What is the importance of form type?

jaboonday · 2004-08-14 02:51:26

Hi everyone!

I’m working on getting my templates for the site dev.tamusigmas.org up and running, and I’m curious as to what purpose the “form type” plays in rendering forms. For example, how exactly does a form designated as a “link” form type operate differently than a form designated as an “article” form type? In which situations would I want to choose either one?

Thanks and regards,
jaboonday

andreas · 2004-08-14 07:02:12

A “link” form is only used for entries in the link tab.

“article” is the generic form type for everything that you consider the “main content” of your site.

“misc” should only be used if you want to output static content with the form (e.g. if you put the code for your navigation in a form and display it via <txp:output_form form="formName" />.

And “comment”, consequently, is used for comments.

jaboonday · 2004-08-26 01:25:07

That makes better sense. Thanks for the explanation!

maniqui · 2005-10-19 14:57:50

I give this thread a bump, because after more than one year enjoying TXP, I find out that it isnt clear for me the difference between form types, and there is practically no information in the <a href=“http://textpattern.net/wiki/index.php?title=Forms_Subtab”>Forms Subtab</a> at Textbook.

Again, what is the importance of form type?

I’ve found that you if you change the form type of a form (let’s say from “article” to “link”) there isnt any change/error in the output.
I also tried to change a “link” form to an “article” form and my links are still there.
I also changed a “misc” form to a “file” form, and my chunk of static/dynamic HTML works fine, as expected.

So, I would conclude that the form type is just a way to categorize each form and doesnt have any effect in the output content.

Please, anyone can confirm these? or at least, correct me and/or add more info.

Last edited by maniqui (2005-10-19 14:59:23)

Sencer · 2005-10-19 15:24:34

Looks like you people never use the tagbuilder. ;)

On the left side of the (pages-)screen you have a kind of help-links, that when you click it, you get a popup with a form where you are able to select/enter various attributes for a tag. You are also able to choose a form for the tag (if that tag supports it). The options for forms that are listed in this tagbuilder will be those of the selected type: For article you will see article forms etc…

So yes, the main reason is categorization.

a73x · 2005-10-19 15:45:52

Sencer wrote:
So yes, the main reason is categorization.

But is that the only reason? Or are there situations where it could be a problem?

Sencer · 2005-10-19 15:50:11

It could be a problem, if you are using the tagbuilders, and you don’t see the forms that you want to use.

a73x · 2005-10-19 15:56:10

I was asking if there was a reason you said it was mostly categorization instead of it’s only for categorization?

maniqui · 2005-10-19 15:57:36

>So yes, the main reason is categorization.

Aaah, it’s nice to hear that…

I was starting to find that I have some forms that can be both “misc” and “article”, and some sympthons of compulsive-obsessive disorder started to appear… thoughs as “god, am I selecting the right form type? sure I’m not! surely, all my forms have the wrong form type… should I switch all my form’s form type to test them in every page? and tomorrow, will I switch them all back?”

TXP is so simple! keep it that way.

BTW, I never use the tagbuilder to build tags, but sometimes I use it like a help to remember that there are powerful tags like <code>txp:link_to_home</code>.

Last edited by maniqui (2005-10-19 16:10:44)

thebombsite · 2005-10-19 21:37:37

But would it cause a problem with tags such as <code><txp:if_article_section></code> and <code><txp:if_article_category></code> if they were in the wrong “type” of form?

Mary · 2005-10-19 22:25:45

No. parse() is indifferent.

thebombsite · 2005-10-19 22:41:32

I knew there was a good reason for coming here. ;)

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#1 2004-08-14 02:51:26

What is the importance of form type?

#2 2004-08-14 07:02:12

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#3 2004-08-26 01:25:07

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#4 2005-10-19 14:57:50

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#5 2005-10-19 15:24:34

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#6 2005-10-19 15:45:52

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#7 2005-10-19 15:50:11

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#8 2005-10-19 15:56:10

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#9 2005-10-19 15:57:36

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#10 2005-10-19 21:37:37

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#11 2005-10-19 22:25:45

Re: What is the importance of form type?

#12 2005-10-19 22:41:32

Re: What is the importance of form type?

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