Calc Field Not Saving

[talkinggoat]

I am trying to generate a randomish string, using php and clac, that is appended to the root URL, making a unique link. The calc element is called volunteer_unique_home_url, so it is running the php on itself.

The php should check to see if the field is empty. If it's empty, it generates a unique url. If it's not empty, it returns the data from the field.

I can get php to generate the URL, no problem. My issue is, when I submit the form, it doesn't save the generated link to the DB. When I re-open the record, the link is different. Here is the php:

$unique_url = '{user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url}';

if (empty($unique_url)) {
  $username = str_shuffle(md5('{user_data___volunteer_user_name}'));
  $shortened = substr($username,0,8);
  return "https://mydomain.org?h=".$shortened;
} else {
   return $unique_url;
}

Save to DB is set to YES.
All the permissions are set to Public.
The element is not hidden.

Update: If I just call the $unique_url variable, it does return data and I verified there is data in the key, in mysql, so I'm confused why it won't detect there is data and skip to the else statement.

 

[cheesegrits]

Nope, won't work ... that placeholder you are using will be generated from the calc code it is in.

Why not just use md5(), without str_shuffle()? Then it'll always be the same for a given volunteer_user_name, so it doesn't matter whether it gets regenerated or not.

Or, don't use a calc, use a hidden field, and put your code in a PHP form plugin, running onBeforeProcess, which checks the form data, $formModel->formData['user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url'] to see if that field has a value, and generates the string if it doesn't, and uses $formModel->updateFormData('user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url', $yourThing, true, true) to update it.

-- hugh

 

[mauro]

Or, don't use a calc, use a hidden field, and put your code in a PHP form plugin, running onBeforeProcess, which checks the form data, $formModel->formData['user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url'] to see if that field has a value, and generates the string if it doesn't, and uses $formModel->updateFormData('user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url', $yourThing, true, true) to update it.

Does this work for lists too? I noticed, for example, that if you eval PHP code in databasejoin fields, this evaluation works only in the form view but not in the list view...

 

[talkinggoat]

Why not just use md5(), without str_shuffle()? Then it'll always be the same for a given volunteer_user_name, so it doesn't matter whether it gets regenerated or not.

I also have a clear button, in case anything ever happens to the user's link and it needs to be regenerated. If it's tied to the MD5, say, the first 8 characters, I won't ever be able to regenerate it. The algorithm will always generate the same hash.

Or, don't use a calc, use a hidden field, and put your code in a PHP form plugin, running onBeforeProcess, which checks the form data, $formModel->formData['user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url'] to see if that field has a value, and generates the string if it doesn't, and uses $formModel->updateFormData('user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url', $yourThing, true, true) to update it.

PERFECT @cheesegrits Here is how to do it, if I ever forget. Or maybe add it as an example, to the WIKI?
I switched the element 'user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url' to a field element.
Under forms, I selected the form responsible for that element.
On the last tab, Plugins, I added a PHP plugin.
I adapted your code above and read over these directions: http://fabrikar.com/forums/index.php?wiki/php-form-plugin/
Set the Process Script to onBeforeProcess.
Put this in the PHP Code box:

$formData = $formModel->formData['user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url'];
function a() {
  $variable = str_shuffle(md5('{user_data___volunteer_user_name}'));
  $shortened = substr($variable,0,8);
  return "https://mywebsite.org/index.php?h=".$shortened;
}
if (empty($formData)){
  $formModel->updateFormData('user_data___volunteer_unique_home_url', a(), true);
}

Next thoughts:
How would I make it so it's not a field element? I like the way the calc element displays text, but this doesn't seem to work with calc. I made the field module read-only, which works, but it renders the field box. It doesn't really matter; it works. Just a personal preference and curiosity.

My next step will be to figure out how to integrate this into Joomla, disable this link, if the account is disabled and to make a "copy link" button for the end user.