3.x form array?

Question

Is there a way to have the same field in an array when posting the data? Since I need the tabs in my component to be generated dynamically depending on the querys output, I can't enter them specifically into that file.

models/forms/myform.xml

<fieldset name="myset"
    <field name="language" type="language" class="hidden" ...>
    <field name="sometext" type="text" ...>
/>

view/myview/tmpl/default.php

foreach ($langs as $lang)
{
    /* html */
    $this->form->setFieldAttribute('language', 'default', $lang['name']);
    echo $this->form->renderFieldSet('myset');
    /* html */
}

would result in say this:

| English | German | French |

with a language and text field on each tab. The problem here is that when posting it just posts the last state, that would be the contents of 'French'. So is there a way to fix this and make joomla send an array or any better solutions to this issue?

Furthermore, is there a way to say Joomla to put that data into a stdObject because anything in that fieldset is related?

Answer 1

Multiple fields with same name

multiple="true" means that your one field can have multiple values, not that you can have multiple fields with same name.

You have to create custom form field to get multiple textareas or selects with same name.

Since you only have to add [] to end of fields name, extend JFormFieldTextarea and JFormFieldList. Then you only have to copy-paste existing getInput functions and add [] after $this->name.

These classes are located at libraries/joomla/form/fields, files list.php and textarea.php.

Grouping

Only way you can group related data is to add <fieldset></fieldset> into <fields></fields>

Example from Joomla! core com_content article.xml:

<fields name="attribs" label="COM_CONTENT_ATTRIBS_FIELDSET_LABEL">
  <fieldset name="basic" label="COM_CONTENT_ATTRIBS_FIELDSET_LABEL">
    <field
      name="show_title"
      type="list"
      class="chzn-color"
      label="JGLOBAL_SHOW_TITLE_LABEL"
      description="JGLOBAL_SHOW_TITLE_DESC">
      <option value="">JGLOBAL_USE_GLOBAL</option>
      <option value="1">JSHOW</option>
      <option value="0">JHIDE</option>
    </field>
</fields>

Now, the output would be.

<select id="jform_attribs_show_title" name="jform[attribs][show_title]" class="chzn-color chzn-done" style="display: none;">
  <option value="" selected="selected">Use Global</option>
  <option value="1">Show</option>
  <option value="0">Hide</option>
</select>

All fields in this fieldset will be in jform[attribs]. <fields> attribute name would be array key.

In the end you will end up with something like this.

<fields name="grouped">
  <fieldset name="myset"
      <field name="language" type="mycustomlanguage" class="hidden" ...>
      <field name="sometext" type="mycustomtext" ...>
  />
</fields>

Answer 2

Add multiple="true" in field xml

<field name="language" type="language" class="hidden" multiple="true" ...>