Transforms form data with initial values to a dictionary that can be used for POST request. Handles Django admin forms.

form_soup_to_dict.py

def form_soup_to_dict(form_soup, add_save=False):
    """
    Transforms form data with initial values to a dictionary that can be used for POST request.

    * `add_save` - In Django Admin forms POST data expects `_save` to make the request.
    """
    data = {}

    for input_field in form_soup.find_all('input'):
        # We have some custom buttons added to the Django Admin
        if input_field['type'] in ('hidden', 'submit'):
            continue

        # Django Admin specific fields
        if input_field.attrs['name'].startswith('_'):
            continue

        if input_field.attrs['type'] == 'checkbox':
            if input_field.has_attr('checked'):
                data[input_field.attrs['name']] = 'on'
            continue

        data[input_field.attrs['name']] = input_field.attrs.get('value')

    for select_field in form_soup.find_all('select'):
        multiple_input = []
        if select_field.has_attr('multiple'):
            for opt in select_field.find_all('option'):
                if opt.has_attr('selected'):
                    multiple_input.append(opt['value'])

            if len(multiple_input) > 0:
                data[select_field['name']] = multiple_input
                continue

        for opt in select_field.find_all('option'):
            if opt.has_attr('selected'):
                data[select_field['name']] = opt['value']

    for textarea in form_soup.find_all('textarea'):
        data[textarea['name']] = textarea.string

    if add_save:
        data['_save'] = 'Save'

    return data