(r15) TWikiForms - TWiki

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---# TWiki Forms

_Form-based input in topics, with name/value pairs stored as Meta Data variables; choose one of multiple forms per web &amp; topic_

---++ Overview

By adding form-based input to freeform content, you can structure topics with unlimited, easily searchable categories. When forms are enabled for a web and selected in a topic, a single form appears in edit mode, and the contents are rendered as a table when viewed on the display page. You can define unlimited forms per web. For each topic, you can select a template if more than one is defined, or remove forms entirely. Form input values are stored as TWikiMetaData; all data is saved. 

Form Templates replace <nop>TWikiCategoryTables from the 01-Dec-2000 version of TWiki.

#FormsVsCategoryTables
---++ Main Changes from Category Tables

The Form Template system is a more powerful, flexible replacement for the original <nop>TWikiCategoryTable. Data from existing category tables can be imported directly.
 
|  *Form Templates*  |  *Category Tables*  |
|  defined in topics  |  defined in templates  |
|  many forms per web  |  one table per web  |
|  saved as Meta Data  |  saved as HTML  |
|  *Change* &amp; *Add Form* buttons  |  *<nop>UseCategory* radio button  |

---+++ Importing Category Table Data

On upgrading from the previous TWiki, a Form Template topic has to be built for each web that used a Category Table, recreating the fields and values from the old ==twikicatitems.tmpl==. The replacement Form Template must be set as the first item in the WebPreferences variable =WEBFORMS=. If missing, pages will display, but attempting to edit results in an error message.

The new Form Template system should work with old Category Table data with no special conversion. Data is assigned to Meta variables the first time an imported topic is edited and saved in the new system.

%T% *NOTE:* If things aren't working correctly, there may be useful entries in =data/warning.txt=.

---++ Defining a Form Template

A Form Template is simply a page containing your form, defined as a table where each row is one form field.

---+++ Form Template Elements

   * *form template* - a set of fields defining a form (replaces _category table definition_)
      * A web can use one or more form templates
   * *form* - a topic containing additional meta data (besides the freeform TEXTAREA) that categorizes the content (replaces _category table_)
      * Within a form-enabled web, individual topics can have a form or no form
   * *form field* - a named item in a form (replaces _category item name_)
   * *field type* - selects the INPUT type:
      * *select* - drop-down menu or scrollable box
      * *checkbox* - one or more checkboxes
      * *checkbox+buttons* - one or more checkboxes, plus *Set* and *Clear* buttons
      * *radio* - one or more radio buttons
      * *text* - a one-line text field
      * *textarea* - a text box; size is 40x10 (columns x rows)
   * *field value* - one or more values from a fixed set (select, checkbox, radio type) or free-form (text). (replaces _category item value_)

---+++ Defining a Form in One Topic

   1. Create a new topic with your form name: ==<nop>YourForm==, ==<nop>ExpenseReport==, ==<nop>InfoCategory==, ==<nop>RecordReview==, whatever you need.
   1. Create a TWiki table, with each column head representing one element of an entry field: ==Name==, ==Type==, ==Size==, ==Values==, and ==Tooltip message== _(see sample below)_.
   1. For each field, fill in a new line; for the type of field, select from the list.
   1. Save the topic _(you can later choose to [[#EnablingForms][enable/disable]] individual forms)_.

<blockquote style="background-color:#f0f0f0">
*Example:* ==<nop>WebForm==
<verbatim>
| *Name* | *Type* | *Size* | *Values* | *Tooltip message* |
| Know.TopicClassification | select | 1 | Know.NoDisclosure, 
  Know.PublicSupported, Know.PublicFAQ | blah blah... |
| Know.OperatingSystem | checkbox | 3 | Know.OsHPUX, Know.OsLinux,
  Know.OsSolaris, Know.OsWin | blah blah... |
| Know.OsVersion | text | 16 | | blah blah... |
</verbatim>

| *Name* | *Type* | *Size* | *Values* | *Tooltip message* |
| Know.TopicClassification | select |  1  | Know.NoDisclosure, Know.PublicSupported, Know.PublicFAQ | blah blah... |
| Know.OperatingSystem | checkbox |  3  | Know.OsHPUX, Know.OsLinux, Know.OsSolaris, Know.OsWin | blah blah... |
| Know.OsVersion | text |  16  | | blah blah... |
</blockquote>

---+++ Defining a Form with Multiple Topics

Forms can also be defined by using form templates that retrieve field values from one or more separate topics:

   * A ==FormTemplate== topic defines the Form, ex: ==<nop>YourFormTemplate==.
   * For each field that has a value list - select, radio, checkbox - can use separate topic to define the available values.

<blockquote style="background-color:#f0f0f0">
*Example: <nop>WebFormTemplate*

   * Know.<nop>WebFormTemplate main definition:
     <br /> &nbsp;
     | *Name* | *Type* | *Size* | *Values*  | *Tooltip message* |
     | Know.TopicClassification | select | 1 |    | blah blah... |
     | Know.OperatingSystem | checkbox | 3 |    | blah blah... |
     | Know.OsVersion | text | 16 |    | blah blah... |
     <br />
     %X% Leave the ==Values== field *blank*.

   * Know.<nop>TopicClassification field value definition:
     <br /> &nbsp;
     | *Name* | *Type* | *Tooltip message* |
     | Know.NoDisclosure | option | blah blah... |
     | Know.PublicSupported | option | blah blah... |
     | Know.PublicFAQ | option | blah blah... |
</blockquote>

   * *Implementation Notes:* This format allows you to define field items with or without TWiki.WikiNames, depending on your needs.
      * Topics can be protected in the usual manner, using  TWikiAccessControl, to limit who can change the form template and/or individual value lists.
      * ==[<nop>[...]]== links can be used to force a link (at present, the ==[<nop>[...][...]]== format is not supported).
      * The ==Tooltip message== column is used as a tooltip for the field name (only if field name is a %TWIKIWEB%.WikiName) - you only see the tooltip In edit.
      * The first item in the list is the default item. Alternative initial values can be set in a topic template, like ==WebTopicEditTemplate==, with ==field=value==, or, for checkboxes, ==field<checkbox name>=1==.
      * The topic definition is not read when a topic is viewed.

#EnablingForms
---++ Enabling Forms by Web

Forms are enabled on a per web basis. The ==WEBFORMS== variable in WebPreferences is optional and defines a list of possible form templates. Example:
   * <nop>Set WEBFORMS = <nop>BugForm, <nop>FeatureForm, <nop>BookLoanForm

   * 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 open a screen that enables selection of a form specified in =WEBFORMS=, or the *No form* option.

   * A default Form Template (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 there.  

   * Additionally a new topic can be given a Form using the =formtemplate= parameter in the URL.  Initial values can then be provided in the URLs or as form values:
      * other than checkboxes: ==name==, ex: ==?BugPriority=1==
      * checkbox: ==namevalue=1==, ex: ==?ColourRed=1==. <br /> 
        Boxes with a tick must be specified.

---++ Including Forms in New Topics

When you create a new topic in a web that has the ==WEBFORMS== Preferences variable set, an *Add Form* button appears at the bottom of the page. You can start all new topics with forms enabled, and pre-select a form if there's more than one available:

   1. *Edit* the WebTopicEditTemplate topic, adding the name of an available Form.
   2. *Create* a new topic to check - the Form should appear with values set.
      * Click *Change* to switch or remove Forms.

A form embedded in a topic also appears in a new topic. This is done by specifying the ==formtemplate== parameter in the URL.

---++ Setting Up Multiple Form Options

   * The optional ==WEBFORMS== variable defines alternative forms that can be selected by pressing *Change* in edit mode.
   
   * A topic template can use any form.
   
   * New topics with a form are created by simple HTML forms asking for a topic name. For example, you can have a =<nop>SubmitExpenseReport= topic where you can create new expense reports, a =<nop>SubmitVacationRequest= topic, and so on. These can specify the required template topic with its associated form.

---++ Form Data Storage

The form topic name, fields and values are stored as TWikiMetaData - the order of the field/value pairs is the same as in the template.

#UsingFormData
---++ Using Form Data
TWikiForms accept user-input data, stored as TWikiMetaData. Meta data also contains program-generated info about changes, attachments, etc. To find, format and display form and other meta data, see TWikiMetaData, ==SEARCH== and ==METASEARCH== variables in TWikiVariables, and [[FormattedSearch][TWiki Formatted Search]] for various options.

-- JohnTalintyre - 16 Aug 2001 <br />
-- Main.MikeMannix - 05 Jan 2002 
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