nested-form-issues.php

<?php

class AuthorForm extends Form
{
	protected function configure()
	{
		$this->setDataClass('Application\Entities\Author');
		
		// 1. problem
		
		// works if this form has a field factory
		$this->add('firstName');
		$this->add('lastName');
		$this->add('status');
		
		// does not work, form has no field factory!
		$addressForm = new Form('address');
		$addressForm->add('street');
		$addressForm->add('zipCode');
		
		// 2. possible solution
		//    the builder would have to introspect "address" to find out
		//    the expected class (e.g. AssertType constraint, Doctrine relation)
		//    - how to set data class if the above is not possible?
		//      data class must already be set in the constructor, otherwise
		//      the nested configure() method with nested add() calls fails!
		//    - how to set form class?
		$form = $this->getFormBuilder();
		$addressForm = $builder->buildForm('address');
		$addressForm->add('street');
		$addressForm->add('zipCode');
		
		// 3. possible solution
		//    builder introspects "address" to find data class
		//    add() is removed from the interface of Form - fields can only
		//    be added inside configure() or by using a builder
		
		// 3.a) create Form object - use builder
		//      people have to learn a new concept?
		$form = $this->createFormBuilder('address')
			->add('street')
			->add('zipCode')
			->buildForm();
		
		// 3.b) create custom form - pass builder
		//      how to avoid the unnecessary complexity?
		$form = new AddressForm('address', array('builder' => $builder));
		// configure() uses $this->add() and uses the $builder for constructing
		// fields		
	}
}