Submit form values using controller and model in magento admin module - php

Question

I am building an admin module and need to process a form but am having troubles getting the variables to POST and am just redirected to the dashboard. The form looks like this :
<form name="notes" action="<?php echo Mage::helper("adminhtml")->getUrl("foo/index/processnotes/");?>" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="another_form_key" value="<? echo $this->getFormKey(); ?>" />
I am doing it that way because the secure keys are turned on for admin. It gives me a url like :
foo/index/processnotes/key/4745f5fbb9c168778958d5d4a4c2c0ef/
In the controller I have:
public function processnotesAction(){
$model = Mage::getModel('foo/process');
// I am not sure how I am supposed to send $_POST values here
}
and in Package/foo/Model/Process.php
I would hope to be able to process the POST variables from my form in here but I can not see what is wrong and I am just sent to dashboard.
<?php
class Package_foo_Model_Process extends Mage_Core_Model_Abstract
{
public function noteProcess() {
$test = $_POST['myValue'];
echo $test;
}
}
Update
After reading the answers I wanted to add a bit more of what my real code is doing and how I am using $_POST. I was setting up a simple example to just get the form to post but realizing there are probably many things I am doing wrong in Magento.
$query="INSERT INTO `notes_value` ( `color`, `the_id`, `the_value` ) VALUES ";
$sku = $_POST['color'];
array_pop($_POST);
foreach ($_POST AS $key => $value) {
$values[] = "('$sku', '$id', '$value')";
}
$query .= implode(', ', $values) . ';';
The dream is I could $resource->getConnection('core_write'); to actually insert this into the database but feeling less optimistic with how it is going so far.

Answer 1

Usually when you are getting redirected to the dashboard because your key is not recognised. I normally would use the following syntax
<input name="form_key" type="hidden" value="<?php echo Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->getFormKey() ?>" />
Also, I would be inclined to disable admin keys to verify whether that is your issue.
Next, never, ever use $_POST with Magento, all variables are accessible (cleanly and securely). POST information is accessible globally (not just in a controller), however you can still set variables in your model from the controller like this:
public function processnotesAction(){
$model = Mage::getSingleton('foo/process');
$model->setData('postdata', $this->getRequest()->getPost() );
}
Then accessing them from your model with:
$this->getData();
$this->getMyPostedField();
Or you could just use this in your Model
Mage::app()->getRequest()->getPost();
Mage::app()->getRequest()->getParam('myargument');
getPost can also take a parameter to fetch a single POST value - but it does not get GET values. getParam will return both GET and POST values alike.

Answer 2

Request params are accessible via the request object, Mage_Core_Controller_Request_Http. Example usage:
$request = $this->getRequest();
$params = $request->getParams();
$someParam = $request->getParam('param_key');
// or $params = $request->getPost();
You then need to set the data on your model and call $model->save().

Answer 3

If your controller extends ActionController, then the preDispatch() function is the one responsible for redirecting you to the dashboard (and checking for valid form key..).
I suggest you put Mage::log debug info into ActionController's preDispatch function, that might help identify what's going on?
I was gonna post a comment, but don't have high enough reputation.
(maybe update your post or comment on the answer that helped you, to see how you solved it (or not))