How to configure ObjectMultiCheckBox to persist an empty element? - php

Question

I have the following element in my form, and I tried all possible options found in the web to allow empty value for element:
$this->add(array(
'type' => 'DoctrineModule\Form\Element\ObjectMultiCheckbox',
'name' => 'directPractice',
'options' => array(
'label' => 'A. Check all direct practice field education assignments',
'label_attributes' => array(
'class' => 'label-multicheckbox-group'
),
'required' => false,
'allow_empty' => true,
'continue_if_empty' => false,
'object_manager' => $this->getObjectManager(),
'target_class' => 'OnlineFieldEvaluation\Entity\FieldEducationAssignments', //'YOUR ENTITY NAMESPACE'
'property' => 'directPractice', //'your db collumn name'
'disable_inarray_validator' => true,
'value_options' => array(
'1' => 'Adults',
'2' => 'Individuals',
'3' => 'Information and Referral',
'4' => 'Families',
array(
'value' => 'Other',
'label' => 'Other (specify)',
'label_attributes' => array(
'class' => 'bindto',
'data-bindit_id' => 'otherDirectPracticeTxt_ID'
),
'attributes' => array(
'id' => 'otherDirectPractice_ID',
),
)
),
),
'attributes' => array(
'value' => '1', //set checked to '1'
'multiple' => true,
)
));
And I am always getting the same error message when it is empty:
Validation failure 'directPractice':Array
(
[isEmpty] => Value is required and can't be empty
)

Answer 1

Ok, this is a best what I could come up after researching on it. Solution is inspired by these question.
Form: hidden field and ObjectMultiCheckBox
public function init()
{
$this->setAttribute('method', 'post');
$this->setAttribute('novalidate', 'novalidate');
//hidden field to return empty value. If checkbox selected, checkbox values will be stored with empty value in Json notation
$this->add(array(
'type' => 'Hidden',
'name' => 'otherLearningExperiences[]', // imitates checkbox name
'attributes' => array(
'value' => null
)
));
$this->add(array(
// 'type' => 'Zend\Form\Element\MultiCheckbox',
'type' => 'DoctrineModule\Form\Element\ObjectMultiCheckbox',
'name' => 'otherLearningExperiences',
'options' => array(
'label' => 'C. Check other learning experiences',
'object_manager' => $this->getObjectManager(),
'target_class' => 'OnlineFieldEvaluation\Entity\FieldEducationAssignments',
'property' => 'otherLearningExperiences',
'label_attributes' => array(
'id' => 'macro_practice_label',
'class' => 'control-label label-multicheckbox-group'
),
'value_options' => array(
array(
'value' => 'seminars',
'label' => 'Seminars, In-Service Training/Conferences',
'label_attributes' => array(
'class' => 'bindto',
'data-bindit_id' => 'seminarsTxt_ID'
),
'attributes' => array(
'id' => 'seminars_ID',
),
),
array(
'value' => 'other',
'label' => 'Other (specify)',
'label_attributes' => array(
'class' => 'bindto',
'data-bindit_id' => 'otherLeaningExperiencesTxt_ID'
),
'attributes' => array(
'id' => 'otherLeaningExperiences_ID',
),
)
),
),
'attributes' => array(
//'value' => '1', //set checked to '1'
'multiple' => true,
'empty_option' => '',
'required' =>false,
'allow_empty' => true,
'continue_if_empty' => false,
)
));
Validator
$inputFilter->add($factory->createInput(array(
'name' => 'otherLearningExperiences',
'required' => false,
'allow_empty' => true,
'continue_if_empty' => true,
)));
}
View
//hidden field to be posted for empty value in multicheckbox
echo $this->formHidden($form->get('otherLearningExperiences[]'));
$element = $form->get('otherLearningExperiences');
echo $this->formLabel($element);
echo $this->formMultiCheckbox($element, 'prepend');