Forms

Carol WolfComputer Science

The Controller To create a controller, type

rails generate controller pizza index order This creates a controller called pizza_controller.rb.

Two routes in routes.rb: “get pizza/index” and “get pizza/order”. The second one will have to be changed to a post.

“post pizza/order” Two ERB files in views/pizza

index.html.erb order.html.erb

Example: Pizzeria An order form for pizza will be used as an

example to show different kinds of buttons. radio buttons select drop-down boxes check boxes date and time boxes text areas text fields

Each will have a place in the form on the index page, code in the controller to access the data and an output section on the response page, order.html.erb.

The Basic Form The basic form has a name and action. The method is

determined by the corresponding route in routes.rb. It has a number of places for inputting data and a submit button.

The following comes from a pizzeria example.<%= form_for :pizza, :url => {:action => :order} do |form| %>

…<p>

<%= form.submit "Select your pizza order." %>

</p> <% end %>

The index page

Radio Buttons Radio buttons are used when only one answer

may be given. The erb code in the index file:

<%= form.label :crust %>:

<%= form.radio_button :crust, Plain White' %>

<%= form.label :plain_white %>

<%= form.radio_button :crust, 'Whole Wheat' %>

<%= form.label :whole_wheat %> The controller code that receives the data:

@params = params[:pizza]

@crust = @params[:crust] The output code on the response page:

<h3>The crust is <%= @crust %>.</h3>

Select Drop-down Boxes The index page code:

<%= form.label :size %>:

<%= form.select :size, {:Small => "small", :Large => "large"} %>

The controller code:@size = @params[:size]

The response page code:<h3>The size is <%= @size %>.</h3>

The name of the parameter is size. The values that will be stored in the drop down

box are listed in a hash. The one selected will be sent in the parameters hash.

Check Boxes – Index page code Check boxes allow the user to make several

choices.

<%= form.label 'toppings' %>:

<%= form.check_box :mushrooms %>

<%= form.label :mushrooms %>

<%= form.check_box :pepperoni %>

<%= form.label :pepperoni %>

<%= form.check_box :vegetables %>

<%= form.label :vegetables %>

Check Boxes – Controller code

@toppings = Array.new

if @params[:mushrooms] == "1"

@toppings << "Mushrooms"

end

if @params[:pepperoni] == "1"

@toppings << "Pepperoni"

end

if @params[:vegetables] == "1"

@toppings << "Vegetables"

end

Check Boxes – Response page code

<h3>The toppings you chose are:

<ul>

<% @toppings.each do |topping| %>

<li><%= topping %></li>

<% end %>

</ul>

</h3>

Date and Time Boxes The date and time boxes provide drop-down boxes with all the

months, about 10 years, 31 days, 24 hours and 60 minutes. Index file code:

<%= form.label :delivery_date %><%= form.date_select(:delivery_date) %><%= form.label :delivery_time %>: <%= form.time_select :delivery_time %>

Controller code:@delivery_year = @params["delivery_date(1i)"]@delivery_month = @params["delivery_date(2i)"]@delivery_day = @params["delivery_date(3i)"]@delivery_hour = @params["delivery_time(4i)"]@delivery_minute = @params["delivery_time(5i)"]

Response page code:The delivery date is <%= @delivery_month %>/<%= @delivery_day %>/<%= @delivery_year

%>,and the delivery time is <%= @delivery_hour %>:<%= @delivery_minute

%>.

Text areas Text areas are used to collect a section of

text. They are sent to the controller as a string with lines separated by “\r\n”.

The index code:<%= form.label :address, :style => 'float: left' %>

<%= form.text_area :address, :rows => 3, :cols => 40 %>

The controller code:@address = @params[:address]

The response page code:<h3>The address is <%= @address %>.</h3>

Text Fields Text fields are probably used the most. The

consist of a single box where users can type in data.

The index page code:<%= form.label :telephone %>

<%= form.text_field :telephone %> The controller code:

@telephone = @params[:telephone]

The response page code:<h3>The telephone number is <%= @telephone %>.</h3>

Link to return to index page:<%= link_to “Back” pizza_order_path %>

The Response Page – order.html.erb