How to create elements in Zend Form with array names - arrays

Question

I am trying to create a very complex form with ZF2, and I can't find a solution to implement array based names in input elements.
This is a chunck of code from my actual form:
<input type=text name=table[name] value="Table Name">
<input type=text name=table[title] value="Table Title">
<input type=text name=table[columns][names][] value="Column Name 1">
<input type=text name=table[columns][names][] value="Column Name 2">
<input type=text name=table[columns][names][] value="Column Name 3">
<input type=text name=table[columns][labels][] value="Column Label 1">
<input type=text name=table[columns][labels][] value="Column Label 2">
<input type=text name=table[columns][labels][] value="Column Label 3">
I know how to work with Zend/Form, but this is an advanced usaged I can`t master.

Answer 1

Your code looks like a dynamic form rendered into table format. One possibility besides Zend Fieldsets is to generate your basic form structure dynamically wihtin OOP-Constructor, like #Sam said.
In your case, you should have a concept of which the form is structured. E.g. you have an array with data from a database, which gives you for example the number and names of your "columns" and so the structure how to build your dynamic form.
Following example uses Zend Form constructor to generate a dynamic form. Number of columns are dynamic and specified by given array $tableColumns
<?php
class DynamicForm extends Form {
/**
* This constructor builds a Zend Form dynamically
*
* #param array $tableColumns Dynamic data e.g. 'Column Name 1'
*/
public function __construct($tableColumns) {
// Add table name input
$this->add(array(
'type' => 'text',
'name' => 'name'
));
// Add table title input
$this->add(array(
'type' => 'text',
'name' => 'title'
));
// iterate each dynamic data
foreach($tableColumns as $column) {
$this->add(array(
'type' => 'text',
'name' => $column['name']
));
}
}
}
This is how you generate the Zend form structure. Rendering works similar, but within yout view code.
<?php
echo "<table>";
echo "<tr>";
echo "<td>". $this->formElement($form->get('name')) . "</td>";
echo "<td>". $this->formElement($form->get('title')) . "</td>";
foreach($tableColumns as $column) {
echo "<td>". $this->formElement($column) ."</td>";
}
echo "</tr>";
echo "</table>";
?>
In my opinion it is much more comfortable to render a form dynamically into a table format, than it's possible a Fieldset.
But nevertheless Zend Form Collection (e.g. Fieldsets) is a good choice, if you have to add or remove Form-elements dynamically with Javascript and handle your form data also highly dynamically.
More information about Zend From Collections are described at the ZF2 Reference Manual

Answer 2

You make use of Zend\Form\Element\Fieldset for this kind of scenario. It helps a great deal with proper OOP-Construction of Forms.