time ago an couldn't get it to work.

Is it possible t get a value from a Text string like that?
That would save me a lot of time.

Rob

Hi Max,

I tried implementing your suggestion but the dropdown now only shows "{" as options. Rob's suggestion involves a lot of processing, it would be really great if we can have a straightforward method as suggested by you.

Regards,
Satyam

My code isn't that bad.

I agree that what Max suggested sounds a lot simpler.
But my experience is that it is a lot less frustrating to write some code that I understand that trying to figure out how something works.

Chronoforms is great, but the documentation could be better, finding the right syntax is often a lot of trial and error (at least for me).

I did a lot of programming in Delphi, always with the 1250 page reference library on my desk.

Rob

Hi Bob,

I was not familiar with json_decode, looks good!!

One point, I don't think it is a good idea to manipulate a system table, one accidental DB Save and a lot can go wrong!

I always put the results in an other array.

Rob

Hi Rob,

I take your point but I don't think that there is much danger here as the decoded params are being saved in 'different' array and are very unlikely to over-write the forms table.

There's been a shift away from the older 'ini' file structure for params to a json encoded structure. Personally I find it very useful. When I just want a security backup for my form data I do $form->data['data'] = json_encode($form->data); and save the whole lot to a single 'data' column in the database.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Never underestimate the power of Murphy's law.
A lot of people on this forum don't have your expertise with Cronoforms, I certainly don't.

I regularly make a backup with akeeba, and start with a copy of the Joomla files and the Database when trying something new.

Rob

Bob's post is the correct solution:
http://www.chronoengine.com/forums/posts/t97262/p334869/dynamic-data-in-dropdown-to-show-form-description.html#p334869

I forgot that the params array is json encoded!