Is there a tutorial available to allow us to add controls to the form builder toolbox.

I need to be able to create a control which the user can drag onto the form and which will create a field or fields in the backend database, just as the existing controls do.

Hi Matt,

1. You have to create a control that inherits from FieldControl and implements IFormFieldControl

2. You can register the control from Administration >> Settings >> Advanced >> Toolboxes >> FormControls

Best wishes,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

I tried to do this, but ran into problems...

I managed to create a user control and build the project without any errors.

I then added the control to the toolbox.

I logged into SiteFinity, created a form and tried to drag my new control onto the form.

I got the error: 'SitefinityWebApp.MyControls.LinkPicker' is not allowed here because it does not extend class 'System.Web.UI.UserControl'.

I went back to Visual Studio 2010 to try to rectify this.  When I rebuilt the project, I got a mass of errors.

The project lost references to Microsoft.Practices.ServiceLocation, MySql.Data and all of the Telerik references (all had a yellow triangle beside them).

Could I request that you produce a detailed example of how to accomplish this? - I think it's something that your customers would like to do.

Also, why is it so easy to run into problems with lost references like this?


Matt.

Hello Matt,

Here is a sample code.  It is working fine if you drop it on a form.You have to implement the custom logic you want to have inside IntializeControls

Hi Ivan,

I'm not sure where  I would put that code.

I'm following the instructions to create a widget.  The instructions say that I should create a Web User Control.

When I do that, the cs file contains the following:

Hi Matt,

You cannot use a user control. You have to create a custom control that inherits from FieldControl. Custom controls are compiled code components that execute on the server, expose the object model, and render markup text, such as HTML or XML, as a normal Web Form or user control does.

Greetings,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Thanks Ivan,

I'm not familiar with creating custom controls.

In particular, I'm confused by this line:

Hi Matt,

In this line you specify the template that your custom filed control will use. This template has to be build as an embedded resource.

Kind regards,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

I see that you did not implement the IFormFieldControl interface even though you told in your first post that it should be implemented. Could you please share an example of how to implement it?

BR,
Coskun

Hello Coskun,

The interface is used when you want to l load default values to MetaField property , based on the attribute, from the configuration mapping.

Guys,

Sorry to bump this post but I am having a little look at this myself and I am still a little confused.  I want to add a fileupload to a form and I am struggling a bit with how to write a control for forms. 

Has anybody got a complete example for me to have a look at?  Not asking for the file upload code...I will do all that, just cannot see how to put all the pieces together so if someone could chuck together some files in a zip for me to breakdown it would be mucho appreciated.

Cheers,

I agree, James.  That would be very helpful.

Hello James,

Here is a sample code of a form control

Below is a sample code

Note that FieldDisplayMode should be in write mode.

js file

Hi Ivan,

Hi Peter,

Would it be possible to get a copy of the source code for your form control?

Matt.

I'm trying to create a control similar to james where you can upload a document, however the radupload select button and input do not appear, when inspecting it the type="hidden", but even removing that doesn't allow me to select my documents?? The default add / delete buttons appear as well as all my other controls.

Hi Matt,

Hi Ivan,

[NotSupportedException: A CLR type 'System.Nullable`1[[System.DateTime, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]' is encountered as the field type in an artificial type; only Telerik.OpenAccess.TrackedList`1[[ supported at the moment.]
   Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.ResolveType(String clr) +342
   Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.BuildFields(Description desc) +420
   Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.CreateTypes(ModuleBuilder modBuilder) +756
   Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.Build() +281
   Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialBase.StopGeneratingTypes() +56
   OpenAccessRuntime.metadata.MetaDataBuilder.CreateArtificialTypes(PackageMetaData[] packageMetaDataParam) +830
   OpenAccessRuntime.metadata.MetaDataBuilder.buildMetaData(DataObjectsRoot[] roots, Boolean ignoreNoClasses) +874
   OpenAccessRuntime.Relational.RelationalMetaDataBuilder.buildMetaData(DataObjectsRoot[] roots, Boolean ignoreNoClasses) +756
   OpenAccessRuntime.Relational.RelationalStorageManagerFactory..ctor(StorageManagerFactoryBuilder b) +758
   OpenAccessRuntime.storagemanager.StorageManagerFactoryBuilder.createSmfForURL() +82

[OpenAccessException: System.NotSupportedException: A CLR type 'System.Nullable`1[[System.DateTime, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]' is encountered as the field type in an artificial type; only Telerik.OpenAccess.TrackedList`1[[ supported at the moment.
   at Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.ResolveType(String clr)
   at Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.BuildFields(Description desc)
   at Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.CreateTypes(ModuleBuilder modBuilder)
   at Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialTypeGenerator.Build()
   at Telerik.OpenAccess.RT.ArtificialBase.StopGeneratingTypes()
   at OpenAccessRuntime.metadata.MetaDataBuilder.CreateArtificialTypes(PackageMetaData[] packageMetaDataParam)
   at OpenAccessRuntime.metadata.MetaDataBuilder.buildMetaData(DataObjectsRoot[] roots, Boolean ignoreNoClasses)
   at OpenAccessRuntime.Relational.RelationalMetaDataBuilder.buildMetaData(DataObjectsRoot[] roots, Boolean ignoreNoClasses)
   at OpenAccessRuntime.Relational.RelationalStorageManagerFactory..ctor(StorageManagerFactoryBuilder b)
   at OpenAccessRuntime.storagemanager.StorageManagerFactoryBuilder.createSmfForURL()]
   DynamicModule.ns.Wrapped_OpenAccessPageProvider_e574424e9bea4a09a6dccfa584093440.Initialize(String providerName, NameValueCollection config, Type managerType) +197
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1.InstantiateProvider(IDataProviderSettings providerSettings, Type providerType, ExceptionPolicyName policy, ManagerBase`1 manager) +1477
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1.InstantiateProvider(IDataProviderSettings providerSettings, ExceptionPolicyName policy, ManagerBase`1 manager) +63
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1.SetProvider(String providerName, String transactionName) +161
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1..ctor(String providerName, String transactionName) +131
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Modules.Pages.PageManager..ctor() +35
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Modules.Pages.PageManager..cctor() +36

[TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'Telerik.Sitefinity.Modules.Pages.PageManager' threw an exception.]
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Modules.Pages.PageManager.GetManager(String providerName) +0
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Web.SiteMapBase.Initialize(String name, NameValueCollection attributes) +583
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Web.SiteMapBase.GetSiteMapProvider(String rootName) +248
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Web.SitefinityRoute.GetRouteData(HttpContextBase httpContext) +68
   System.Web.Routing.RouteCollection.GetRouteData(HttpContextBase httpContext) +285
   System.Web.Routing.UrlRoutingModule.PostResolveRequestCache(HttpContextBase context) +60
   System.Web.Routing.UrlRoutingModule.OnApplicationPostResolveRequestCache(Object sender, EventArgs e) +86
   System.Web.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +148
   System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +75

Using the same code, when I drag the control onto a form and then save the form, I get the following error:

Server Error in '/Test001' Application.

---

Invalid provider name "Default" for SitefinityMembershipProvider specified in web.config file. The name should match one of the providers configured in Sitefinity's Security.config configuration.

[ConfigurationErrorsException: Invalid provider name "Default" for SitefinityMembershipProvider specified in web.config file. The name should match one of the providers configured in Sitefinity's Security.config configuration.]
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Security.UserManager.OnInitialized() +401
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1.Initialize() +623
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1..ctor(String providerName, String transactionName) +34
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1..ctor() +32

[TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.]
   System.RuntimeTypeHandle.CreateInstance(RuntimeType type, Boolean publicOnly, Boolean noCheck, Boolean& canBeCached, RuntimeMethodHandleInternal& ctor, Boolean& bNeedSecurityCheck) +0
   System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceSlow(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipCheckThis, Boolean fillCache) +117
   System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceDefaultCtor(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipVisibilityChecks, Boolean skipCheckThis, Boolean fillCache) +247
   System.Activator.CreateInstance() +88
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Data.ManagerBase`1.GetManager(String providerName, String transactionName) +120
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Security.SecurityManager.FindUserById(Guid userId, String providerName) +72
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Security.SecurityManager.VerifyAuthenticateInTheDatabase(SitefinityPrincipal principal, String loginIp, String lastLoginStamp) +219
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Security.SecurityManager.VerifyAuthenticateRequest(SitefinityPrincipal principal, String loginIp, String lastLoginStamp) +139
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Security.SecurityManager.AuthenticateRequest(HttpContextBase context) +537
   Telerik.Sitefinity.Web.SitefinityHttpModule.Context_AuthenticateRequest(Object sender, EventArgs e) +104
   System.Web.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +182
   System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +256

Once I get that error, I get the same error as Peter when I try to access Sitefinity.

Now trying this in build 4.0.1030.0.

In this line:

Hello Matt,

You should use UserFriendlyDataType enum in the round brackets.

All the best,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

That gives me the same problem - presumably I'm missing a reference, but I don't know where UserFriendlyDataType is defined.

Matt.

Hi Matt,

UserFriendlyDataType  is a part of Telerik.Sitefinity.Model. Please check your project references.

Best wishes,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Thanks, Ivan.

Made that change, and I get the same errors that Peter and I have mentioned above (now using RC2).

Matt.

Hi Ivan,

I have the custom DatePicker widget (with code from this thread) working correctly. When I add it to a form, and put that form on a page, it will save the results to the database correctly, which are then viewable from the "Responses" screen in the admin (see screenshot1). However, when I manually "Create a Response" from the forms page for a given form, it doesn't save the results to the database (see screenshot2). Is there something else that needs to be implemented to get a custom form widget to persist data from the "Create a Response" page? It seems to be an issue with the javascript that was provided in this thread.

Thanks,

Peter

Hello,

Here is a working sample of the control

1. Control Template

Hi Ivan,

Thanks for the quick response. I used your sample code and it works well. It's now publishing to the backend as well as the front end (see attached screenshot). However, it only seems to be publishing the default (current) datetime, which means there's an issue with one of the Javascript functions. You mentioned the "set_value" function needs to be set. Does "set_value" need to be called from anywhere else in the JS file? Are there any other Javascript functions that need to be set which aren't listed in your code sample below? Also, which client side API calls from the RadDateTime picker allow you to pass the value back to the form?

Thanks again for all your help.

Peter

Hello Matt,

Inside the javascript you work with the RadDateTimePicker Client Object its method and properties. In the code I am returning DateTime.Now; when there is no selected date.

The problem here is that DisplayMode is null on the client. Override DisplayMode and send it on the client by using GetScriptDescriptors()

Best wishes,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

Thanks for all your help. I have the custom DatePicker widget successfully publishing in the backend now. I'm using a DatePicker, and only want to store the Date (and not the Time). I'm using the following MetaField settings to force that:

Hi Matt,

Actually you can format the DateTime in the get_value and set_value

var val = (new Date(res)).format("MM/dd/yyyy");

Kind regards,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Ivan,

Using your sample code, I can't get .Net to recognise the objects you are adding to the control - see the screenshot below.

Please list the references I have to add to my project in order to make your sample code work.

http://twitpic.com/3pbzpy/full

Hello Matt,

You should use Telerik.Sitefinity which is added as a reference inside the template. Please make sure that your project has a reference to the dll from your bin folder.

All the best,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

My project already has a reference to Telerik.Sitefinity

Matt.

Hi Matt,

Make sure that the template build action is set as embedded resource and build the project. There is no other reference that you need to declare the control.

All the best,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

The template build action is already set as embedded.

Any ideas why the controls aren't being recognised?

Visual Studio is also complaining because, for instance, "titleLabel" appears more than once.

Matt.

Ivan,

Could you possibly zip up your project and make it available to download - that would be far easier than cutting and pasting code into Visual Studio (and should eliminate the problems I'm facing now).

Matt.

Hi Matt,

Do you get errors when you build? Generally you do not have intellisense in th embedded templates. Are there errors when you drop the control in a form?

Best wishes,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

The project appears to build without any errors.

However, I haven't got to the stage of dragging the control onto a form.

When I copy and paste your code into my js file, I get an error after the last "" and before the line:

Telerik.Sitefinity.Samples.FiledControlCustom.registerClass('Telerik.Sitefinity.Samples.FiledControlCustom', Telerik.Sitefinity.Web.UI.Fields.FieldControl);

the error is "expected identifier or string.

Also, later in your message, you give the following code:

Hello Matt,

I attached a sample project that you can check. Generally most of the things here are described very well and actually in more details even if there is a help article for such a control.

All the best,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hi Ivan,

Thanks for that.

When I build the project and try to drag the new object onto a form, I get the error:

Exception of type 'System.Web.HttpUnhandledException' was thrown.

When adding the control to Sitefinity, I put the following in Control Type.

Telerik.Sitefinity.Samples.FiledControlCustom

Can you confirm if this is correct, or if something else should go in that field.

Matt.

Hi Matt,

This is something related to the initial drop of the control. Publish the form and edit it. If you want you can use IsDesignMode to hide the control when you edit it.

Regards,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Thanks Ivan - publishing and then editing fixes that problem.

Is that a bug in Sitefinity which will be fixed in the final release, or is it something to do with the custom control?

Hello Matt,

It is something to the control that I will check after the release.

Regards,
Ivan Dimitrov
the Telerik team

Hello Ivan,

If I want to edit it after publishing, there is an exception:

Hi Matt,

The first error is thrown, because the script or its namespace is not correct for the application you use.

1. GetScriptDescriptors should be modified as shown below