Forms Carol Wolf Computer Science

The Controller  To create a controller, type  rails generate controller pizza index order  This creates a controller called pizza_controller.rb.  Two routes in routes.rb:  “get pizza/index” and  “get pizza/order”.  The second one will have to be changed to a post.  “post pizza/order”  Two ERB files in views/pizza  index.html.erb  order.html.erb

Example: Pizzeria  An order form for pizza will be used as an example to show different kinds of buttons.  radio buttons  select drop-down boxes  check boxes  date and time boxes  text areas  text fields  Each will have a place in the form on the index page, code in the controller to access the data and an output section on the response page, order.html.erb.

The Basic Form  The basic form has a name and action. The method is determined by the corresponding route in routes.rb.  It has a number of places for inputting data and a submit button.  The following comes from a pizzeria example. {:action => :order} do |form| %> …

The index page

Radio Buttons  Radio buttons are used when only one answer may be given.  The erb code in the index file: :  The controller code that receives the =  The output code on the response page: The crust is.

Select Drop-down Boxes  The index page code: : "small", :Large => "large"} %>  The controller  The response page code: The size is.  The name of the parameter is size.  The values that will be stored in the drop down box are listed in a hash. The one selected will be sent in the parameters hash.

Check Boxes – Index page code  Check boxes allow the user to make several choices. :

Check Boxes – Controller = Array.new == << "Mushrooms" end == << "Pepperoni" end == << "Vegetables" end

Check Boxes – Response page code The toppings you chose are:

Date and Time Boxes  The date and time boxes provide drop-down boxes with all the months, about 10 years, 31 days, 24 hours and 60 minutes.  Index file code: :  Controller = = = =  Response page code: The delivery date is / /, and the delivery time is :.

Text areas  Text areas are used to collect a section of text. They are sent to the controller as a string with lines separated by “\r\n”.  The index code: 'float: left' %> 3, :cols => 40 %>  The controller  The response page code: The address is.

Text Fields  Text fields are probably used the most. The consist of a single box where users can type in data.  The index page code:  The controller  The response page code: The telephone number is.  Link to return to index page:

The Response Page – order.html.erb