Most of the forms in OpenACS are created using the form builder, see the section called “Using Form Builder: building html forms dynamically”. For detailed information on the API take a look here.

The following section shows how you can modify your form to allow WYSIWYG functionalities.

Convert your page to use ad_form (some changes but worth it)

Here an examples. From:

        template::form create my_form
        template::element create my_form my_form_id -label "The ID" -datatype integer -widget hidden
        template::element create my_form my_input_field_1 -html { size 30 } -label "Label 1" -datatype text -optional
        template::element create my_form my_input_field_2 -label "Label 2" -datatype text -help_text "Some Help" -after_html {<a name="#">Anchor</a>}
        

To:

        ad_form -name my_form -form {
                my_form_id:key(acs_object_id_seq)
                {my_input_field_1:text,optional
               {label "Label 1"}
               {html {size 30}}}
        {my_input_field_2:text
               {label "Label 2"}
               {help_text "Some Help"}
                   {after_html
               {<a name="#">Anchor</a>}}}
        } ...
        

Convert your textarea widget to a richtext widget and enable htmlarea.

The htmlarea_p-flag can be used to prevent WYSIWYG functionality. Defaults to true if left away.

From:

        {my_input_field_2:text
        

To:

        {my_input_field_2:richtext(richtext)
                        {htmlarea_p "t"}
        

The richtext widget presents a list with two elements: text and content type. To learn more on existing content types search in Google for "MIME-TYPES" or take a look at the cr_mime_types table.

Make sure that both values are passed as a list to your ad_form or you will have problems displaying the content or handling the data manipulation correctly.

Depending on the data model of your package you either support a content format or don't. If you don't you can assume "text/html" or "text/richtext" or "text/enhanced".

The relevant parts in your ad_form definition are the switches -new_data, -edit_data, -on_request and -on_submit.

To allow your data to display correctly you need to add an -on_request block. If you have the format stored in the database pass this as well else use "text/html":

        set my_input_field_2 [template::util::richtext::create $my_input_field_2 "text/html"]
        

Now make sure that your SQL queries that do the data manipulation retrieve the correct value. If you simply use my_input_field_2 you will store a list. Thus you need to add an -on_submit block:

        set my_input_field_2 [ template::util::richtext::get_property contents $my_input_field_2]
        set format [ template::util::richtext::get_property format $my_input_field_2] #This is optional
        

Now the correct values for my_input_field_2 and format are passed to the -new_data and -edit_data blocks which don't need to get touched.

To make HTMLArea optional per package instance define a string parameter UseWysiwygP which defaults 0 for your package using the APM.

In your edit page make the following changes

        # Is WYSIWYG enabled?
        set use_wysiwyg_p [parameter::get -parameter "UseWysiwygP" -default "f"]
        
        ...
        
        {htmlarea_p $use_wysiwyg_p}
        

The -on_request switch should set this value for your form.

        set htmlarea_p $use_wysiwyg_p
        

All you need now is a configuration page where the user can change this setting. Create a configure.tcl file:

ad_page_contract {

    This page allows a faq admin to change the UseWysiwygP setting

} {
    {return_url ""}
}

    set title "Should we support WYSIWYG?"
    set context [list $title]

    set use_wysiwyg_p

    ad_form -name categories_mode -form {
        {enabled_p:text(radio)
            {label "Enable WYSIWYG"}
            {options {{Yes t} {No f}}}
            {value $use_wysiwyg_p}
        }
        {return_url:text(hidden) {value $return_url}}
        {submit:text(submit) {label "Change"}}
    } -on_submit {
        parameter::set_value  -parameter "UseWysiwygP" -value $enabled_p
        if {$return_url ne ""} {
            ns_returnredirect $return_url
        }
    }

In the corresponding ADP file write

        <master>
        <property name="title">@title@</property>
        <property name="context">@context@</property>

        <formtemplate id="categories_mode"></formtemplate>
        

And finally reference this page from your admin page

        #TCL:
        set return_url [ad_conn url]

        #ADP:
        <a href=configure?<%=[export_vars -url {return_url}]%>>Configure</a>