Pass nested array to Symfony Form for EAV type table - arrays

Question

Take this request data:
HTTP PUT
[
'id' => 1,
'company' => 'Company Name',
'attributes' => [
[
'attribute' => 'url',
'value' => 'example1.com'
],
[
'attribute' => 'url',
'value' => 'example2.com'
],
]
]
I want to build a form that validates attributes using choice loaders:
public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options): void
{
parent::buildForm($builder, $options);
$builder->add(
$builder->create('attributes', FormType::class, [
'compound' => true
])
);
$builder->get('attributes')
->add('attribute', ChoiceType::class, [
'constraints' => [
new NotBlank([
'message' => 'attribute name cannot be blank.'
])
],
'choices' => [
'url',
'type',
'email',
'date',
],
])
->add('value', TextType::class)
;
}
However when i write my unit test for this:
public function testAttributesForm(array $data)
{
$form = $this->factory->create(AttributesType::class);
$form->submit($data);
if(!$form->isValid()) {
var_dump($form->getErrors()->current()->getMessage());
}
}
I get a failed validation:
string(42) "This form should not contain extra fields."
Which is because it finds a nested array instead of the actual fields.
How do I pass nested data in a way where I can fully use validation constraints?
In the past I used CollectionType::class with 'allow_add' => true but it doesn't allow for very detailed validation.

Answer 1

You should try use directive
'allow_extra_fields' => true

Answer 2

To be able to validate nested data without a data_class using Forms (as you may when writing an api) you need to add a form per collection dynamically, in this case:
The first form builder method would look like this:
class CompanyType extends AbstractType
{
/**
* #param FormBuilderInterface $builder
* #param array $options
*/
public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options): void
{
$builder
->add('id', IntegerType::class)
->add('company', TextType::class)
;
$builder->add(
$builder->create('companyAttributes', CollectionType::class, [
'allow_extra_fields' => true
])
);
}
public function configureOptions(OptionsResolver $resolver)
{
$resolver->setDefaults([
'csrf_protection' => false,
]);
}
}
and the second would also be a standalone form:
class CompanyAttributeType extends AbstractType
{
/**
* #param FormBuilderInterface $builder
* #param array $options
*/
public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options): void
{
$builder
->add('value',TextType::class)
->add('attribute',TextType::class, [
'constraints' => [
new NotBlank([
'message' => 'Parameter name cannot be blank.'
])
],
])
;
}
}
When the request is sent, you would create the first and add the second form in a loop.
Notice the loop's $key is used for the form name so you can do $form->get(1) etc.
$form = $this->factory->create(CompanyType::class);
if(!empty($data['attributes'])) {
foreach ($data['attributes'] as $key => $parameters) {
$form->get('companyAttributes')->add($key, CompanyAttributeType::class);
}
}
$form->submit($data);
if($form->isSubmitted() && $form->isValid()) {
//2xx response
} else {
//4xx/5xx response
}
This setup will validate all forms when $form->submit($data) is called.