Custom TVs - I need more documentation references

Hi,

I’m looking at the custom TV tutorial here but I have no idea why it works.

I can understand the first file and parts of the second file but I’m stuck. Here are some questions
---
xtype: ’modx-combo-template’
What does it mean?
Is this the part that loads the data from DB?
Are there any other examples available/documentation because I have no?
How can I change this to load information from a custom DB?
---
listeners: { ’select’: { fn:MODx.fireResourceFormChange, scope:this}}
After some test I manage to find that this line will make the SAVE button active. Are there any other things I should know?
---
If I create a custom TV that has 2 dropdown lists what would be the appropriate code? Would something like this work

<select id="tv{$tv->id}a" name="tv{$tv->id}a" class="combobox"></select>
<select id="tv{$tv->id}b" name="tv{$tv->id}b" class="combobox"></select>
---
The php file has this comment
// any other PHP i want here

What kind of php code would be added in there? Is this the place to load information from a custom table?


Thank you

Quote from: cipa at Jun 06, 2010, 05:06 PM

I’m looking at the custom TV tutorial here but I have no idea why it works.
I can understand the first file and parts of the second file but I’m stuck. Here are some questions

Yes, the documentation is very sparse. We’ll be working on that.

xtype: ’modx-combo-template’
What does it mean?
Is this the part that loads the data from DB?
Are there any other examples available/documentation because I have no?

It means to use the ExtJS custom xtype ’modx-combo-template’, which loads a custom dropdown that shows a list of Templates.

See:
http://svn.modxcms.com/docs/display/revolution/MODExt
http://svn.modxcms.com/docs/display/revolution/MODx.combo.ComboBox

How can I change this to load information from a custom DB?

You’ll have to define your own custom xtype, and add a ’getList’ processor that feeds the combobox back the records (similar to how the template one does it).

See how I did it in Discuss that loads a custom ’category’ dropdown:

The JS code: http://svn.modxcms.com/svn/modx-components/discuss/trunk/assets/components/discuss/js/mgr/combos.js
The PHP code: http://svn.modxcms.com/svn/modx-components/discuss/trunk/core/components/discuss/processors/mgr/category/getlist.php

Or, alternatively, you could load the data locally via a local combobox. ExtJS has documentation on how to do this on their site.

After some test I manage to find that this line will make the SAVE button active. Are there any other things I should know?

No that’s about it for TVs; there are other events that fire, but none should concern you when developing custom TVs.

If I create a custom TV that has 2 dropdown lists what would be the appropriate code? Would something like this work
<select id="tv{$tv->id}a" name="tv{$tv->id}a" class="combobox"></select>
<select id="tv{$tv->id}b" name="tv{$tv->id}b" class="combobox"></select>

No, you’ll need to somehow store the final value in a single hidden field; MODx will only process 1 of the fields - the one with tv{$tv->id}.

The php file has this comment
// any other PHP i want here
What kind of php code would be added in there? Is this the place to load information from a custom table?

Whatever you want, really. Anything that you might need to do in PHP to load your custom input type.

Thanks for the detailed reply. everything makes sense

Probably I have to explain what I’m trying to achieve. I want to create a custom TV that will allow you to select the Country and second the State/Province.
So basically I want that when you select a country in the first dropdown, I get all the States from the database and update the second dropdown with those values.

Being a test TV it’s not important that I succeed but learn how it’s done. So any other information that might help me is welcomed.

No, you’ll need to somehow store the final value in a single hidden field; MODx will only process 1 of the fields - the one with tv{$tv->id}.

Any chance you could elaborate on how to go about doing this? I’ve been stuck on it for a while. Should it just be javascript that concats the values and puts them in a field? I am using the URL tv input type as a reference and I don’t see any logic or place that it would both the prefix and the url... how do they do it on that TV type?