Allow any number of autocomplete references
vacilando - June 29, 2008 - 13:04
| Project: | Field Reference |
| Version: | 5.x-1.1-beta1 |
| Component: | User interface |
| Category: | feature request |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | active |
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Description
Hi,
I think this is an amazing effort - a generic tool for referencing any other fields has been missing for a long time!
Two requests to make it a killer module:
1) Currently autocomplete permits only up to 3 entries but people often need to reference an unspecified number of values from the other field. Could you either
a) allow entering multiple values separated by commas (such as text autocomplete does)
b) or add an AJAX widget that would add more lines as needed
2) I also think it would be great if this module allowed entering values that are not references. Currently only content taxonomy autocomplete supports this (but using taxonomy is often too heavy and has other complications).
#1
1)
a) this is something i can have a look at. i'll check the current implementation of autocomplete but i would say it's not that different from node reference
b) i never implemented that; are you aware of a D5 CCK module that comes with an "add more" button ?
2) please could you elaborate ? the only point of the module is to reference existing fields, and the db storage for this field reference module needs to store an nid, a field name and a delta value. i can hardly see how it is related to "non references" or taxonomy
#2
1a) Cool, that would be great!
1b) Oh, yes, it is rare, but I am sure I've seen it in some D5 module. But I think you can find this functionality with jQuery. Eventually you'd be storing the values just like in 1a) I guess (they would only be submitted in separate single value autocomplete fields). This is just a prettier way of doing 1a) and as such not that critically needed.
2) Yes, not having nid means there is no reference, but still I think this is a critical feature... because the referenced node might come to be later! What I am talking about is a MediaWiki-like functionality where, if you refer to a non-existing node, the text itself is stored, and, very usefully, the text value can be turned to a link inviting users to create such nodes.
To summarize, there are at least 2 major advantages: i) users don't have to go to create a node before they can reference it and ii) the system facilitates creation of missing nodes because they show in different colour / have a node creation link on them.
Hope this will help and inspire :-)
#3
Hi again, guardian
1b) I've found the D5 CCK module that does that - it is the link CCK module... when editing the node, this field has an AJAX button 'More Links' that instantly adds a line to the list! I hope you can use it for field reference - I bet it would be immensely popular!