[html-formfu] DB-driven select boxes, checkbox groups and radio groups

[Daisuke Maki]

I've been using Catalyst::Model::FormFu for this purpose.
I wanted to keep as much as possible in the editable .yml files so my 
html coders can access it easily, so I wanted to keep this type of stuff 
away from .yml files.

What I ended up doing was to create a Catalyst model that filters the 
config file for dynamic content, and does a replace

For example, my .yml file looks like this:

   - type: select
     options: __dynamic(foo)__

then, Data::Visitor is used to traverse the config file. When it 
encounters a construct like __dynamic(xxx)__, it calls the appropriate 
method in the model:

   sub foo {
     return [
         ... generate a construct suitable for formfu ...
     ]
   }

The result of calling this method replaces the original __dynamic(foo)__

With built-in caching, this approach has been working very nicely for me.

--d


Brian Cassidy wrote:
> Hey All,
> 
> A common theme we're running into is providing select boxes, and 
> (radio|checkbox) groups with data stored in the database.
> 
> Select boxes seem to be pretty easy
> 
> package MyApp::Form::Element::Thingy;
> 
> use base qw( HTML::FormFu::Element::select );
> 
> sub new {
>     my $self = shift->SUPER::new( @_ );
> 
>     my $c = $self->form->stash->{ context };
>     my $thingies
>         = $c->model( 'DB::Thingy' )->search( { foo => bar } );
> 
>     $self->options(
>         [   {},
>             map {
>                     { label => $_->name, value => $_->id }
>                 } $thingies->all
>         ]
>     );
> 
>     return $self;
> }
> 
> 1;
> 
> Is this good idea? Is there a recommended way?
> 
> Creating a group of checkboxes and/or radio buttons from a db table 
> seems to be a much harder problem -- is there a recommended solution for 
> that as well?
> 
> -Brian
> 
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