Run sql code before adding article

You can add JED review if you appriciate.

Hi Sergey, I've tried a few variations on the code, and what I've found is: This displays the VIN:

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

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

class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
        public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
            if($isnew)
            {

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

// end if isnew
            }
//end public function
        }
//end class
}

This does not (i.e, the section code returns even tho the section id is 6.)

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

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

class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
        public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
            if($isnew)
             {

if($app->isAdmin() || $app->input->getInt('section_id') != 6)
    {
        return;
    }

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

// end if isnew
            }

//end public function
    }

//end class
}

And this does not load the strings into the saved form.

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

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

class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
        public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
        if($isnew)
              {
                $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = "this is 41";
                $_POST['jform']['fields'][42] = "this is 42";
                $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = "this is 39";
// end if isnew
              }

//end public function
        }

//end class
}

if($app->isAdmin() || $app->input->getInt('section_id') != 6) - what is $app?

You should define $app = JFactory::getApplication();

billvv And this does not load the strings into the saved form.

Fixed. I will upload update today.

Any way to download and replace just the file(s) affected?

Why? Did you hack already something?

Not sure what you mean, Sergey. I haven't made any changes to the Cobalt files.

If I understand correctly, you have uploaded some changes to the Cobalt files to allow the field save statement to work properly. We are running this on a Beta site and when we update the Cobalt component we need to backup the site first. I figure if we just update the files that you changed, we could save some time. But that's OK, I'll ask Derrick to backup the site and update, and then I'll continue my testing. As Derrick is not available for a couple days and I will be out of town for a week, I don't think I'll be able to try it again for a week or so.

Just install Akeba back up and you wiill be able to backup site yourself in minuts.

OK, I'm getting close.....

Updated and fields are being saved! Now, I would like to hide the fields in the form since the module is calculating the value. Is that possible>

In the fields parameters Who can submit and Edit set special or even no one.

Tried that. Set the Year and Model field to 'no one' but it still appears.

And the value is not saved....

(Title is composite from calculated fields. Year and Model field is [41].

Rigth. Because Cobalt does not process fields that are not allowed.

May be as a solution to create custom form template and there just hide those fields?

billvv I would like to hide the fields in the form since the module is calculating the value

What about using CSS display property?

Bootstrap CSS and/or Responsive utility classes

In field's backend parameters -> Form -> General Properties -> Field Class
Enter a pre-defined CSS class i.e.:

• hide (display: none)
• hidden (additionally applies the property "visibility: hidden")

Custom & Cobalt CSS

Fields have a certain default CSS id and class:
e.g. for field with ID99 it is ID fld-99 , CLASS field-99

or you might give a custom class in field's backend parameters. e.g. MyCustomClass

#fld-99, .field-99, .MyCustomClass {
display: none; 
}

Update: The plugin that I created now appears to be breaking my website. See the long troubleshooting saga here.

This code (note the commented out part) causes a white page with no errors to appear when calling Cobalt from the backend and frontend, and any Article from the frontend. If I comment out the class statement the pages appear normally.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');
require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';
class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
 /*   public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
        {
    if($isnew)
        {
     $app = JFactory::getApplication();
    if($app- >isAdmin() || $app- >input- >getInt('section_id') != 6)
    {
        return;
    }

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

    $model = "Model";
    $production_number = "Production Number";
    $market = "Market"
      $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $model;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][42] = $production_number;
        $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;

        //$_POST['jform']['fields'][3] = $year_and_model;
        //$_POST['jform']['fields'][2] = $production_number;
        //$_POST['jform']['fields'][15] = $market;

// end if isnew
//    }
//end public function
//    }
//end class
}
?>

Try this code. Copy it and paste and delete every line you have now.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');
require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';
class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
    public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
    {
        if($isnew)
        {
             $app = JFactory::getApplication();
            if($app- >isAdmin() || $app- >input- >getInt('section_id') != 6)
            {
                return;
            }

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

            $model = "Model";
            $production_number = "Production Number";
            $market = "Market"
              $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $model;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][42] = $production_number;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;
        }
    }
}

Substituted code and enabled plugin. Menu request for Article returned a blank page with substituted code. No errors reported.

This code, where the section test is commented out, allows selecting an Article in the frontend.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');
require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';
class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
    public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
    {
        if($isnew)
        {
            $app = JFactory::getApplication();
/*            if($app- >isAdmin() || $app- >input- >getInt('section_id') != 6)
            {
                return;
            }
*/
           $vin = $record['fields'][36];

            $model = "Model";
            $production_number = "Production Number";
            $market = "Market";

              $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $model;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][42] = $production_number;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;

        }
    }
}

And this code just displays a blank page.

<?php
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');
require_once JPATH_ROOT . '/components/com_cobalt/api.php';
class plgMintVinpreload extends JPlugin
{
    public function onBeforeArticleSaved($isnew, $record, $section, $type)
    {
        if($isnew)
        {
            $app = JFactory::getApplication();
            if($app- >isAdmin() || $app- >input- >getInt('section_id') != 6)
            {
                return;
            }

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

            $model = "Model";
            $production_number = "Production Number";
            $market = "Market";

              $_POST['jform']['fields'][41] = $model;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][42] = $production_number;
            $_POST['jform']['fields'][39] = $market;

        }
    }
}

Comment the code that produce blank page line by line and see what line cause it.

If I comment out this line, the error (white page) does not appear.

    if($app- >isAdmin() || $app- >input- >getInt('section_id') != 6)

And after many, many attempts to make errors appear, I went after the offending code. When I removed the spaces out of the "- >" code in that line I now do not get the white page. The Registry and Articles work as normal.

    if($app->isAdmin() || $app->input->getInt('section_id') != 6)

I believe the spaces were added at some point in my editing; I'm blaming it on the goofy code editor in cPanel that shows ghost characters after awhile.

So I believe the problem is solved. I suspect my site still has an error reporting issue that I'll have to track down.

Again, thank you for your patience and help.

This is good to hear. I so this empty space but I thout it is added buy our code syntax highlighter somehow.