Methods to reuse fields across multiple cruds?

[NuktukDev]

Hi, I find myself using address fields in multiple different cruds.

I was looking for ideas on how I could make these reusable.
So far I can only think of creating a class that has a method to return these fields, and using it in my controller:

class ReusableFields
{
    public static function warrantyFields()
    {
        return [
            [
                'name'  => 'warranty_period',
                'label' => 'Warranty Period',
                'type'  => 'number',
                'suffix' => ' months',
            ],
            [
                'name'  => 'warranty_terms',
                'label' => 'Warranty Terms',
                'type'  => 'textarea',
            ],
        ];
    }

    public static function pricingFields()
    {
        return [
            [
                'name'  => 'price',
                'label' => 'Price',
                'type'  => 'number',
                'prefix' => '$',
            ],
        ];
    }
}

this->crud->addFields(ReusableFields::warrantyFields());

[backpack-ai-bot[bot]]

Your approach to creating reusable fields across multiple CRUDs is a good start. However, Backpack offers some more elegant and built-in ways to achieve this. Let me suggest a few methods based on the knowledge sources:

1. Using Traits:

   As mentioned in the How to deal with "fat" CrudCrontrollers? discussion, one of the simplest solutions to organize and reuse code in Backpack is to use traits. You could create a trait for your address fields like this:

   trait AddressFields
   {
       protected function addAddressFields()
       {
           $this->crud->addFields([
               [
                   'name' => 'street',
                   'type' => 'text',
                   'label' => 'Street Address'
               ],
               [
                   'name' => 'city',
                   'type' => 'text',
                   'label' => 'City'
               ],
               // ... other address fields
           ]);
       }
   }

   Then in your CrudController:

   use AddressFields;
   
   public function setup()
   {
       // ... other setup code
       $this->addAddressFields();
   }

2. Using the Fluent Syntax:

   Backpack 4.1 introduced a fluent syntax for defining fields, which can make your code more readable and easier to maintain. As mentioned in the CRUD Fluent API documentation, you could define your fields like this:

   CRUD::field('street')->type('text')->label('Street Address');
   CRUD::field('city')->type('text')->label('City');
   // ... other fields

   You could create a method in a separate class to return these field definitions:

   class AddressFields
   {
       public static function getFields()
       {
           return [
               CRUD::field('street')->type('text')->label('Street Address'),
               CRUD::field('city')->type('text')->label('City'),
               // ... other fields
           ];
       }
   }

   Then in your CrudController:

   public function setupCreateOperation()
   {
       CRUD::addFields(AddressFields::getFields());
   }

3. Using Operation Blocks:

   As shown in the CRUD Fields documentation, you can use operation blocks to add fields to multiple operations at once:

   CRUD::operation(['create', 'update'], function() {
       CRUD::field('street')->type('text')->label('Street Address');
       CRUD::field('city')->type('text')->label('City');
       // ... other fields
   });

These methods allow you to reuse field definitions across multiple CRUDs while keeping your code DRY and organized. The trait method is particularly useful if you have a lot of fields to reuse, while the fluent syntax can make your code more readable for smaller sets of fields.

ℹ️ Please note our AI Bot does not reply to follow-ups, this will be the only AI answer in this thread. If the AI helped you find the answer, please mark it as answered or write details below so it can learn. Then close the conversation. If not, please give more information for when a human reads this. ℹ️

Relevant sources:

Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Request] Make adding the same field / column / filter more DRY
Github Issue (closed): Consider Using Laravel Collective's Form Fields API
CRUD Fluent API|About Part 2
Github Issue (closed): [Feature] Ability to define any (nested) fields inside "table" field
Fields|Fields API
Github Issue (closed): [Feature proposal] Fluent syntax for CRUD
2. CRUD Operations|Fields Part 2
Github Issue (closed): Populating field value through a different model
Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Bug] Fields with dot notation result in an error
Github Issue (closed): [5.0][Feature][Proposal] Operations to become classes instead of Traits
Github Issue (open): [DevTools] Define CRUD columns & fields in the form
How to deal with "fat" CrudCrontrollers?

[backpack-ai-bot[bot]]

Your approach of creating a class with static methods to return reusable field definitions is a valid and commonly used method in Backpack. However, there are a few other ways to achieve field reusability in Backpack that you might find useful:

1. Using Traits:
   You can create a trait that contains methods for adding common fields. This approach allows you to easily include the fields in multiple CRUD controllers.

   trait CommonFields
   {
       protected function addWarrantyFields()
       {
           $this->crud->addFields([
               [
                   'name'  => 'warranty_period',
                   'label' => 'Warranty Period',
                   'type'  => 'number',
                   'suffix' => ' months',
               ],
               [
                   'name'  => 'warranty_terms',
                   'label' => 'Warranty Terms',
                   'type'  => 'textarea',
               ],
           ]);
       }
   }

   Then in your CRUD controller:

   use CommonFields;
   
   public function setupCreateOperation()
   {
       $this->addWarrantyFields();
       // Add other fields...
   }

2. Using the Fluent Syntax:
   Backpack 4.1 introduced a fluent syntax for working with fields, which can make your code more readable and easier to maintain. You can create methods that return field definitions using this syntax:

   public function getWarrantyFields()
   {
       return [
           CRUD::field('warranty_period')->type('number')->label('Warranty Period')->suffix(' months'),
           CRUD::field('warranty_terms')->type('textarea')->label('Warranty Terms'),
       ];
   }

   Then in your CRUD controller:

   $this->crud->addFields($this->getWarrantyFields());

   Backpack Docs: CRUD Fluent API provides more information on this syntax.

3. Using Config Files:
   You can define your reusable fields in a config file and then load them in your CRUD controllers. This approach can be particularly useful if you need to use the same fields across multiple CRUD controllers.

   // config/common_fields.php
   return [
       'warranty' => [
           [
               'name'  => 'warranty_period',
               'label' => 'Warranty Period',
               'type'  => 'number',
               'suffix' => ' months',
           ],
           [
               'name'  => 'warranty_terms',
               'label' => 'Warranty Terms',
               'type'  => 'textarea',
           ],
       ],
   ];

   Then in your CRUD controller:

   $this->crud->addFields(config('common_fields.warranty'));

These methods can help you achieve better code reusability and maintainability in your Backpack CRUD controllers. Choose the one that best fits your project structure and coding style.

Backpack Docs: CRUD Operations provides more information on working with fields in Backpack.

ℹ️ Please note our AI Bot does not reply to follow-ups, this will be the only AI answer in this thread. If the AI helped you find the answer, please mark it as answered or write details below so it can learn. Then close the conversation. If not, please give more information for when a human reads this. ℹ️

Relevant sources:

Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Request] Make adding the same field / column / filter more DRY
Github Issue (closed): Consider Using Laravel Collective's Form Fields API
Operations|Creating a New Operation With a Form Part 3
CRUD Fluent API|About Part 2
Github Issue (closed): [Feature] Ability to define any (nested) fields inside "table" field
Fields|Fields API
Github Issue (closed): [Feature proposal] Fluent syntax for CRUD
2. CRUD Operations|Fields Part 2
Github Issue (closed): Populating field value through a different model
[4.1][Feature][Beta] Repeatable field type (aka matrix; aka group)
Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Bug] Fields with dot notation result in an error
Github Issue (closed): [5.0][Feature][Proposal] Operations to become classes instead of Traits
Github Issue (open): [DevTools] Define CRUD columns & fields in the form

[backpack-ai-bot[bot]]

Your approach to reusing fields across multiple CRUDs is a good start. However, Backpack offers some more elegant and flexible ways to achieve this. Let me suggest a few methods based on the knowledge sources:

1. Using Traits:

One of the recommended ways to organize and reuse fields in Backpack is by using traits. This is mentioned in the Community Forum discussion about dealing with "fat" CrudControllers. You could create a trait like this:

trait WarrantyFields
{
    protected function addWarrantyFields()
    {
        $this->crud->addFields([
            [
                'name'  => 'warranty_period',
                'label' => 'Warranty Period',
                'type'  => 'number',
                'suffix' => ' months',
            ],
            [
                'name'  => 'warranty_terms',
                'label' => 'Warranty Terms',
                'type'  => 'textarea',
            ],
        ]);
    }
}

Then in your CrudController:

use WarrantyFields;

public function setupCreateOperation()
{
    $this->addWarrantyFields();
    // other fields...
}

2. Using the Fluent Syntax:

Backpack 4.1 introduced a fluent syntax for fields, which can make your code more readable and easier to maintain. You could create a method in your CrudController or in a separate class:

public function addWarrantyFields()
{
    CRUD::field('warranty_period')
        ->type('number')
        ->label('Warranty Period')
        ->suffix(' months');

    CRUD::field('warranty_terms')
        ->type('textarea')
        ->label('Warranty Terms');
}

This approach is mentioned in the Backpack Fluent API documentation.

3. Using a Custom Operation:

If you have a set of fields that are used together frequently, you could create a custom operation. This is a more advanced approach but can be very powerful for reusability. You would create a new operation class and include it in your CrudControllers as needed.

Your initial approach of using a separate class with static methods is also valid and can work well, especially if you prefer to keep all your reusable fields in one place.

Remember, the goal is to reduce duplication and make your code more maintainable. Choose the method that best fits your project structure and coding style.

ℹ️ Please note our AI Bot does not reply to follow-ups, this will be the only AI answer in this thread. If the AI helped you find the answer, please mark it as answered or write details below so it can learn. Then close the conversation. If not, please give more information for when a human reads this. ℹ️

Relevant sources:

Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Request] Make adding the same field / column / filter more DRY
Github Issue (closed): Consider Using Laravel Collective's Form Fields API
CRUD Fluent API|About Part 2
Github Issue (closed): [Feature] Ability to define any (nested) fields inside "table" field
Fields|Fields API
Github Issue (closed): [Feature proposal] Fluent syntax for CRUD
2. CRUD Operations|Fields Part 2
Github Issue (closed): Populating field value through a different model
[4.1][Feature][Beta] Repeatable field type (aka matrix; aka group)
Github Issue (closed): [4.0][Bug] Fields with dot notation result in an error
Github Issue (closed): [5.0][Feature][Proposal] Operations to become classes instead of Traits
How to deal with "fat" CrudCrontrollers?

[NuktukDev]

The ai has gone crazy

[karandatwani92]

Hey @NuktukDev

Everything can be done in multiple ways, and the way you are doing it is also good. 👍 Good Work!

Feel free to re-open the issue if there is something I missed answering.