symfony2 create form without entity class - php

Question

Using Symfony2.3.4.
I'm trying to create a form without using a type, it is actually a very small form, only two selects loading their options from the database, so far it works, what I can not do is to get the form data(in the controller) when it is submitted. I tried to follow the instruction here but I can't get it right.
Here is my code so far:
Controller:
function to pass the data to the form:
public function selectAction($id, $id_actpost){
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$entity = $em->getRepository('ActPostBundle:Edition')->find($id);
$students = $em->getRepository('PersonBundle:Students')->findAll();
$students2 = $em->getRepository('PersonBundle:ForeignStudents')->findAll();
if (!$entity) {
throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find Edicion entity.');
}
return $this->render('ActPostBundle:Edition:select.html.twig', array(
'entity' => $entity,
'id_actpost' => $id_actpost,
'students' => $students,
'foreignstudents' => $students2,
));
}
html fragment regarding the form itself:
<form class="form-horizontal sf_admin_form_area"
action="{{ path('edition_update_selected',
{ 'id': entity.id, 'id_actpost': id_actpost }) }}"
method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
<div style="margin-left: 80px" class="row-fluid">
<div class="span12">
<select name="students" multiple="multiple">
{% for s in students %}
<option {%if s in entity.students%}selected="selected"{%endif%}>
{{s}}</option>
{%endfor%}
</select>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row-fluid">
<select name="students2" multiple="multiple">
{% for s in students2 %}
<option {%if s in entity.foreignstudents%}selected="selected"
{%endif%}>{{s}}</option>
{%endfor%}
</select>
</div>
<div class="form-actions">
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">
<i class="glyphicon-refresh"></i> {{'Update' | trans}}</button>
<a class="btn" href="{{ path('edition', {'id_actpost' : id_actpost }) }}">
<i class="glyphicon-ban-circle"></i> {{'Cancel' | trans }}
</a>
</div>
</form>
and here is what I read from the link posted at the beginning:
function to get the submitted data and update the database, although the database part can stay ignored until I manage to get the data from the form:
public function update_selectedAction(Request $request, $id, $id_actpost) {
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$entity = $em->getRepository('ActPostBundle:Edition')->find($id);
if (!$entity) {
throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find Edicion entity.');
}
$defaultData = array('message' => 'Type here');
$editForm = $this->createFormBuilder($defaultData)
->add('students','choice')
->add('students2', 'choice')
->getForm();
$editForm->handleRequest($request);
I would like to know if what I read is actually what I need, because although I think it is I might be wrong, so any insights regarding this matter or even any other way to do it will be really appreciated.

Answer 1

You should use symfony's form builder to build the form in your update_selectedAction() like
public function update_selectedAction(Request $request, $id, $id_actpost)
{
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$entity = $em->getRepository('ActPostBundle:Edition')->find($id);
if (!$entity) {
throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find Edicion entity.');
}
$defaultData = array('message' => 'Type here');
$form = $this->createFormBuilder($defaultData)
->add('students', 'entity',array('class' => 'PersonBundle:Students',
'property' => 'students','expanded'=>false,'multiple'=>false))
->add('students2', 'entity',array('class' => 'PersonBundle:ForeignStudents',
'property' => 'foreignstudents','expanded'=>false,'multiple'=>false))
->add('submit','submit')
->getForm();
if ($request->getMethod() == "POST") {
$form->submit($request);
if ($form->isValid()) {
$postData = current($request->request->all());
var_dump($postData); /* All post data is here */
/* echo $postData['students']; */
/* echo $postData['students2']; */
/*
* do you update stuff here
* */
}
}
return $this->render('ActPostBundle:Edition:select.html.twig', array('form'=>$form->createView()));
}
In your twig i.e ActPostBundle:Edition:select.html.twig render your form
{{ form(form) }}
Edit from comments
In your twig file render your form like
{{ form_errors(form) }}
{{ form_row(form.students) }}
{{ form_row(form.students2) }}
{{ form_row (form._token) }}
<input type="submit"> /* your submit button */
Edit from comments 2
IF you want to put the text in value attribute of selectbox you can use choice field type
$students = $em->getRepository('PersonBundle:Students')->findAll();
$students2 = $em->getRepository('PersonBundle:ForeignStudents')->findAll();
$studentsArray=array();
$students2Array=array();
foreach($students as $s){
$studentsArray[$s->getStudents()]=$s->getStudents();
}
foreach($students2 as $s){
$students2Array[$s->getForeignstudents()]=$s->getForeignstudents();
/* here array key part will be the value of selectbox like $students2Array['your val to get in post data'] */
}
$form = $this->createFormBuilder($defaultData)
->add('students', 'choice',array('choices' => $studentsArray,'expanded'=>false,'multiple'=>false))
->add('students2', 'choice',array('choices' => $students2Array,'expanded'=>false,'multiple'=>false))
->add('submit','submit')
->getForm();