[TYPO3-ect] Controller Configuration

[steve ryan]

Has anyone thought about a generic controller driven by TS 
configuration? Great for extending the kickstarter to include "Add New 
Process".
Example from trade and fewizards extensions below.

Don't need dynamic instantiation for the controller. Array munching is 
natural and fast.

The downside is flexibility and comprehensibility. A good model and 
occasional evals help a lot here.
I also like that you are pushed to be very tight about the interface 
between HTML forms and the controller.
Code based controllers are heaps more flexible but less tightly defined.

I've always been a big fan of DRY. Building user interfaces and admin 
controllers from meta data, done. Defining process models is an 
interesting and powerful way to get more value out of our codebase for 
non programmers too.

Steve Ryan

---------FEWIZARDS CONTROLLER CONFIGURATION---

This is based on a working demo put together with Ingmaar, Greg, Matt 
and Roger. The demo was very thin on user interface rendering libraries 
but the basics for text inputs to search/edit works.
Extension download http://syntithenai.com/fewizards.zip. Carsearch is 
the demo, fewizards the libraries.

	defaultActivity = searchForm
	activities {
		searchForm {
			preProcessing (
			
				if($this->piVars['searchForm']) {
					$this->prepareDS('carSearchForm','formEval');
					list($errors,$checkedValues) = 
tx_fewizards_form::evaluate($this->currentDS,$this->piVars['searchForm']);
					$this->session['searchForm'] = $checkedValues;
					unset($this->piVars['searchForm']);
				}
			)
			nextActivity {
				10.value=reset
				10.label=Reset Search Parameters

				20.value=list
				20.label=Do Search!!
				20.condition=sizeof($errors)==0

			}
			action (
				$this->prepareDS('carSearchForm','form',$this->session['searchForm']);
			)
			output {
				10 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.form.autoForm
				30 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.buttons
				#20 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.general.obInclude
				#20.templateFile = EXT:carsearch/templates/searchform.inc
			}
		}
		list {
			preProcessing (
			
			)
			nextActivity < plugin.tx_carsearch_pi1.activities.searchForm.nextActivity

			nextActivity.30 {
				value=view
				label=View
			}
			nextActivity.40 {
				value=print
				label=Print
			}
			nextActivity.5 {
				value=searchForm
				label=Change search words
			}
			action (
				if($cmd === 'list') $session['SEARCHFORM']=$this->piVars['searchForm'];
				$this->prepareDS('carSearchForm','form',$session['SEARCHFORM']);
				// what about pulling this from the session
				$rows = 
tx_fewizards_db::dbSearch($queries['customSearch'],$session['SEARCHFORM']);
				$this->prepareDS('shortList','list',$rows);
			)
			output {
				10 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.list.autoList
				#20 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.general.obInclude
				#20.templateFile = EXT:carsearch/templates/list.inc
				30 < lib.tx_fewizards.output.buttons
			}
		}
		view {
			preProcessing (
			
			)
			nextActivity.10 {
				value=list
				label=Back
				condition=$cmd === 'back'
			}	
			action (
				$this->prepareDS($ds['carView'],$session['DATA']);
			)
			output.template.file=EXT:carsearch/templates/view.inc
		}
		reset {
			preProcessing (
				unset($this->session['searchForm']);
			)
			nextActivity {
				10.value=searchForm
			}
		}
		errorMsg {
			# alternative template configuration from static PHP file for 
customisation
			output.template.file=EXT:carsearch/templates/errtemplate.inc
		}
		noResults {
			output.template.file=EXT:carsearch/templates/noresults.inc
		}
	}
}


----- SIMPLER TRADE CHECKOUT CONFIGURATION

This process meta data allows the trade extension to select what stage 
in a checkout process should be rendered.

    checkout {
     	list {
     		condition=$testResult=true;
     		next=basket
     		label=Select&nbsp;Products
     		label.stdWrap.wrap=
     	}
		basket {
			condition=if (sizeof($this->basket)>0 && $this->shipping['method']>0 
&& $this->payment['method']>0 && 
(($this->piVars['submit_payment_method']==1 && 
$this->piVars['submit_shipping_method']==1)||$this->user['basket_approved']==1) 
) $testResult=true;
			next=user_shipping_details
			templateSubpart=BASKET
			label=Payment/Shipping&nbsp;Details
			label.stdWrap.wrap=
		}
		user_shipping_details {
			condition=if ($this->user['valid']==1 && 
$this->user['valid_shipping_details']==1&&$this->user['basket_approved']==1) 
$testResult=true;
			next=confirm
			templateSubpart=USER_SHIPPING_DETAILS
			label=Customer&nbsp;Details
			label.stdWrap.wrap=
		}
		confirm {
			#condition=if ($this->order['status']==1) $testResult=true;
			condition=if 
($this->piVars['finalise_checkout']==1&&$this->user['valid_shipping_details']==1&&$this->user['valid']==1&&$this->user['basket_approved']==1) 
$testResult=true;
			next=thanks
			templateSubpart=CONFIRM
			label=Confirmation
			label.stdWrap.wrap=
		}
		thanks {
			condition=$testResult=false;
			next=NOT USED
			templateSubpart=THANKS
			label=Order&nbsp;Complete
			label.stdWrap.wrap=
		}