This document discusses forms configuration, customization, and extension in Alfresco. It provides an overview and demo of how forms are used for metadata, search, workflows, and more. It then covers configuration of default controls and constraints, customizing types and controls like adding a slider, and extending capabilities through plugins. Tips are given for debugging forms using log settings and unit tests. The presenter concludes by taking questions and pointing to wiki resources for more information.

1. Forms Config, Customization, & Extension!
Gavin Cornwell, Development Manager, Services Team, Alfresco!

2. Agenda!
• Where Forms Are Used
• Demo
• Configuration
• Customization
• Extension
• Q & A

3. Where Forms Are Used!

4. Metadata !

5. Advanced Search!

6. Workflow !

7. Datalists !

8. Actions (4.0)!

9. Admin Console (4.0)!

10. Demo!
• Custom Type
• Custom Control
• Advanced Search
• FDK
• startLocation!
• Custom “foldername” NodeLocator!
• Built-in NodeLocators; ancestor, doclib, userhome!
• Unit Test Page!

11. Configuration!

12. Global Defaults – form-config.xml
<config>
<forms>
<default-controls>
...
</default-controls>
<constraint-handlers>
...
</constraint-handlers>
<dependencies>
...
</dependencies>
</forms>
</config>

13. Default Controls!
<default-controls>
<type name="text” template="/org.../textfield.ftl" />
<type name=”datetime” template="/org.../date.ftl”>
<control-param name="showTime”>
true
</control-param>
</type>
...
</default-controls>

14. Default Constraint Handlers!
<constraint-handlers>
…
<constraint type="MANDATORY”
validation-handler="...mandatory”
event="keyup" />
<constraint type="NUMBER”
validation-handler=”...number”
event="keyup" />
...
</constraint-handlers>

15. Dependencies!
<dependencies>
<css src=” /accordion/accordion.css" />
<js src=“/accordion/accordion-min.js" />
...
</dependencies>

16. Custom Type (dcforms:presentation)!
• Name (d:text) inherited from cm:content
• Code (d:text)
• Abstract (d:text)
• Level (d:text with LIST constraint)
• Duration (d:int)
• When (d:datetime)
• Rating (d:int)
• Presenter (association to cm:person)

17. Node Form – Visibility !
<config evaluator="node-type” condition="dcforms:presentation">
<forms>
<form>
<field-visibility>
<show id="dcforms:code" />
<show id="cm:name" />
<show id="dcforms:abstract" />
<show id="dcforms:presenter" />
<show id="dcforms:duration" />
<show id="dcforms:when" />
<show id="dcforms:level" />
<show id="dcforms:rating" />
</field-visibility>
<appearance>….</appearance>
</form>
</forms>
</config>

18. Node Form – Appearance !
<appearance>
<set id="" label-id="form.set.general” appearance="title”/>
<set id="time" label="Time” appearance="title”/>
<set id="feedback" label="Feedback" appearance=”panel”/>
<field id="dcforms:abstract">
<control template="/org/…/controls/textarea.ftl" />
</field>
<field id="dcforms:rating" set="feedback” />
<field id="dcforms:when" set="time" />
<field id="dcforms:duration" set="time" />
</appearance>

19. Node Form – Screenshot !

20. Node Form – Hiding the ʻAuthorʼ field!
<config evaluator="node-type" condition="cm:content">
<forms>
<form>
<field-visibility>
<hide id="cm:author" />
</field-visibility>
</form>
</forms>
</config>

21. Node Form – Hiding the ʻAuthorʼ field!

22. Search Form!
<config evaluator="model-type" condition="dcforms:presentation">
<forms>
<form id="search">
<field-visibility>
<show id="cm:name" />
<show id="dcforms:code" />
<show id="dcforms:level" />
<show id="dcforms:when" />
</field-visibility>
<appearance>
<field id="dcforms:when">
<control template="/org/alfresco/components/form/controls/daterange.ftl" />
</field>
</appearance>
</form>
</forms>
</config>

23. Search Form

24. Customization!

25. Custom Control – YUI Slider!
• Root location for custom controls
• shared/classes/alfresco/web-extension/site-webscripts!
<field id="dcforms:rating" set="feedback">
<control template="/devcon/progress.ftl" />
</field>

26. Custom Form Template!
<config evaluator="task-type" condition="inwf:activitiInvitePendingTask">
<forms>
<form>
<view-form template="/org/alfresco/components/form/invite-task-form.ftl”/>
<edit-form template="/org/alfresco/components/form/invite-task-form.ftl”/>
<field-visibility>
<show id="inwf:resourceTitle" />
<show id="inwf:resourceDescription" />
<show id="inwf:inviteeRole" />
<show id="bpm:priority" />
<show id="bpm:comment" />
<show id="inwf:inviteOutcome" />
</field-visibility>
</form>
</forms>
</config>!

27. Custom Form Template!
inwf:resourceTitle
bpm:priority
inwf:inviteeRole
bpm:comment
inwf:inviteOutcome

28. Extension!

29. Form Processors!
• Pluggable Form Processors
• Driven by “itemKind”!
• Provide implementation to generate and persist form!
• OOTB Form Processors!
• Node, Type, Workflow, Task, Action & JMX!
• Form Filter
• Allows pre and post processing of fields!

30. NodeLocatorService (picker startLocation)!
• Returns a NodeRef
• Implement NodeLocator Interface
• NodeRef getNode(NodeRef, Map<String, Serializable>);!
• Specify ID for “startLocation” param value!
• REST API
• /api/workspace/SpacesStore/…/nodelocator/ancestor?type=xyz !
• https://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/NodeLocatorService

31. Whatʼs New & Tips!

32. Whatʼs New in 4.0!
• JMX Form Processor
• Action Form Processor
• Association Control
• Customizable startLocation !
• rootNode option (stops navigation beyond node)!
• Category Control
• Root node configurable!
• Include sub categories option (for search)!

33. Tips!
• Log4J settings
• org.alfresco.repo.forms=debug!
• org.alfresco.web.config.forms=debug!
• org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms=debug!
• Eclipse (breakpoints)
• FormUIGet for UI!
• FilteredFormProcessor for server!

34. Tips!
• Forms Development Kit (FDK)
• Form Console (/<app>/page/form-console)!
• Unit Test Page (/<app>/page/fdk-unit-tests)!
• Debug control & template (dumps model)!
• Cntrl, Cntrl, Shift, Shift

35. Questions ?!

36. Learn More!
http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Forms
http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Share_Advanced_Search