Problem Statement: Customizing Forms, Database Access, Plugins, Multilingual Features, and Email Shooting in dotCMS Cloud Instance

[Jenish Dadhania]

I am currently using a dotCMS cloud instance and facing challenges with the following functionalities. I would appreciate guidance on these points:

1. Form Customization:

   • If I create a form using a form content type, is there a way to customize its design (CSS) and functionality (e.g., buttons)?
   • Where is the VTL file for such forms located in dotCMS, and can we directly edit it to apply customizations?

2. Custom Form Integration via VTL:

   • If I create a form directly in a VTL file using HTML, how can I configure it to store submitted data in the dotCMS backend without requiring the user to log in as an admin?

3. Issue with API /api/v1/workflow/actions/default/fire/NEW:

   • I created a form in a VTL file and used the dotCMS API /api/v1/workflow/actions/default/fire/NEW to submit the form data.
   • The data is successfully stored in the content type when I am logged in as an admin in the dotCMS UI. However, when not logged in, the API throws an error. I noticed the same issue occurs on the dotCMS demo site. How can I resolve this?
     (dotcms-query screenshot attached)

4. Email Shooting on Form Submission:

   • I want to implement email notifications for users who submit the form.
   • Is this possible in dotCMS? If yes, how can I configure email shooting so that users receive an email confirmation upon form submission?
   • Can this be done using VTL files, workflows, or plugins? Please provide examples or documentation references if available.
   
   

5. Database Access in Cloud Instance:

   • I want to directly store form data into the PostgreSQL database. Is it possible to access the database in a dotCMS cloud instance? Does dotCMS provide database access for cloud users?

6. Creating a Custom Plugin:

   • How can I create a custom plugin from scratch in dotCMS?
   • Is there a specific file structure or format for developing plugins?
   • Once created, how can I use the plugin’s functionalities in a VTL file?

7. Multilingual Implementation:

   • Implementing multilingual features seems cumbersome, as it involves creating separate content, pages, and files for each language.
     

Does dotCMS provide a built-in tool to streamline this process, such as automated translations or centralized management, to reduce duplication and manual effort?