Specify default values for custom form

[F.C.]

I use a custom form within my application to capture comments for specific records. The user clicks on a record and is directed to another view where they can capture the comments.

Is it possible to define a custom value for a specific custom form field, and then hide that field so that the user does not see it. The reason I need to do that is that I want to save the comment to the associated record against whom the comments should be recorded.

I hope this provides enough guidance on what I am looking for.

[Dave S]

I think there's help in the book:

• writable declares whether a field is writable in forms.
• readable declares whether a field is readable in forms. If a field is neither readable nor writable, it will not be displayed in create and update forms.

found at
<URL:http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/06/the-database-abstraction-layer#Field-constructor>

(warning: the online copy of the book still refers to "CRUD" as new; it is now deprecated)

Another reference that might be useful is
<URL:http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/07/forms-and-validators#Conditional-fields>
 
/dps

[Dave S]

Also, you can turn the readable and writable setting on or off on the fly:

<URL:http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/06/the-database-abstraction-layer#Run-time-field-and-table-modification>

/dps
 

[Dave S]

On Monday, March 19, 2018 at 10:43:16 PM UTC-7, Dave S wrote:

[...] 

Also, you can turn the readable and writable setting on or off on the fly:

<URL:http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/06/the-database-abstraction-layer#Run-time-field-and-table-modification>

I have a couple examples on my home development machine 

 def func1():
    db.run.distance.readable = False
    db.run.duration.readable = False
    form = SQLFORM(db.run)
   [...]

def func2():
    if request.vars.startseg:
      try:
        db.segment.isstart.default = (request.vars.startseg == 'T' )
        print "isstart " + ('True' if db.segment.isstart.default  else "False")
        db.segment.isstart.readable = db.segment.isstart.default
        print "isstart should be readable now %d" % (db.segment.isstart.readable)
      except ValueError:
        pass
    else:
        db.segment.isstart.writable = False
        print "isstart should not be readable now %d" % (db.segment.isstart.writable)
    db.segment.isstart.writable = db.segment.isstart.default
    print "isstart should not be writable now %d" % (db.segment.isstart.writable)
    form = SQLFORM(db.segment)
    [...]

I have yet to try using custom forms, although they pop up in threads from time to time.

/dps