Generate a dynamic form using flask-wtf and sqlalchemy

Question

I have a webapp that allows users to create their own fields to be rendered in a form later on.

I have a model Formfield like so:

class Formfield(db.Model):
    id = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key = True)
    form_id = db.Column(db.Integer, db.ForeignKey('formbooking.id'))
    label = db.Column(db.String(80))
    placeholder_text = db.Column(db.String(80))
    help_text = db.Column(db.String(500))
    box_checked = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable = True, default = False)
    options = db.Column(db.String) # JSON goes here?
    answer = db.Column(db.String)
    required = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable = False, default = False)
    order = db.Column(db.Integer)
    fieldtype = db.Column(db.Integer)

that I use to represent a field, whatever the kind (checkbox, input, more in the future).

As you can see, every field has a FK to a form_id.

I’m trying to generate a dynamic form for a given form_id. The catch is that I need to determine the type of field to render for every Formfield. So I also need to process the fieldtype at some point.

I guess a solution would be to somehow pass the form_id to a function in my Form class.

I have no clue how to do it or where to look for a solution.

Any help would be very appreciated!

turnip · Accepted Answer · 2018-12-18 22:31:30Z

20

I think I managed to create dynamic forms with the idea from here https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/wtforms/cJl3aqzZieA

you have to create a dynamic form at view function, fetch the form field you want to get, and iterate every field to construct this form object. I used for fieldtypes simple text instead of integer values. Since it seems easy to read at code level.

class FormView(MethodView):
    def get(self):
        class DynamicForm(wtforms.Form): pass

        dform = main.models.Form.objects.get(name="name2")
        name = dform.name
        for f in dform.fields:
            print f.label
            setattr(DynamicForm , f.label, self.getField(f))

        d = DynamicForm() # Dont forget to instantiate your new form before rendering
        for field in d:
            print field # you can see html output of fields

        return render_template("customform.html", form=d)

    def getField(self, field): 
        if field.fieldtype == "text": 
            return TextField(field.label)
        if field.fieldtype == "password":
            return PasswordField(field.label)
        # can extend if clauses at every new fieldtype

for a simple form render jinja template 'forms.html'

{% macro render(form) -%}
<fieldset>
{% for field in form %}
{% if field.type in ['CSRFTokenField', 'HiddenField'] %}
  {{ field() }}
{% else %}
  <div class="form-group {% if field.errors %}error{% endif %}">
    {{ field.label }}
    <div class="input">
      {% if field.name == "body" %}
        {{ field(rows=10, cols=40) }}
      {% else %}
        {{ field() }}
      {% endif %}
      {% if field.errors or field.help_text %}
        <span class="help-inline">
        {% if field.errors %}
          {{ field.errors|join(' ') }}
        {% else %}
          {{ field.help_text }}
        {% endif %}
        </span>
      {% endif %}
    </div>
  </div>
{% endif %}
{% endfor %}
</fieldset>
{% endmacro %}

and customform.html is like this

{% extends "base.html" %}
{% import "forms.html" as forms %}

{% block content %}
{{ forms.render(form) }}
{% endblock %}

edited Dec 18, 2018 at 22:31

turnip

2,3946 gold badges36 silver badges64 bronze badges

answered Mar 6, 2014 at 8:48

Melih

4735 silver badges9 bronze badges

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5 Comments

Dailyrox Over a year ago

thanks! For reference, see dynamic form composition in the wtforms docs.

Adrian Over a year ago

Beauty, instantiating the form class object solved my problem.

simanacci Over a year ago

@Dailyrox dead link.

user_3068807 Over a year ago

@roy wtforms.simplecodes.com/docs/1.0.1/… here is the correct link

HyperionX Over a year ago

For those looking for an updated link to this documentation: wtforms.readthedocs.io/en/2.3.x/specific_problems/…

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