CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX

CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX

The ComboBox is a complex selection element. ComboBoxes are dropdown boxes which enable the editor to select precisely one entry from a pre-defined quantity of entries and therefore fulfil the same purpose as radiobuttons. Unlike radiobuttons, ComboBoxes can be configured so that editors can also enter their own contents in the ComboBox.

ComboBoxes are particularly suitable if a selection is to be made from many entries as only one entry - the selected one - is displayed here. Specifying more than four selection options by means of a radiobutton on the other hand can quickly become unclear.

This input component can be used within the page or section templates for queries, which trigger different actions depending on the selection.

The CheckBox selection component should be used instead of the ComboBox for multiple selection options.

In addition, if used in the Content Store with the general CMS_INCLUDE_OPTIONS tag, database contents can be displayed in the input component.

Access-API example use case
The exemplary implementation ComboboxEditorValueExample shows some simple examples of use for the reading, writing and creating access to the data object (ComboboxEditorValue) and its inner data container (OptionModel) of the input component by means of the FirstSpirit Access-API.

• Example of use: ComboboxEditorValueExample
• Data object: ComboboxEditorValue
• Container type: OptionModel

Parameter

The following table gives the parameters of the COMBOBOX input component.

Overview

name

The attribute "name" is the variable name of an input component with which the the result object of the input component can be used in the templates - with the help of $CMS_VALUE()$ - or the content can be output.

Overview

allowEmpty

The "allowEmpty" parameter is used to specify whether a value has to be entered for an input value or not.

If allowEmpty="YES" input is not mandatory; however, it is if allowEmpty="NO".

Input components with allowEmpty="NO" are also called mandatory input components.

The default value for allowEmpty is YES.

Overview

convertEntities

The "convertEntities" attribute is used to convert special characters entered in the input components for output in HTML characters.

There are three forms:

• convertEntities="NONE" (standard)
• convertEntities="STANDARD"
• convertEntities="QUOTE"

With the NONE form, no conversion rules whatsoever are applied.

If STANDARD is given the conversion rules in the "convert" area of the selected conversion rule of the presentation channel are applied.

The form QUOTE explicitly includes STANDARD too. However, the "quote" area of the conversion rule is also applied.

Overview

editable

The editable parameter can be used to specify whether, in addition to the selection of an entry from the range of available entries, individual values can be entered into the input component.

If YES (...editable="YES"...) is specified, entering an individual value into the selection field of the input component is possible as well as the selection from the entries, pre-defined by the tags ENTRIES / ENTRY. This manually entered value will be saved in the input component. However, this value will be only available in the respective input component, not in others. If instead of a manually entered and saved value (e.g. entry) another value is entered into the input component, a pre-defined entry is selected or the content of the input component is deleted by using the icon X, the value entry will be no more available and must be entered anew if required.

Unlike in the case of editable="NO", the values defined by means of the parameter value are used for visualising the selectable entries when setting editable="YES". If editable="NO" is set, the values defined by means of the parameter label will be used.

If the parameter is omitted (or editable="NO") only the entries, pre-defined by ENTRIES / ENTRY can be selected. No individual values can be entered.

Overview

hFill

An input component is always displayed with a pre-defined width.

However, if the input component is to use the full available display width the parameter hFill must be given with the value YES .

Overview

hidden

With the "hidden" parameter an input component can be hidden from the editor.

If hidden="YES" the input component is not visible for the editor, if hidden="NO" it is visible.

The default value for hidden is NO.

Overview

length

The length parameter can be used to specify the display width of the input component in characters.

The parameter expects an integer value.

If the parameter is not given the default value is 20.

The parameter does not have any effect if the hFill parameter is used.

Overview

noBreak

The noBreak parameter can be used to suppress automatic line break after an input component.

The noBreak parameter must be given with value "YES" (noBreak="YES") to suppress the automatic line break.

Overview

preset

Using the preset attribute the handling of default values in an input component can defined (see also chapter Default values). If preset="default" is set, the fall-back value defined in the form is used. If this value in the form is changed later on, these changes will be affect all usages of this default value in the input components maintained by the editor, as long as a value will be set manually in the input component. This is the default setting. If preset="copy" is set, the value entered by the editor is copied directly into the input component. Subsequent changes to the default value in the form do not have any effect on the usages of this default value in the input components maintained by the editor.

Overview

singleLine

The singleLine parameter can be used to specify whether an input component is to be displayed in one row (without frame) or not.

If the parameter is not given the input component is displayed in one row - without a frame.

If NO (...singleLine="NO"...) is specified the input component is displayed over two rows with a frame.

To ensure uniform layout of the input components it is advisable to enter the following for the input components which support this attribute (e.g. COMBOBOX, DATE, NUMBER, TEXT and TOGGLE) singleLine="NO".

Overview

sortOrder

The sortOrder parameter controls the display order of the entries.

Three keywords can be used with this parameter:

• sortOrder="KEEP_ORDER" (default)
• sortOrder="ASCENDING"
• sortOrder="DESCENDING"

By default or if KEEP_ORDER is selected, the entries will be displayed in the order as defined in the form by the template developer using ENTRIES/ENTRY.

If the ASCENDING or DESCENDING values are selected, the entries are sorted alphabetically from A-Z or from Z-A accordingly. This type of sorting is particularly useful if the entries originate from a linked table (using CMS_INCLUDE_OPTIONS, type DATABASE).

Overview

useLanguages

The useLanguages parameter can be used to specify whether or not an input component is to store different or deviating values for different languages (multi-lingual maintenance).

If the parameter is not given, deviating values are stored for the different languages as a default.

If NO (...useLanguages="NO") is specified, one value is stored for all languages.

Overview

ENTRIES

The ENTRIES tag can be used to specify the quantity of entries available for selection in the input component.

The ENTRY tag can be given in the tag.

A selectable entry corresponds to an ENTRY tag.

ENTRY

An ENTRY tag is used to precisely define a format template within the ENTRIES tag, which is to be available for selection in the input component. The tag has the mandatory parameter value, which corresponds to the value to be stored in the input component.

Overview

value

The value parameter in the ENTRY tag is used to specify the value to be stored in the input component.

The individual values of the value parameters within an ENTRIES tag must be different from each other.

Overview

LANGINFOS

Using the tag LANGINFOS language-dependent information can be defined for each input component, e.g. which title is to be used for the input component in the different project languages (parameter label), which tooltip is to be displayed (parameter description) etc. For reasons of clarity, definitions which are identical in multiple languages will be merged. For example,

<LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Datum"/> 
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Datum"/>
</LANGINFOS>

will be merged to

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

Up to and including FirstSpirit version 4.2R2 language definitions will be deleted only in the case if the values are identical in all languages (as in example above). Furthermore, only the parameters lang, description and label are taken into account when merging.

Since FirstSpirit version 4.2R4 all parameters are taken into account (e.g. format and length). Furthermore, language definitions are also merged within LANGINFOS tags, if they are identical in at least two languages. For example,

<LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date" format="MM/dd/yy"/>
</LANGINFOS>

will become

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date" format="MM/dd/yy"/>
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

The definition for the fallback value (*) will not be deleted in any case. If there are two or more language definitions with identical values the first one will be maintained, the other will be deleted.

IMPORTANT: Up to and including FirstSpirit version 4.2R2 at least one definition for the fallback labelling ("*") must be given:

<LANGINFOS>
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="TEXT"/>
</LANGINFOS>

From FirstSpirit version 4.2R4 the fallback definition can be omitted. In this case, the language which is defined first will be used automatically as fallback value. For example,

<LANGINFOS>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

will become

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

LANGINFO

The LANGINFO tag is used to give values or attributes for a language as well for use as fallback values.

In order to state values or attributes for a language it is necessary to give the abbreviation of the project language in the lang parameter:

...
<LANGINFO lang="DE".../>
...

Fallback values are given with the special language abbreviation * ("for all languages"):

...
<LANGINFO lang="*".../>
...

The lang parameter is a mandatory parameter.

Overview

lang

The lang parameter is used to give the language abbreviation which is entered in the server properties see , Chapter "Language templates") to specify for which project languages the definitions are to apply, e.g. DE for German, EN for English, FR for French etc. The following characters can be used as often as required: -, _, 0-9 and A-Z. Lower case letters are transformed automatically into upper case letters after having saved the template. In addition * can be used for fallback values.

Overview

description

The description parameter can be used to give a description which is used to display a tool tip (mouse-over).

Overview

ignore

The ignore parameter can be used so that the entry is not displayed or is ignored in the given language.

If the parameter is not given an entry is displayed in the language.

If YES (...ignore="YES") is specified the corresponding entry in the given language is ignored.

Overview

label

The label parameter is used to give the surface labelling for input and visualisation components.

Overview

LANGINFOS

Using the tag LANGINFOS language-dependent information can be defined for each input component, e.g. which title is to be used for the input component in the different project languages (parameter label), which tooltip is to be displayed (parameter description) etc. For reasons of clarity, definitions which are identical in multiple languages will be merged. For example,

<LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Datum"/> 
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Datum"/>
</LANGINFOS>

will be merged to

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

Up to and including FirstSpirit version 4.2R2 language definitions will be deleted only in the case if the values are identical in all languages (as in example above). Furthermore, only the parameters lang, description and label are taken into account when merging.

Since FirstSpirit version 4.2R4 all parameters are taken into account (e.g. format and length). Furthermore, language definitions are also merged within LANGINFOS tags, if they are identical in at least two languages. For example,

<LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date" format="MM/dd/yy"/>
</LANGINFOS>

will become

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date" format="dd.MM.yy"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date" format="MM/dd/yy"/>
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

The definition for the fallback value (*) will not be deleted in any case. If there are two or more language definitions with identical values the first one will be maintained, the other will be deleted.

IMPORTANT: Up to and including FirstSpirit version 4.2R2 at least one definition for the fallback labelling ("*") must be given:

<LANGINFOS>
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="TEXT"/>
</LANGINFOS>

From FirstSpirit version 4.2R4 the fallback definition can be omitted. In this case, the language which is defined first will be used automatically as fallback value. For example,

<LANGINFOS>
 <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="Date"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

will become

 <LANGINFOS> 
 <LANGINFO lang="*" label="Date"/>
 <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="Datum"/> 
</LANGINFOS>

after saving.

LANGINFO

The LANGINFO tag is used to give values or attributes for a language as well for use as fallback values.

In order to state values or attributes for a language it is necessary to give the abbreviation of the project language in the lang parameter:

...
<LANGINFO lang="DE".../>
...

Fallback values are given with the special language abbreviation * ("for all languages"):

...
<LANGINFO lang="*".../>
...

The lang parameter is a mandatory parameter.

Overview

lang

The lang parameter is used to give the language abbreviation which is entered in the server properties see , Chapter "Language templates") to specify for which project languages the definitions are to apply, e.g. DE for German, EN for English, FR for French etc. The following characters can be used as often as required: -, _, 0-9 and A-Z. Lower case letters are transformed automatically into upper case letters after having saved the template. In addition * can be used for fallback values.

Overview

description

The description parameter can be used to give a description which is used to display a tool tip (mouse-over).

Overview

label

The label parameter is used to give the surface labelling for input and visualisation components.

Overview

LanguageAbbreviation	Language abbreviation, e.g. DE, EN, FR or * for return values
PositiveInteger	Positive integer
YesNo	Switch to apply an attribute or not NO Do not apply attribute YES Apply attribute
String	A random character string
SortOrder	Switch with which to define the sort order of the entries KEEP_ORDER Retain the sort order of the entries ASCENDING Sort entries alphabetically in ascending order DESCENDING Sort entries alphabetically in descending order
Preset	How to deal with default values Copy The value entered by the editor is copied directly into the input component, subsequent changes do not have any effect Default The fall-back value defined in the form is used, as long as a value will be set manually
ConvertEntity	Switch with which to define the conversion rule NONE Do not use any conversion rules STANDARD Use the conversion rules of the "convert" area QUOTE Use the conversion rules of the "convert" and "quote" area
Designator	Unique identifier of variable length; must start with a letter or underscore and may only contain the characters "A-Z", "a-z", "0-9" and "_", e.g. "fr_st_varName"

Example

An example of the input component "CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX":

<CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX name="IDENTIFIER" useLanguages="YES">
  <ENTRIES>
    <ENTRY value="VALUE">
      <LANGINFOS>
         <LANGINFO lang="*" label="TEXT"/>
         <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="TEXT"/>
         <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="TEXT"/>
      </LANGINFOS>
    </ENTRY>
  </ENTRIES>
  <LANGINFOS>
    <LANGINFO lang="*" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
    <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
    <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
  </LANGINFOS>
</CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX>

An example of the filling of a "CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX" input component with entries from an external table (Content Store):

<CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX name="IDENTIFIER" useLanguages="NO">
  <CMS_INCLUDE_OPTIONS type="database">
    <LABELS>
         <LABEL lang="*">#item.COLUMN</LABEL>
         <LABEL lang="DE">#item.COLUMN_DE</LABEL>
         <LABEL lang="EN">#item.COLUMN_EN</LABEL>
    </LABELS>
    <TABLE>TABLETEMPLATE</TABLE>
  </CMS_INCLUDE_OPTIONS>
  <LANGINFOS>
    <LANGINFO lang="*" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
    <LANGINFO lang="DE" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
    <LANGINFO lang="EN" label="TEXT" description="TEXT"/>
  </LANGINFOS>
</CMS_INPUT_COMBOBOX>

Example of use in the template syntax

As a COMBOBOX input component returns an Option object the value selected by the editor can be output with the .getValue() method.

The call for a COMBOBOX input component with the identifier st_combobox is:

$CMS_VALUE(st_combobox.value)$