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ez publish / technical manual / 5.x / concepts and basics / content management / information collection


Caution: This documentation is for eZ Publish legacy, from version 3.x to 5.x.

Information collection

The information collection feature makes it possible to gather user input when a node referencing an information collector object is viewed. It is typically useful when it comes to the creation of feedback forms, polls, etc.

An object can collect information if at least one of the class attributes is marked as an information collector. When the object is viewed, each collector attribute will be displayed using the chosen datatype's data collector template. Instead of just outputting the attributes' contents, the collector templates provide interfaces for data input. The generated input interface depends on the datatype that represents the attribute. The following table reveals the datatypes that are capable of collecting information.

Datatype

Input interface

Input validation

Checkbox

Check-box.

No.

E-Mail

Single line of text.

Yes.

Option

Radio buttons or a drop-down menu.

No.

Text block

Multiple lines of unformatted text.

No.

Text line

Single line of unformatted text.

No.

The input interfaces must be encapsulated by an HTML form that posts the data using a submit button named "ActionCollectInformation" to "/content/action" (the "action" view of the "content" module). The submitted data will be stored in a dedicated part of the database, separated from but related to the object itself. In addition, whenever the object collects any data, the information can be sent to a specified E-mail address. The "Collected information" section within the "Setup" part of the administration interface can be used to view and delete information that was collected through content objects.

Balazs Halasy (14/09/2010 10:56 am)

Geir Arne Waaler (28/09/2010 8:53 am)


Comments

  • Two more hidden inputs also required.

    After much painful trail and error I have determined that the following hidden input fields are required within the form:
    <input type="hidden" name="ContentObjectID" value="{$node.object.id}" />
    <input type="hidden" name="ContentNodeID" value="{$node.node_id}" />

    [Why oh why isn't this documented!? It simply does not work without it :-[