Fields

Custom field types are where the magic happens in PushType. By applying different fields to node objects, content can be modelled in boundless ways. A few lines of code, no database migrations, no forms to create - it just works!

Adding fields to a node

Fields are added to a node class by calling the field class method. The field method accepts three arguments:

• name - the name of the attribute
• type - the field type, defaults to :string
• options - a hash of options

Take the following example:

# Model a Person object with a name, date of birth
class Person < PushType::Node
  field :biography, :wysiwyg, validates: { presence: true }
  field :date_of_birth, :date
end

# Lets create a person
me = Person.new title: 'John Doe', date_of_birth: '1954-02-25'

me.title          #=> "John Doe"
me.date_of_birth  #=> #<Date: 1954-02-25>
me.valid?         #=> false

So far, so predictable. But here’s where it gets cool:

1. Data is stored internally in a JSON object so it’s possible to create deep and complex data structures with no database migrations.
2. Each field type has it’s own template and other UI assets, so PushType automatically creates forms for editing your nodes.
3. If PushType’s built in set of custom fields don’t quite offer the flexibility you need, then it’s simple to customise the behaviour of existing fields or even build your own!

Available field types

class Page < PushType::Node

  # Basic field types
  field :basic_1, :string   # => Provides a text field
  field :basic_2, :text     # => Provides a textarea
  field :basic_3, :wysiwyg  # => Provides a WYSIWYG editor
  field :basic_4, :markdown # => Provides a Markdown editor, renders the value as HTML
  field :basic_5, :number   # => Provides a number field
  field :basic_6, :boolean  # => Provides a checkbox
  field :basic_7, :date     # => Provides a datepicker
  field :basic_8, :time     # => Provides a timepicker

  # Select fields provide a select box
  field :sel_1, :select, choices: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz']
  # Can also accept choices as a proc
  field :sel_2, :select, choices: -> { Tag.all.map(&:name) }, multiple: true

  # Tag lists
  field :tags, :tag_list

  # Repeating fields allow many values to be added which are stored
  # internally as an Array
  field :notes, :repeater, repeats: :text
  field :contacts, :matrix do
    field :name, :string
    field :age, :number
  end

  # Relation fields create associations
  # The name of the field *must* end in `_id`, and the relation class
  # is assumed from the field name
  field :article_id, :relation # => Associates with `Article` class
  # Although the relation class can be passed with the to option
  field :foo_id, :relation, to: :article, scope: -> { published }

  # The asset field is a kind of relation field
  field :image_id, :asset      # => Provides  an asset picker

  # Structure fields allow classes with their own logic to be embeded as fields
  field :person, :structure do
    field :name, :string
    field :age, :number

    def adult?
      age && age >= 18
    end
  end

end