Extension talk:Simple Forms

Actually work?
Does this actually work?? I can't get it to do anything other show the full URL. --198.70.22.217 20:16, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
 * It's still in development, I'll add a message to say it's not ready. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Nad (talk • contribs) 13:50, April 27, 2007. Please sign your posts!
 * See demo for an example --Zven 01:22, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Anything new?
Anything new with this extension? I see that the code listed on the organic website has some errors in it. The article creation part would be wonderful for those who don't want to use semantic forms. --72.21.245.86 07:57, 27 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Bug fixed - I'll hopefully get some time to work on it again soon, currently it allows forms to be created and query-string items to be processed as in this example. --Nad 09:12, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

An idea to think about
What if there was an easy way to add another type of input verses text for the create article part of this extension? Like if you were able to use another extension as an input, like some form of media, .gif, .mp3, .wav, .flv, ext... --198.70.22.217 14:36, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Sounds interesting, but not quite sure what you mean.... you mean like an input type that can work like an upload form? --Nad 21:35, 6 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Yeah, basically like an upload form. If someone wanted to upload a media file of some sort, I would say that videos would be most widely used, but others as well. That could be in one input type and then maybe some text in another input type describing it.


 * Another thought is to allow wikitext in the input. I have no idea how difficult that would be, but that way if someone wanted to use one of the media input extensions out there as the input, like one of the .flv extensions that uses outside sites like a youtube they could instead of actually uploading a file. Both ways could useful, but I'm not sure how doable it is allow wikitext. Maybe only allow some pre-defined extensions? Or just use similar functionality of the other extensions in this one as an input type.


 * And then to take it even a step further, use templates with the form using these different types of input. Haha, I guess all this doesnt make them to "simple" anymore! I just think there is room for a great form extension for Mediawiki and I'm surprised that after this long that not to many have went that route.--75.73.16.68 00:12, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah I've wondered why forms haven't really taken off in mediawiki too. I think the youtube functionality you describe sounds more like extending the template embedding functionality rather than forms, which I'm also working on in another extension called Extension:Livelets. I have made the #input parser-function easy to add new kinds of input to so after it's up and running I'll have a look at getting it to do some more exotic functionality. --Nad 02:06, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree, I think that extending the template functionality would be key. The main thing I guess I'm trying to get at would be: When creating a new article, the user would have the option to add thier video or whatever right from the form along with text fields, etc... I know this is done at www.wikioutdoors.com. They have some sort of a forms entry that allows the user to choose an image for the article in question based on a template. Maybe the livelets works something like that? --72.21.245.86 03:56, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Ajax configuration
$wgSimpleFormsUseAjax appears to be a configuration setting in Extension:Simple Forms and a variable in LocalSettings.php. Is the first one in the configuration file a logical only, and the second picked up to specify the path of mootools? --Zven 03:05, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Disregard that, the configuration defaults in Extension:Simple Forms are overridden with configuration changes in LocalSettings.php --Zven 00:05, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

Edit functionality??
Version 0.3.2 (2007-07-09): Removed special-page and #edit parser-function, SimpleForms will not be implementing these
 * This seemed like one of the best features of the extension! Thats too bad it is no longer going to be implemented.... --198.70.22.217 19:36, 9 July 2007 (UTC)
 * SimpleForms can still edit articles in the ways shown in the examples, but will not be implmenting the #edit parser-function or special-page for interfacing to structured data (this feature had not been implemented yet). SemanticForms is the best solution for handling structured data, so it is a waste of effort re-implementing functionality which already exists --Nad 22:21, 9 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I still see a huge benefit to having this extension include the edit/create page functionality. It doesnt require semantic mediawiki for one, but it can viewed as a simple form. Whereas semantic forms, a great extention, dont get me wrong, but it has lots of overhead where this great extension could be a more user friendly form experience.  --72.21.245.86 17:29, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

use tables for widget arrangement
As also mentioned on your user page at organic design, I have trouble when using a wiki table within th ebody of a #form. To achieve acceptable layout the use of tables would really be helpful. See.
 * Thanks, Algorithmix 14:24, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Error Message
I get an error message after i have installed per the instructions: Undefined index: action in ... SimpleForms.php on line 106. Any idea as to what might cause that?
 * It's because you've got your PHP set to super-pedantic, so that trying to read array entries that don't exist raises an error instead of returning a default null result. I've made a minor update which should fix it. --Nad 22:08, 2 August 2007 (UTC)


 * What about the fatal error above? -Eep² 04:49, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

AJAX-enabled Simple Forms with WikEd - having a problem
I've set up my MediaWiki to utilize WikEd, but when I enable Ajax with motools, a line of text appears between MediaWiki's edit buttons and WikEd's edit buttons that just repeats the word "undefined" over and over again (trailing off the right side of the window). The cursor changes to the "link hand" icon when rolling over it, but the link simply points to http://mySite/undefined. When I disable WikEd or AJAX for simple forms, the text goes away. It appears to be some conflict between the javascript libraries - maybe an overloaded variable or function? Everything works fine though - but I can't leave that string of text there for everyone to see. Any ideas?


 * I have this same problem but just with Simple Forms installed and Mootools enabled with it. See http://www.organicdesign.co.nz/Talk:Extension:SimpleForms.php#Bugs for more info. —Eep² 01:30, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

Page creation bug
hello, i have tested the extension and i am very happy with it. But I have a problem that it is not possible for me to create new articles.

Also the test Blog example doesn't work on my wiki. I can only post comments with this form when there is already a discussion page, otherwise nothing happens. ----stp-- 13:36, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I'll get these bugs fixed as soon as I get some time. --Nad 21:19, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I will be very grateful If you can fix this bug. Please post here a comment if you have solved the problem ----stp-- 07:28, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi, I have some problems to create a new page. The extensions works (BlogExample) but I can't create a new page. Can you submit a short example how to do? The form should be in Template and the page should go to the namespace KB: Thanks
 * There's a bug with the page-creation currently which I'll look into as soon as I get some time to work on it again. --Nad 02:29, 24 August 2007 (UTC)
 * The page-creation bug has been found and fixed. --Nad 11:48, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Bugs

 * 1) Must have SimpleForms.php at ../extensions/SimpleForms/SimpleForms.php or a fatal error occurs.
 * This is specific to your setup, there is no location-dependent code in simple-forms --Nad 05:21, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * It is best not to use relative addressing for the extension includes, usually the extensions directory should reside directly in the main wiki directory that contains index.php which is referred to at runtime by $IP. Extensions can then be included from $IP/extensions/.... --Nad 06:32, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

-Eep² 22:28, 17 August 2007 (NZST)
 * 1) "undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined..." appears under edit buttons unless Mootools is disabled (per Gero), but then that kills a lot of SF's functionality...
 * 2) Ajax example makes the text after it monospace.
 * 3) Ajax form example doesn't work right for me; it just brings in the main page's contents instead.


 * Please supply links to these errors as they do not occur on this wiki which also has semantic forms etc installed, we need to see examples of the probles to be able to fix them. -Nad 13:47, August 17, 2007 (sign your posts)

NO RESULTS TO DISPLAY YET
 * I already gave you an example [above] for the fatal error.
 * [[Image:Simpleforms-bug-undefined.png]]
 * Note how this text is monospace (and the indentation is screwed up). [It does here anyway...]
 * 4. See http://www.tnlc.com/wiki/index.php?title=3DGC:SimpleForms and note how it pulls in the main page's content instead (just press "List members" without even selecting a category).
 * -Eep² 09:34, 18 August 2007 (NZST)


 * Well? -Eep² 18:03, 21 August 2007 (NZST)


 * As usual, I figured out the problem on my own. Turns out this was because of the Mootools compression type. Compressed Mootools doesn't work with Simple Forms; it requires at least the "no documentation" compression type. —Eep² 03:05, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * You may have a conflict between mootools and some other extension or environment setting as I have mootools working on many mediawiki versions using either compressed or uncompressed with no problem --Nad 05:21, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * http://www.tnlc.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Version (dunno about environment settings)--dunno what could be conflicting with mootools since nothing else uses it except Simple Forms... —Eep² 05:31, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Mootools is installed unconditionally so the conflict can occur with things that don't use mootools for anything --Nad 05:41, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm also experiencing problem #2... I'm guessing it might be an overloaded Javascript function somewhere, but I can't figure it out on my own. -Funnyman 10:26, 27 August 2007 (PST)


 * I need to see the html source of a page exhibiting the undefinedundefined... problem --Nad 22:08, 27 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Relevant sourcecode:

The "undefined" links occur after these toolbar buttons but do not show up in the HTML sourcecode. I'd check to see if your wiki has toolbar buttons but you've decided to ban my IP address (range, actually) from even visiting the site anonymously... —Eep² 05:31, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * You won't be allowed access to the site again because our logs show that repeated expensive queries were run from your IP/session with the intent of crippling our server. It's known to be deliberate since after removing the expensive query the requests then changed to access the historical version. --Nad 05:41, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Uh, what "expensive queries"? If you mean the above examples, they were simply to show the bugs; if they "cripped" the server, that's your own fault for shoddy programming, eh? Provide evidence of these queries in order to back up your accusation because I deny any intent to cripple your server and I don't appreciate the accusation! You made no mention of these so-called "expensive queries" before, too, implying you just made it up as an excuse to ban my IP address... —Eep² 06:01, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * these are an example of the queries in question, which have been set up to continue to read the expensive home-page query from history even after we had removed it. A permanent block of all access to the source of these requests is a logical response to their appearance in the logs. --Nad 06:26, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

2007-08-29 16:28:36 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:29:30 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:30:25 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:31:19 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:32:14 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:34:04 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:34:59 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:35:53 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:36:48 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:37:43 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:38:38 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:39:32 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:40:27 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:41:23 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 16:42:18 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 17:15:09 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep)(blocked): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 2007-08-29 20:37:40 (68.124.190.122,session=06fac13ae93967366aa43e4a7956189c,user=Eep)(blocked): /wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=73024 . ..


 * Um, those aren't queries, Nad; those are simply log entries. Provide proof--direct proof via a link I can actually verify said "expensive queries" because I don't believe you one iota! And why did you remove http://www.mediawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Extension_talk:Simple_Forms&oldid=123866 ?? God damn...it's a legitimate link to a bug. Getting tire of your wiktatorness...already reported you to Happydog too... —Eep² 08:29, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Nobody has public links to their server logs, but I don't need to prove anything anyway, I'm just telling you my reasons for blocking access, whether or not you believe them is not of concern to me. I haven't deleted your bug reports, they're still there, I just did a strike out over the part that says simple-forms is location-dependent. --Nad 08:44, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * No, Nad, you removed the link and did a strikeout, but you've been reverting my edits repeatedly many times before. Why do you play these games when it's obvious to anyone you're lying? God damn, man, cut it out already, eh? It's really getting quite lame and pathetic (moreso, actually).


 * Your reasons for blocking access to your wiki to me are bogus. I've never attempted to cripple your server and I don't know how you come to that conclusion based on simply accessing a single page either (and an old revision, nonetheless). I believe at that time you were going through a server upgrade anyway so, if anything, I was trying to access the page and not getting through because of that. Who knows? I can't check the wiki's recent changes to verify this but I do remember seeing something about a "server upgrade" during that time... When are you going to realize I am trying to improve Simple Forms by even bothering to report bug reports? This kind of dictatorial mentality over your extension(s) isn't going to win you many users... —Eep² 10:49, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Are you denying that those listed requests came from your computer? Your ISP would easily confirm the log entries are real. Both the server upgrade and the removal of the expensive query were done in response to the server becoming sluggish as logs from all parties involved would clearly show. It was only after this when the expensive queries began again, this time requesting the oldid of the removed query that I became suspicious and then traced the problem back to your IP. --Nad 11:14, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

Creating new page (part2)
Hello,

Could you give me an short example how to create a new page? Unfortunately with the examples I'm stuck (ok I'm a newbie). I only need 2 fields and the text from one of them should be the title of the page but it should also appear as text in the body

Thanks --DJO 83.135.249.174 12:47, 28 August 2007 (UTC)
 * If you just want to make a link that creates a new page with the content being the same as the title, the URL of the link can be:
 * /wiki/index.php?title=foo&content=foo
 * A slightly better way of generating the url which is independent of wiki configuration is
 *  
 * If the URL needs to be done using Ajax, then have a look at Blog example which creates a new page if it doesn't exist or edits it if it does. --Nad 19:55, 28 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the explanation but I didn't get the trick. Let us take the blog example. I have put this in a template called Template:New3. In this template you have the possibility to enter a heading and other information. When the user has filled out the fileds and click the submit button a new page should created in another namespace where the title of the page is the value from the Heading field. The data from the Heading field should be also (and the rest) as text in this new page. The namespace I can change, not the problem. But what is the following parameter? You have in the example Talk: . What is the trick to change this?
 * See Create article example for the simplest way of creating a new article with SimpleForms, also you should probably download the latest version as some minor bugs have been fixed which may affect it. --Nad 13:03, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Now it woks as I want. Thank you very much for your help