I am having difficulties in using php variables that have been created in Form-->Pieces Initialisation section of a form, in the form itself.

For example:

Form -> Advanced -> More Options -> Form Pieces (Before Form - Custom)

In this I have the code:

//-------------------------------------------------
$this->execPieceByName('ff_InitLib');

//Get id from URL
$recid = JRequest::getVar('recid', -1);

if ($recid > -1) {
//Signifies editing of an existing record - let's get the appropriate record using the recid parameter passed in through the URL
$sql = "SELECT * FROM #__z_pups_for_sale WHERE id = " . $recid . " ORDER by id";
$advert_details = ff_select($sql);
//We can now use this object in our form to populate the existing values...
}
//--------------------------------------------------

I have a test field with the 'value' property set to:

<?php JRequest::getVar('recid', -1); ?>

This produces the correct result so I know that the parameter recid is being passed properly from the URL.

I also have another field with the 'value' property set to

<?php echo $advert_details->cnt_name; ?>

This produces errors saying, basically, that the variable 'advert_details' does not exist.

I'm no expert; if someone would like to try and help I would be grateful.

Thanks.

OK got round the error mesagges by making the variables global in the int script, but still cannot access the $advert_detail in the form... investigating

Sorted - used ff_setValue() to set the value.

please delete this

Could you post the solution that worked for you?

I'm looking for a way to edit existing DB items and replace the values via a form. Is this what your solution accomplished?

cebby wrote:


The functionality I wanted was to reference variables that I set as the form was being loaded (Quickmode! [highlight the form name node] --> Advanced Tab --> More options link --> Form Pieces --> Before Form).

These variables correspond to column values in a single record in a database that I wanted to show automatically in the form when it was loaded.

The first thing I tried was to reference the variable in the value property of an element on the form - this did not work at first owing to scoping problems and my lack of knowledge of PHP - after some reading I used syntax such as <?php return $GLOBALS['variable_name'] ?> in the value property.

However I ended up using an in-built function called ff_setValue(). The following code may help - it is my code to show the selected record from a database:

$this->execPieceByName('ff_InitLib');

$GLOBALS['add_id'] = trim(JRequest::getVar('advert_id', -1));

if ($GLOBALS['add_id'] > -1) {

//Signifies editing of an existing record - let's get the appropriate record using the advertid parameter passed in through the URL

$sql = "SELECT * FROM #__z_pups_for_sale WHERE id = " . $GLOBALS['add_id'] . " ORDER by id";
$advert = ff_select($sql);

//Populate global variables needed for an update.

//Visible
$GLOBALS['cnt_name'] = $advert[0]->cnt_name;
$GLOBALS['phone_1'] = $advert[0]->phone_1;
$GLOBALS['phone_2'] = $advert[0]->phone_2;
$GLOBALS['details'] = $advert[0]->details;
$GLOBALS['title'] = $advert[0]->title;
$GLOBALS['inactive'] = $advert[0]->inactive;
$GLOBALS['county'] = $advert[0]->county;
$GLOBALS['breed'] = $advert[0]->breed;

//Set field values (update)

//Visible
ff_setValue('cnt_name', $GLOBALS['cnt_name']);
ff_setValue('phone_1', $GLOBALS['phone_1']);
ff_setValue('phone_2', $GLOBALS['phone_2']);
ff_setValue('details', $GLOBALS['details']);
ff_setValue('title', $GLOBALS['title']);
ff_setChecked('inactive', $GLOBALS['inactive']);
ff_setValue('date_created', $GLOBALS['date_created']);
}
else {

// New Record

//Hidden
$GLOBALS['userid'] = JFactory::getUser()->id;
ff_setValue('userid', $GLOBALS['userid']);
}