Form configuration vs. form definition

So far, we have only described the configuration of the form framework. Once again, based on prototypes, the form configuration allows you to define:

  • which form elements, finishers, and validators are available,
  • how those objects are pre-configured,
  • how those objects will be displayed within the frontend and backend.

In contrast, the form definition describes the specific form, including

  • all form elements and their corresponding validators,
  • the order of the form elements within the form, and
  • the finishers which are fired as soon as the form has been submitted.
  • Furthermore, it defines the concrete values of each property of the mentioned aspects.

In other words, the prototype configuration defines the existence of a form element of type Text globally. The form definition declares that such a form element of type Text is located on page 1 at position 1 of a specific form. In addition, it carries the information that this form element comes with the HTML attribute "placeholder" with value "Your name here". The form definition is written by the form editor.

Example form definition

identifier: ext-form-simple-contact-form-example
label: 'Simple Contact Form'
prototype: standard
type: Form

finishers:
  -
    identifier: EmailToReceiver
    options:
      subject: 'Your message'
      recipients:
        your.company@example.com: 'Your Company name'
        ceo@example.com: 'CEO'
      senderAddress: '{email}'
      senderName: '{name}'

renderables:
  -
    identifier: page-1
    label: 'Contact Form'
    type: Page

    renderables:
      -
        identifier: name
        label: 'Name'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Name'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: subject
        label: 'Subject'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Subject'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: email
        label: 'Email'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Email address'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
          -
            identifier: EmailAddress
      -
        identifier: message
        label: 'Message'
        type: Textarea
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: ''
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: hidden
        label: 'Hidden Field'
        type: Hidden
  -
    identifier: summarypage
    label: 'Summary page'
    type: SummaryPage
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