Run sql code before adding article

I see. This is too complicateed for me. But rather than javascript I do not see how you can populate those fields without hacking cobalt core.

So it is not possible at the submittal form level to store a field value?

(because aside from running a bunch of code that doesn't seem to affect what Cobalt is doing there, that is what we're trying to do).

I added event. So you can create a mint group plugin for that. Please read more here.

http://docs.mintjoomla.com/en/cobalt/cobalt-events/

Use onBeforeArticleSaved event and push data into $_POST.

This trigger will be available with update later today.

Well, thanks for creating that event for us, Sergey.

Is there a Joomla plugin that I can look at that uses cobalt-events? I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to make a Joomla plugin, and that I can create php code to do the calculations. I assume that we simply pass parameters to the function within the php code to save the results of the calculation. See comments below:

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';

class plgMintPluginname extends JPlugin
{
// Is this where we put our php calc code?
// $isnew = false;
// $record[46] = $vin, etc to load record array?
// I assume I don't need to worry about $section and $type. 

    public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
    {
    }
}

I think i answered some of my own questions .......

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';

class plgMintPluginname extends JPlugin
{
    public function onAfterArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $fields, $section, $type)

    {

    if($isnew)
        {
             // calc code here
            $record[46] = $vin;
        }
    }
} 

In example is onAfterArticleSaved but you need onBeforeArticleSaved! There is no fields parameter.

public function onAfterArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
{

    // How to het VIN
    $vin = $record['fields'][46];

    // See what is in 
    var_dump($record); exit;

    // Inject data into fields
    $_POST['jform']['fields'][12] = $model;
}

So, how's this look? I assume that I need to make the calculated fields hidden. Also, since the composite Title is composed from the values calculated from the vin calculation, is there any way to make sure that the vin is never changed after it is entered the first time. I suppose I could do an 'else' (i.e. is NOT '$isnew) that corrects the vin by reverse calculation.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';

class plgMintPluginname extends JPlugin
{
    public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
    {
         if($isnew)
         {
         //Get VIN from Ssubmittal form
         $vin = $record['fields'][46]
         //Calc other fields here
         // Model of car calculated as $model
         // Country of car calculated as $country
         // Inject data into fields 
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][12] = $model;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][13] = $country;  
        }
    }
}

If VIN is changed fields also will change. But if you do not want this field to be changed after first submission, you should disalllow field editing in field parameters.

Hi Sergey, I have created the Plugin and installed it successfully per Joomla, but I'm not seeing any evidence that it has run either before or after I saved it. (not surprising on my first try).

I used the code

$vin = $record['fields'][36];

to set up the calcs by acquiring the vin, presuming that I could get the vin# once it was entered in the form.

When I ran the 'Post ' routine and entered the VIN and saved the record. The other fields that were supposed to change did not change.

        $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $year_model;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][2] = $production_number_and_special;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;  

Derrick has updated Cobalt just yesterday to version 8.565. I see that the event update was 8.555; does that one need to be installed first, or will just the later update be OK? I suspect it's OK.

Is there a way that I can verify that my plugin code is being executed? I tried an echo statement but no change. I suspect that it is not being executed. I do see the .php and xml files in 'plugins/mint'.

Can I assign my plugin to a specific Section in the backend, or does it need to be coded somehow?

In my second attempt, I used the html and php code used previously to acquire the vin and do a calc in another program.

<html>
<head>
    <title>928 REGISTRY</title>
</head>
<body>
    <form method="post">
        <label>Enter VIN:</label>
        <input type="text" name="vin" id="vin" placeholder="...">
        <input type="submit" id="submit here">
    </form>        
</body>

if ( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == "POST" ) {    
    $vin = $_POST['vin'];
    $vin=trim($vin);    
         $_POST['jform']['fields'][36] = $vin;

With the same (non) result. I don't think the plugin is being called.

Should either of these methods to acqure the vin work. or is there a third way that I am obviously not aware of?

Thanks again!

billvv Derrick has updated Cobalt just yesterday to version 8.565. I see that the event update was 8.555; does that one need to be installed first, or will just the later update be OK? I suspect it's OK.

It will be there always not from version 8.555 and above.

billvv Is there a way that I can verify that my plugin code is being executed? I tried an echo statement but no change

Because theer is redirect after save. So when you echo also exit script. Like

var_dump($_POST);
exit;

billvv Can I assign my plugin to a specific Section in the backend, or does it need to be coded somehow?

$app = JFactory::getApplication();
if($app->isAdmin() || $app->input->getInt('section_id') != 5)
{
    return;
}

billvv With the same (non) result. I don't think the plugin is being called.

Did you check plugin is published?

Did you check plugin is published?

Duh.... It is now! Thanks and sorry.

It will be there always not from version 8.555 and above.

So... if I update to 8.565

Publlished plugin and now trying to call a simple program......

Posted a new article with a couple other fields filled in and when I save and close the new article it has the fields I entered, but does not have field 41 filled in. Any suggestions?

Hope this looks better. I do not see field 41 text after I post a new article.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';

class plgMintPluginname extends JPlugin
{
        public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
        if($isnew)
         {
        $year_model = "Test Year_Model Field";
     $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $year_model;       
     }
//end public function
}

//end class
}
?>

1. in onBeforeArticleSaved only put echo 1; exit; and try to save and see if it is triggered at all.
2. If it is then see $isnew if it is true.

The article saves with the message "item successfully submitted" and returns to the article list. I'm guessing that's not good.

Here's my code

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';

class plgMintPluginname extends JPlugin
{
        public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
      echo 1;  
      exit;   

//end public function
    }

//end class
}

By the way, The first time I revised the code and saved it, I had an extra '}' at the bottom. Cobalt would not run until I disabled the plugin. (meaning I could not save articles in the frontend and could not access the backend.) Then I found the extra '}', removed it, enabled the plugin, and Cobalt came back.

plgMintPluginname is an example or your name of the plugin pluginname?

No, my plugin name is:

Should I change the name of my plugin?

No You should change the name of your class to plgMintVinpreload.

Duh.....

You have great patience, Sergey.