Ajax submit: Automatically save values when changed

Patch at #41 worked for me but caused issues when the view results use groupping.

Here is a modified version, it's most likely not the most performant solution but it can be a good starting point.

This was still not working for me. I was getting Warning: Attempt to read property "_entity" on array in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 831 of /Users/####/web/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)" in my logs.

Here is a patch that got it working for me. I needed to change
$form['output'][$key]['#rows'][$row]->_entity;
to
$form['output'][$key]['#rows'][$row]['#row']->_entity;

Ignore that last patch. This should work correctly.

Hi Loze,
It does not change it for me - receiving following issue in logs after your patch #55

Error: Cannot use object of type Drupal\views\ResultRow as array in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 854 of  modules/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

#0 [internal function]: Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity()
#1  core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php(69): call_user_func_array()
#2  core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/EventSubscriber/FormAjaxSubscriber.php(109): Drupal\Core\Form\FormAjaxResponseBuilder->buildResponse()
#3 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Form\EventSubscriber\FormAjaxSubscriber->onException()
#4  core/lib/Drupal/Component/EventDispatcher/ContainerAwareEventDispatcher.php(142): call_user_func()
#5  vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(219): Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch()
#6  vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(92): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleThrowable()
#7  core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(58): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#8  core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#9  core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(106): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#10  core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(85): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->pass()
#11  core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle()
#12  core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#13  vendor/stack/builder/src/Stack/StackedHttpKernel.php(23): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#14  core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(709): Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#15  index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#16 {main}

I just tested #55 with boolean field and following error in logs :

TypeError: Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\AjaxRenderer::renderResponse(): Argument #1 ($main_content) must be of type array, null given, called in /core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php on line 89 in Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\AjaxRenderer->renderResponse() (line 49 of /core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/MainContent/AjaxRenderer.php)

Since #41 neither of the later patches (#53 and #55) worked for me. Here is a re-roll of the #41 patch to the latest dev version.
For me it works without any errors with most of the base fields. The patch also applies cleanly to the beta10.

Had some weird behavior when the view is sorted/paginated/filtered with AJAX.
The widget works only on the first page and after a fresh reload. The moment the view is reloaded through AJAX after e.g. column sort with AJAX the functionality breaks.
Similar to 💬 Changes not saving properly after filtering/sorting table Active .

Modified the AJAX attached to the form field by adding the original path as url and the rest of the parameters. Now it works fine for me.
Adding patch.

Hi JordiK,

After I have applied your patch #59 it seems it does not work as it should. It always "forget" to update some values.

Did you get this behavior on a clean install? Anything in the logs - warnings, errors? What is your filed configuration?

I tried the patch from #59 for a simple view of ECK entities, with a few regular fields and only one number field using a form field.
After this patch, I can change values but they only seem to get saved in the form. The entities themselves don't get updated.

Two warnings and one error are reported in the log:

Warning: Undefined array key 231 in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 788 of /var/www/***/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

Warning: Attempt to read property "_entity" on null in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 788 of /var/www/***/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

TypeError: Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\AjaxRenderer::renderResponse(): Argument #1 ($main_content) must be of type array, null given, called in /var/www/***/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php on line 89 in Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\AjaxRenderer->renderResponse() (line 49 of /var/www/***/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/MainContent/AjaxRenderer.php)

Hope this helps!

Here is a patch based on #58 and #59 that is working for me against beta10.

It does have some other code for hiding descriptions and titles that is different than the original patches.

#59 did take care of the problems with ajax submit after the view had been paginated or filtered. But there was some strange
behavior around the entity field values not all saving as mentioned in #60.

I added a bit to reload the entity before setting the field values and this seems to take care of that. I'm not sure that it's the most
performant thing to do though. Take that with a grain of salt.

Does the patch respect node versioning? i.e. does it create a new version, when a field value gets changed?

I tried #64 but no luck. Slightly different errors than I was getting before in the log:

Error: Call to a member function getEntityTypeId() on null in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 852 of /var/www/***/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 845 of /var/www/***/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

Warning: Attempt to read property "_relationship_entities" on null in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 845 of /var/www/***/modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

I created MR!9 which is the patch from #64 plus I tried to address the errors in #66.

It appears to work as expected now in my initial testing.

Here's a patch of the MR to use with composer.

Hello loze,

I just tried your patch #68 but I am getting 1 Error and 2 Warnings, hence it does not work for me.

Error: Call to a member function getEntityTypeId() on null in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 840 of //modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

#0 [internal function]: Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity()
#1 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php(69): call_user_func_array()
#2 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/EventSubscriber/FormAjaxSubscriber.php(109): Drupal\Core\Form\FormAjaxResponseBuilder->buildResponse()
#3 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Form\EventSubscriber\FormAjaxSubscriber->onException()
#4 //core/lib/Drupal/Component/EventDispatcher/ContainerAwareEventDispatcher.php(142): call_user_func()
#5 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(229): Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch()
#6 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(92): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleThrowable()
#7 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(58): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#8 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#9 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#10 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#11 //vendor/stack/builder/src/Stack/StackedHttpKernel.php(23): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#12 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(718): Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#13 //index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#14 {main}

where Line 840 is :

// Reload the entity.
$entity_type = $entity->getEntityTypeId();

Warning: Undefined array key "#relationship" in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 832 of //modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

#0 //core/includes/bootstrap.inc(347): _drupal_error_handler_real()
#1 //modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php(832): _drupal_error_handler()
#2 [internal function]: Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity()
#3 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php(69): call_user_func_array()
#4 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/EventSubscriber/FormAjaxSubscriber.php(109): Drupal\Core\Form\FormAjaxResponseBuilder->buildResponse()
#5 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Form\EventSubscriber\FormAjaxSubscriber->onException()
#6 //core/lib/Drupal/Component/EventDispatcher/ContainerAwareEventDispatcher.php(142): call_user_func()
#7 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(229): Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch()
#8 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(92): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleThrowable()
#9 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(58): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#10 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#11 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#12 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#13 //vendor/stack/builder/src/Stack/StackedHttpKernel.php(23): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#14 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(718): Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#15 //index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#16 {main}

where line line 832 is :

elseif (!empty($trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']) && $trigger['#relationship'] != 'none') {
$entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']];

and

Warning: Undefined array key "none" in Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity() (line 833 of //modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php)

#0 //core/includes/bootstrap.inc(347): _drupal_error_handler_real()
#1 //modules/contrib/views_entity_form_field/src/Plugin/views/field/EntityFormField.php(833): _drupal_error_handler()
#2 [internal function]: Drupal\views_entity_form_field\Plugin\views\field\EntityFormField::updateEntity()
#3 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormAjaxResponseBuilder.php(69): call_user_func_array()
#4 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/EventSubscriber/FormAjaxSubscriber.php(109): Drupal\Core\Form\FormAjaxResponseBuilder->buildResponse()
#5 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Form\EventSubscriber\FormAjaxSubscriber->onException()
#6 //core/lib/Drupal/Component/EventDispatcher/ContainerAwareEventDispatcher.php(142): call_user_func()
#7 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(229): Drupal\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher->dispatch()
#8 //vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(92): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleThrowable()
#9 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(58): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#10 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#11 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#12 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#13 //vendor/stack/builder/src/Stack/StackedHttpKernel.php(23): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#14 //core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(718): Stack\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#15 //index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#16 {main}

Where line 833 is :

$entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']];

I have a few problems with this patch.

Most importantly, while the patch applies cleanly and produces no errors, my forms don't save. I've spent several hours trying to debug it, but it's just dead for me.

Second, and more of a request: is it possible to engage autosave AND keep the submit button as a backup? As soon as I engage ajax on the view, the button disappears.

Also, another request: is it possible to make this functionality optional, since it may not be appropriate for all form use cases on a site.

patch #68 applied cleanly for me and work. I agree that the feature should be optional.

for me patch #68 did not work for Date field and entity reference so I asked AI for a help and this part of code has been changed from patch #68

Original :

+    // Get the views ResultRow.
+    $results_row = $form['output'][0]['#view']->result[$row] ?? NULL;
+
+    // Find the entity we are updating from the ResultRow.
+    if ($results_row instanceof ResultRow) {
+      if (!empty($trigger['#relationship']) && $trigger['#relationship'] != 'none') {
+        $entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#relationship']];
+      }
+      elseif (!empty($trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']) && $trigger['#relationship'] != 'none') {
+        $entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']];
+      }
+      else {
+        $entity = $results_row->_entity;
+      }
+
+      // Reload the entity.
+      $entity_type = $entity->getEntityTypeId();
+      $entity = \Drupal::entityTypeManager()->getStorage($entity_type)->load($entity->id());
+    }
+
+    // If the entity has the field - write the value.
+    if (isset($entity) && is_object($entity) && $entity->hasField($field)) {
+      if (in_array($value_type, ['target_id', 'date'])) {
+        $entity->set($field, [$value_type = $value]);
+      }
+      else {
+        $entity->set($field, $value);
+      }
+      $entity->save();
+      return ['#markup' => "Ok"];
+    }

and replaced with

    // Get the views ResultRow.
    $results_row = $form['output'][0]['#view']->result[$row] ?? NULL;

    // Find the entity we are updating from the ResultRow.
  if ($results_row instanceof ResultRow) {

  if (

    isset($trigger['#relationship']) &&

    !empty($trigger['#relationship']) &&

    $trigger['#relationship'] != 'none'

  ) {

    $entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#relationship']];

  }

  elseif (

    isset($trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']) &&

    !empty($trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']) &&

    $trigger['#ajax']['#relationship'] != 'none'

  ) {

    $entity = $results_row->_relationship_entities[$trigger['#ajax']['#relationship']];

  }

  else {

    $entity = $results_row->_entity;

  }

      // Reload the entity.
if ($entity !== NULL && is_object($entity)) {

  // Proceed as before

  $entity_type = $entity->getEntityTypeId();

  $entity = \Drupal::entityTypeManager()->getStorage($entity_type)->load($entity->id());
    }
} else {

  \Drupal::logger('views_entity_form_field')->error('No entity found for row @row and field @field', [

    '@row' => $row,

    '@field' => $field,

  ]);

  return ['#markup' => "Entity not found."];

}
    // If the entity has the field - write the value.
if (isset($entity) && is_object($entity) && $entity->hasField($field)) {
  $field_type = $entity->getFieldDefinition($field)->getType();

 
  if ($field_type === 'entity_reference') {

    // Entity reference (user, taxonomy, node, etc.)

    if (is_array($value) && isset($value['target_id'])) {

      $entity->set($field, [ ['target_id' => $value['target_id']] ]);

    }

    elseif (is_numeric($value)) {

      $entity->set($field, [ ['target_id' => $value] ]);

    }

    elseif (is_string($value) && preg_match('/\((\d+)\)$/', $value, $matches)) {

      $entity->set($field, [ ['target_id' => $matches[1]] ]);

    }

    else {

      \Drupal::logger('views_entity_form_field')->error('Could not extract target_id from value: @value', ['@value' => print_r($value, TRUE)]);

    }

  }
elseif ($field_type === 'datetime' || $field_type === 'timestamp') {
  if (is_string($value)) {
    $entity->set($field, ['value' => $value]);
  }
  elseif (is_array($value) && isset($value['date'])) {
    $date = $value['date'];
    $time = isset($value['time']) ? $value['time'] : '00:00:00';
    $datetime = $date . 'T' . $time;
    $entity->set($field, ['value' => $datetime]);
  }
  elseif (is_array($value) && isset($value['value'])) {
    $entity->set($field, $value);
  }
  else {
    \Drupal::logger('views_entity_form_field')->error('Unexpected date value: @value', ['@value' => print_r($value, TRUE)]);
  }
}
  else {
    $entity->set($field, $value);
  }
  $entity->save();
  return ['#markup' => "Ok"];
}

attached you can find the file. If anyone can check and create a patch i would be grateful.
EntityFormField.php_.txt →

This is really the first time it works for me as expected for all tested cases like "standard text, boolean, entity reference and Date field". I have tested it several times with a multiple nodes and all works finally as expected.

Can someone create a patch using @coastons text file?