An overview of Drupal's form handling API, and a look at the changes in version 6 of Drupal.

1. Form API
Til All Are One
Thursday, September 20, 2007 1

2. The Olden Days
• HTML
• Helper Functions
• Duplicate Work
• Weak Security
Thursday, September 20, 2007 2

3. Baby Jesus
Node Forms
Thursday, September 20, 2007 3

4. Form API Basics
• Structured Data
• Workflow
• Best Practices
• Render to HTML
Thursday, September 20, 2007 4

5. Form API Basics
function my_form() {
$form = array();
$form['foo'] = array(
'#type' => 'textarea',
'#title' => t('Your foo'),
);
$form['submit'] = array(
'#type' => 'submit',
'#value' => t('Submit yo foo'),
);
return $form;
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 5

6. Form API Basics
Thursday, September 20, 2007 6

7. Behind The Scenes
• drupal_get_form(‘my_form’)
• my_form()
• $_POST, XSS, XSRF
• my_form_validate()
• my_form_submit()
• drupal_render()
Thursday, September 20, 2007 7

8. Stupid Form Tricks
• hook_forms()
Map form IDs
• hook_elements()
Add new form elements
• hook_form_alter()
Change any form
Thursday, September 20, 2007 8

9. New In Drupal 6
Thursday, September 20, 2007 9

10. IM IN UR FORMZ
RENAMIN UR BUTTONZ
Thursday, September 20, 2007 10

11. • Button Handlers
• $op is dead
• Image buttons!
• Buttons renamable
• AHAH
Thursday, September 20, 2007 11

12. WANT MAH
FORM STATE
Thursday, September 20, 2007 12

13. • Form State
• Input Values
• Workflow
• Storage
• No Globals
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14. #MULTISTEP!?!11!
DO NOT WANT
Thursday, September 20, 2007 14

15. • All Forms
• Just Set ‘rebuild’
• Forms Cached
• Handlers In Control
• Validation, too!
Thursday, September 20, 2007 15

16. FORMZ CAT IZ BORED.
WE HAZ EXAMPLE
Thursday, September 20, 2007 16

17. Multiple Buttons
function my_form() {
...
$form['submit'] = array(
'#type' => 'submit',
'#title' => t('Your foo'),
);
$form['delete'] = array(
'#type' => 'submit',
'#value' => t('Preview'),
'#submit' => array('delete_submit'),
'#validate' => array('delete_validate'),
);
return $form;
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 17

18. Multiple Buttons
function delete_validate(&$form_state) {
$values = $form_state['values'];
if (empty($values['foo'])) {
form_set_error('title', t('No! Bad!');
}
}
function delete_submit(&$form_state) {
$values = $form_state['values'];
// Delete Yo Stuff!
$form_state['redirect'] = '<front>';
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 18

19. Multiple Buttons
function my_button_handler(&$form_state) {
$button = $form_state['clicked_button'];
if ($button['#my_special_flag']) {
// Do custom stuff here
}
}
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20. Thursday, September 20, 2007 20

21. Multi-page Form
function my_form($form_state) {
if (empty($form_state[‘step’]) {
$form_state[‘step’] = 1;
}
switch ($form_state[‘step’]) {
case 1:
...
case 2:
...
case 3:
...
}
}
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22. Multi-page Form
function my_form_submit($form_state) {
$values = $form_state[‘values’];
$form_state[‘step’] = $values[‘step’]++;
if ($form_state[‘step’] < 3) {
$form_state[‘rebuild’] = TRUE;
}
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 22

23. Here’s Where It
Starts To Rock
Thursday, September 20, 2007 23

24. Conditional CAPTCHA
function my_form_alter(&$form, $form_id, $form_state) {
$form['#validate'][] = 'captcha_validate';
if ($form_state['needs_captcha']) {
// Add a captcha form!
}
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 24

25. Conditional CAPTCHA
function captcha_validate(&$form_state) {
$values = $form_state['values'];
if (!empty($values['captcha'])) {
if (captcha_failed($values['captcha'])) {
form_set_error('title', t('No! Bad spammer!'));
}
}
elseif (is_spammy($values)) {
$form_state['needs_captcha'] = TRUE;
$form_state['rebuild'] = TRUE;
}
}
}
Thursday, September 20, 2007 25

26. And Then the
Ewoks Danced
Thursday, September 20, 2007 26