Form Reform Data Picker

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You can see these specialised form inputs in action in our Example - Picking Data demonstration page.

Form Reform Data Picker extends Form Reform with data picking input blocks.

The input blocks are configured by associating them with an HTML table or JSON data. These can be provided by Universal Content Puller or any other HTML table. 

Data Picker input blocks

  • Table Picker input - pick one or more cells from a table.
  • Calendar Picker input - pick one or more events from a calendar.
  • Table as Select input and Table as Select Combi input - populate a grouped select input from a table.
  • Page List as Select input - populate a select input from a Page List and optionally use the Page List to direct the select input.
  • JSON as Select input and JSON as Select Combi input - populate a grouped select input from JSON data.
  • Result Picker input - select previous form submissions from listings generated by Form Reform Display and Reviews.

These inputs all work in a similar way to attach to an HTML or JSON table or similar tabular block views and populate the form input from that table.

Getting Started

Before adding any Form Reform Data Picker block, the page needs to present some data as a table or list. Compatibility depends on the picker is use. Thus a Table Picker needs a table to pick from. A Page List select needs a Page List to select from.

Before adding the picker block, add the table or list and check it presents the data or contenmt you want to pick or select from.

Also consider, Form Reform already has some very flexible input blocks for checkbox and radioset lists and matrices, and various select and grouped select inputs. Perhaps one of those blocks may be better suited to your application.

The benefits of Form Reform Data Picker come when the data is large or dynamic, when you already have a table, or when you have specific format requirements. For example, where pulled from an uploaded and updated CSV, from a database query, or from an external source such as an API.

Table Picker and Table as Select

The Table Picker input attaches to the table and superimposes a matrix of checkboxes. Clicking a table cell toggles that cell's checkbox. The checkbox inputs are submitted as a 2D array by row and column name or index. The values of the checkboxes are fully configurable and could be a simple boolean, the value of the table cell, or compounded from row, column and value. If the value options available are not enough, the options can be reconfigured at jl_form_reform.form_reform_data_picker.value_formats.

This table could be rendered by Universal Content Puller or by any other table generating block such as MSV Table or the core Content block, or any addon that presents addon specific data as a table.

The table should have complete rows and columns, so no colspan or rowspan cells. It should also ideally have a row of column headings within a <thead> section and row headings within a <th> element at the start of each row. Nevertheless, Form Reform Data Picker can work with numeric indexes should column or row headings not be available.

Page List as Select

The Page List as Select input block attaches to a Page List. Various page list block templates are pre-configured and further page list block templates can be easily added. 

There are 4 general modes of operation:

  1. Once the select dialogue has been populated from the page list, the page list is hidden or removed. In this case the page list may as well use the basic default template because users don't need to see it.
  2. The original page list is left in place, complete with its navigation.
  3. The original page list is left in place, but links within the list are hijacked to change the attached select input.
  4. The original page list is left in place, but the select input is hidden and links within the list are hijacked to change the attached select input.

The data returned by the form control is the cID of the page, and optionally any of the path, url and page name.

If the page list is filtered by other blocks such as topics, tags, date or keywords, the select will match the filtered list.

Calendar Picker

The Calendar Picker input attaches to a calendar output by a core Calendar block and superimposes checkboxes on each event. The checkbox inputs are submitted as a list of event occurrence IDs and then mapped to more detailed event data on submission.

Table as Select, JSON as Select

The Table as Select input populates a grouped select input from the table before hiding or destroying the table. The JSON as Select input is similarly populated from a hidden data attribute of JSON data. The Table as Select Combi and JSON as Select Combi inputs extend this to include a combi text input option.

The grouping of the select is configurable by row or column, with the individual selectable items then corresponding to the other axis of the table. However, the labels for the select options and the values for the select options can be independently configured as the value of the table cell, or compounded from row, column and value in various permutations from the same set options as the Table Picker input.

Whilst the Table as Select and JSON as Select form control inputs can be connected to any in-page table or JSON source, they can be particularly powerful when used with Universal Content Puller. Use UCP to pull the data from anywhere you like and render it as a table or JSON, then select from that data with a Form Reform control.

Excluding cells

As noted above, the table should have complete rows and columns with no colspan or rowspan cells. Individual table cells can be excluded from picking or selection by adding the class form-reform-exclude to the <td> element.

Validation

The available values in the table are connected to form inputs in the browser and are unknown to Form Reform until the form is submitted, hence automated validation of these inputs is limited to the number of items submitted with the form.

Be cautious how you use the submitted values of these inputs.

Where picked values could be open to abuse, we recommend configuring application specific checks in the form processing pipeline.

Example

You can see these specialised form inputs in action in our Example - Picking Data  demonstration page. Feel free to submit the example form as often as you want. The form is saved to your session, but the data is not saved or logged anywhere else.

Result Picker

The Result Picker input block is a highly specialized derivative of the Table Picker above. It can attach to any listing of the FormReformDefault store generated by the blocks from Form Reform Display and Reviews to enable one or more previous form submissions to be picked.

This can be used to create multiple stage workflows through a series of forms, where each stage is based on:

  • A listing using Form Reform Display to show filtered submissions from the previously submitted form.
  • A form to input new data including a Result Picker to pick so the new form can refer back to a previous submission.
  • A submit handler pipeline which includes updating the status of the previous submission and whatever the workflow requires such as saving the form data from the workflow and sending email.

Form Handlers

For use with the Result Picker input block and creating multiple stage workflows, Form Reform Data Picker provides additional form handlers.

Update Default Store

The Update Default Store handler can be used to update or extend the record of a previous form submission. This differs from using the Merge From Default Store and Save to Default store handlers by enabling any submission picked by a Result Picker input block to be updated.

Delete From Default Store

The Delete From Default Store handler can similarly be used in association with a form containing a Result Picker input to delete submissions from the default store.

Read From Default Store

The Read From Default Store handler can be used in association with a form containing a Result Picker input to load data from a selected previous submission.

Security and Integrity

These tools need to be configured with caution. For example, you probably should not create a page where any visitor can modify another visitor's form submissions. Each stage of multi-form workflow should be planned with:

  • A page limited by permission to those who can action that stage of the workflow
  • A listing of form submissions from the previous stage of the workflow filtered to those that have not already been actioned
  • A form to pick a submission from the previous workflow stage of the workflow with fields to facilitate this stage.
  • A pipeline handler to mark the actioned submission, so it is cleared from the list for this stage (and made available to the next stage), and to carry out further actions for this stage of the workflow.

Each previous submission is identified by Form Reform Display using an encrypted signature. The Update Default Store handler and the Delete From Default Store handler will only work with submissions identified by this encrypted signature in the current form submission. This is enforced to prevent a rogue user from hacking the identity of a picked submission to gain access to modify any submission.

When a multi-form workflow uses admin only pages, these can be in the site theme, or consider using the Front End Dashboard theme for forms that are more closely related to dashboard administration actions.

Why is this a separate package?

In theory, Form Reform Data Picker could have been part of the main Form Reform package. However these are specialised and complicated form inputs. Form Reform is already big, so making this a separate addon helps prevent Form Reform from growing bigger. The roadmap has more than enough ideas that will need to be part of the main Form Reform package and necessitate growth.

Form Reform Data Picker

jl_form_reform_data_picker - v9.0.10

Form Reform Data Picker provides data picking input blocks for Form Reform. Create pickers and selectors from tables or JSON data sources including HTML tables, Calendars, Page Lists, Universal Content Puller and previously submitted form results.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.0.10

Block Types Form Handler Plugins
  • Delete From Default Store
  • Read From Default Store
  • Update Default Store

Form Reform

jl_form_reform - v9.6.8 - resources v9.4.21

Reform the way forms are built. Build a form out of blocks. Take control of how form submissions are processed and how the submitted data is stored. Easy to extend. Easy to reconfigure. Tangible data. Easy to add your own integrations.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.6.8

Block Types Single Pages
  • Form Reform /dashboard/​system/​form_reform Reform the way forms are built. Build a form out of blocks. Take control of how form submissions are processed and how the submitted data is stored. Easy to extend. Easy to reconfigure. Tangible data. Easy to add your own integrations.
  • Form Handler Plugins /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​plugin_list Plugins for Form Handlers.
  • Form Reform Blocks /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​form_reform_blocks Blocks for Form Reform.
  • Form Reform Global Settings /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​global_settings Edit global settings and defaults for Form Reform Submission.
  • Form Reform /dashboard/​reports/​form_reform Reform the way forms are built. Build a form out of blocks. Take control of how form submissions are processed and how the submitted data is stored. Easy to extend. Easy to reconfigure. Tangible data. Easy to add your own integrations.
  • Form Submissions /dashboard/​reports/​form_reform/​form_reform_default Default storage for Form Reform submissions.
  • Advanced Configuration /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​advanced_config Advanced Configuration for Form Reform including adapting styles for non-Bootstrap 5 themes.
Form Handler Plugins
  • Address Geocode
  • Clear Data Category
  • Clear Errors
  • Clear Quarantine Files
  • Comment
  • Condition Else
  • Condition Else If
  • Condition End
  • Condition If
  • End
  • Extend Form Data
  • Extend From List
  • Extend From Page
  • Extend From Table
  • Extend With Text Item
  • Fail
  • Fire Event
  • Generate ID Code
  • Generate QR Code
  • Import Quarantine Files
  • Iterate Data
  • Iterate Data End
  • Iterate Repeatable Group
  • Iterate Repeatable Group End
  • Log Errors
  • Log Handler Results
  • Log Pipeline
  • Log Submission
  • Log Submission Data
  • Magic Tabs Jump
  • Merge From Cookie Store
  • Merge From Default Store
  • Merge From Session Store
  • Message
  • Next Form State
  • None
  • On Error
  • On Success
  • Query Default Store
  • Redirect
  • Remove From Default Store
  • Save to CSV
  • Save to Cookie
  • Save to Default
  • Save to File
  • Save to Session
  • Send Email
  • Set Error
  • Set Error Conditional
  • Sort Form Data
  • Spam Detect
  • Transform Error
  • Validate ID Code
  • Validate Input Fields
  • Wait

Form Reform Display

jl_form_reform_display - v9.4.2

Provides blocks and dashboard utilities to List, display, summarize, generate reports and analyze form submissions from Form Reform. Additionally supports integration with Universal Content Puller.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.4.2

Block Types Single Pages
  • Form Report Generator /dashboard/​reports/​form_reform/​form_reform_report Report generator for default Form Reform submissions.
  • Analysis Plugin List /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​analysis_plugin_list Plugins for Form Reform Display analysis.
Content Source Plugins
  • Form Reform Analysis
  • Form Reform Default Store
  • Form Reform Report
Image Selectors Plugins
  • Form Reform Report Dynamic
Form Handler Plugins
  • Import Average Analysis
  • Import Average for Group by Label Analysis
  • Import Distinct Values Analysis
  • Import Frequency Analysis
  • Import Frequency Analysis Matrix
  • Import Frequency Analysis Numeric
  • Import Report
Analysis Plugins
  • Average
  • Average for Group by Label
  • Distinct Values
  • Frequency Analysis
  • Frequency Analysis Matrix
  • Frequency Analysis Numeric
  • Heading Insert
  • None

Form Reform UTM

jl_form_reform_utm - v9.0.3

Not just Form Reform and not just UTM! Capture and hold incoming UTM (or other) tags and make the tag values available to Form Reform and/or Conditional Redirect as {{place_holders}}. You don't need Form Reform to use this.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.0.3

Single Pages
  • UTM configuration /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​utm Redirects to UTM Configuration in SEO settings.
  • UTM configuration /dashboard/​system/​seo/​utm Capture and hold incoming UTM (or other) tags and make the tag values available to Form Reform as {{place_holders}}. Also integrates with Conditional Redirect. You don't need Form Reform to use this!

Form Reform Attributes, Express and Users

jl_form_reform_save_to_attributes - v9.1.0

Save submitted forms to Express objects and user attributes. Add and remove users from groups.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.1.0

Block Types Form Handler Plugins
  • Merge From User Textarea Attribute
  • Remove From User Textarea Attribute
  • Save to Current Page Textarea Attribute
  • Save to Current User
  • Save to Current User Textarea Attribute
  • Save to Express
  • User Groups
  • Validate User

Form Reform Image Picker

jl_form_reform_image_picker - v9.0.6

Form Reform Image Picker provides an image picking input block for Form Reform. The Image Picker Input is preconfigured to connect to most Omni Gallery gallery and slider display widgets, the core gallery block, and thumbnail showing templates for the core page list block. Advanced settings allow the Image Picker Input to be configured to pick images from other galleries and sliders.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.0.6

Block Types Form Handler Plugins
  • Extend From File Properties

Form Reform Data Picker

jl_form_reform_data_picker - v9.0.10

Form Reform Data Picker provides data picking input blocks for Form Reform. Create pickers and selectors from tables or JSON data sources including HTML tables, Calendars, Page Lists, Universal Content Puller and previously submitted form results.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.0.10

Block Types Form Handler Plugins
  • Delete From Default Store
  • Read From Default Store
  • Update Default Store

Form Reform Dynamics

jl_form_reform_dynamics - v0.2.2

Form handlers for querying Microsoft Dynamics, forwarding and updating form data to Microsoft Dynamics.

Form Handler Plugins
  • Forward to Dynamics
  • Get From Dynamics
  • Update to Dynamics

Form Reform Macros

jl_form_reform_macro - v9.0.0

Extends Form Reform with form handler macros. Provides a new dashboard page at System & Settings > Form Reform > Form Reform Macros to manage macros, and form handlers to run macros.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.0.0

Single Pages
  • Form Reform Macros /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​macro Extends Form Reform with form handler macros. Provides a new dashboard page at System & Settings > Form Reform > Form Reform Macros to manage macros, and form handlers to run macros.
Form Handler Plugins
  • Macro

Form Reform Developer

jl_form_reform_developer - v9.1.4

A growing suite of resources to assist those developing blocks, handlers and more complex forms for Form Reform.

ConcreteCMS Marketplace v9.1.4

Block Types Single Pages
  • Plugin Dialogue Explorer /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​plugin_dialogue_explorer A reference copy of all plugin dialogues. They won't save and may only partially work. Just here for browsing.
  • Block Dialogue Explorer /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​block_dialogue_explorer A reference copy of all form input block dialogues. They won't save and may only partially work. Just here for browsing.
  • Find My Forms /dashboard/​system/​form_reform/​find_my_forms Locates Form Reform forms and the pages they are on.
Form Handler Plugins
  • Dump Added Static Handler Categories
  • Dump Form Data
  • Dump Post Data
  • Dump Query Data
  • Dump Static Data Values
  • Log Added Static Handler Categories
  • Log Post Data
  • Log Query Data
  • Log Static Data Values
  • Post Data Review
  • Validate Form Structure

Additional Pages

Reform the way you add new input controls

If you need a specialized template or a custom input element, you can design new templates  or new block types for form elements as you would any block type.

Blocks are easy for third party addition or extension. Block templates and are the first thing any Concrete CMS developer learns to code. They are one of the easiest things to code. The underlying mechanisms are well established and reliable.

Reform what you can do with form data

Form handlers are built about the same extensible plugin system as many of my other addons (Universal Content Puller, Omni Gallery, Extreme Clean ...).

The whole system is aimed at easy extension within Form Reform, by third party addons, by agencies and by site building developers.

Handlers can be easily added to do whatever you want with the form data.

Reform where you can save form data

Saving form data with Form Reform is simply a handler in the processing pipeline. You can save to multiple locations or just one location.

If you need to save data elsewhere, such as to a dedicated table, a table provided through another addon, to another database, send it to an API, forward it to another server, or anywhere you can imagine, you can adapt or develop a form handler to do so.

The complexity of the code depends on where you are saving or sending the data, but wrapping that into a form handler plugin for Form Reform is straight forward.

The Form Reform handler plugin system is designed for easy extension.

Why not Express forms?

Express is the built in object data system built in to Concrete CMS. Form Reform is way more powerful for forms. Express supports basic object relationships, but is not robust.

Form Reform

Reform the way forms are built. Build a form out of blocks. Take control of how form submissions are processed and how the submitted data is stored. Easy to extend. Easy to reconfigure. Tangible data. Easy to add your own integrations.

Form Reform Display

Provides blocks and dashboard utilities to List, display, summarize, generate reports and analyze form submissions from Form Reform. Additionally supports integration with Universal Content Puller.

Form Reform UTM

Not just Form Reform and not just UTM! Capture and hold incoming UTM (or other) tags and make the tag values available to Form Reform and/or Conditional Redirect as {{place_holders}}. You don't need Form Reform to use this.

Form Reform Dynamics

Form handlers for querying Microsoft Dynamics, forwarding and updating form data to Microsoft Dynamics.

Snapshot

A suite of advanced image capture and upload tools. Enhanced drag and drop file uploading. Make screengrabs from within Concrete CMS. Capture images directly from device webcams. Edit images before uploading.

Form Reform Attributes, Express and Users

Save submitted forms to Express objects and user attributes. Add and remove users from groups.

Form Reform Image Picker

Form Reform Image Picker provides an image picking input block for Form Reform. The Image Picker Input is preconfigured to connect to most Omni Gallery gallery and slider display widgets, the core gallery block, and thumbnail showing templates for the core page list block. Advanced settings allow the Image Picker Input to be configured to pick images from other galleries and sliders.

Form Reform Data Picker

Form Reform Data Picker provides data picking input blocks for Form Reform. Create pickers and selectors from tables or JSON data sources including HTML tables, Calendars, Page Lists, Universal Content Puller and previously submitted form results.

Form Reform Macros

Extends Form Reform with form handler macros. Provides a new dashboard page at System & Settings > Form Reform > Form Reform Macros to manage macros, and form handlers to run macros.

Form Reform Developer

A growing suite of resources to assist those developing blocks, handlers and more complex forms for Form Reform.

Learn with a simple form

While you may have plans to implement some much more complex forms using Form Reform, we strongly recommend you start with a simple form such as our contact form example in order to review the basic principles of using Form Reform before you move onto anything bigger.

  1. Start by submitting the form at Getting Started - Your First Form a few times, even making some deliberate mistakes.
  2. Watch our Getting Started with Form Reform video to see how the form is built.
  3. Read through the rest of Getting Started - Your First Form for more details of how this form is built.
  4. Create a test page on your site to build your own version of Getting Started - Your First Form and experiment.
  5. Develop your test page with some of the concepts introduced by our further examples and experiment with some of the other form inputs.