Demystifying Drupal AJAX Callback Commands
A presentation at NERDSummit in in Amherst, MA, USA by Michael Miles
Demystifying Drupal AJAX Callback Commands http://nerdsummit.org/node/2068 NERDsummit 2015 #NERDsummit
Goals of this Session Explain what AJAX callback commands are Demonstrate how to use AJAX callback commands Outline how to create AJAX callback commands
Michael Miles From: Boston, MA USA Work: Genuine @WeAreGenuine(.com) (I have stickers!) Exp: Working with Drupal since 2008. Acquia Grand Master. 2014 Acquia MVP. Twitter: @mikemiles86 Drupal.org: mikemiles86 All the Places: mikemiles86
Warning About Example Code There is example code Some coding standards ignored for presentation purposes Drupal 8 code still subject to change
What Commands Are
From a High Level The response of AJAX request PHP code to instruct JavaScript functions A JavaScript function attached to an object Defined by Drupal core or modules 17 AJAX callback commands in Drupal 7
Example: The “Remove” Command Using the “examples” module (available on Drupal.org), showing using the ‘remove’ AJAX Callback command. The checkbox is checked, which makes an AJAX request, which returns the command to remove the element with the sample text.
On the Client Side [D7] A function on the ‘Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands’ object Receives ‘ajax’, ‘response’ and ‘status’ arguments A wrapper for additional javascript // Provide a series of commands that the server can request the client perform. Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands = { //… /** * Command to remove a chunk from the page. */ remove: function (ajax, response, status) { var settings = response.settings || ajax.settings || Drupal.settings; Drupal.detachBehaviors($(response.selector), settings); $(response.selector).remove(); }, //… } misc/ajax.js
On the Server Side [D7] A PHP function which returns an associative array Array must have an element with key of ‘command’ The value is the name of a JavaScript function Additional array elements set as response data /** * Creates a Drupal Ajax ‘remove’ command. */ function ajax_command_remove($selector) { return array( ‘command’ => ‘remove’, ‘selector’ => $selector, ); } includes/ajax.inc
How to Use Commands
Example Scenario As a user When I navigate to the ‘my-messages’ page Then I see a list of my unread messages And I see a list of my read messages When I click on an unread message Then the full messaged is retrieved from the server And I see the content of my message And the message is removed from the unread messages list And the message is added to the read messages list
Example Scenario. Have a page that lists messages to read. When a message subject is clicked, an AJAX request is made to retrieve the message. The server returns an array of commands to run, which updates the page with the selected message.
To Use Commands… 1. Include Drupal AJAX JavaScript library 2. Attach AJAX to page elements 3. Define a callback path and function Returns a render array of commands [D7]
- Include Drupal AJAX library // Render a page of messages. function mymodule_messages_page() { // Include AJAX library. drupal_add_library(‘system’, ‘drupal.ajax’); // Create inital page content. $content = theme_item_list(array( ‘title’ => t(‘Unread Messages’), ‘type’ => ‘ul’, ‘attributes’ => array( ‘id’ => ‘unread-msgs’), ‘items’ => mymodule_messages_list(mymodule_get_unread_messages()), )); $content .= ‘<div id=”current-msg”><h2></h2><p></p></div>’; $content .= theme_item_list(array( ‘title’ => t(‘Read Messages’), ‘type’ => ‘ul’, ‘attributes’ => array(‘id’ => ‘read-msgs’), ‘items’ => mymodule_messages_list(mymodule_get_read_messages(), FALSE), )); return $content; } mymodule/mymodule.module Function to build a page of messages. On line #4, using the drupal_add_librry() function to include the AJAX library on the page.
- Attach AJAX to page elements // Return array of message titles for use in a list. function mymodule_messages_list($messages, $display_link = TRUE) { $list_items = array(); foreach ($messages as $mid => $msg) { // Build link to AJAX callback to load message. $link = l($msg->subject, ‘read-message-callback/nojs/’ . $mid, array( // Add class to link so Drupal knows to use AJAX. ‘attributes’ => array(‘class’ => array(‘use-ajax’)), )); // Create list item for message. $list_items[] = array( ‘id’ => ‘msg-’ . $mid, // Set data to read message link or just message subject. ‘data’ => $display_link ? $link : $msg->subject, ); } return $list_items; } mymodule/mymodule.module Function to build a list of messages. On line #6, creating a link element which links to our callback path. On line #8, adding the class ‘useajax’ so AJAX framework knows to serve link with an AJAX request.
3.a Define a callback path // Implements hook_menu(). function mymodule_menu() { $items = array(); //.. Other menu items. // None JS callback, for graceful degredation. $items[‘read-message-callback/nojs/%’] = array( ‘title’ => ‘AJAX Callback to Read Message’, ‘access arguments’ => array(‘access content’), ‘page callback’ => ‘mymodule_read_message_callback’, ‘page arguments’ => array(1,2), ‘type’ => MENU_CALLBACK, ); // Create AJAX callback. Add ajax_delivery callback. $items[‘read-message-callback/ajax/%’] = array( ‘delivery callback’ => ‘ajax_deliver’, ) + $items[‘read-message-callback/nojs/%’]; return $items; } mymodule/mymodule.module Creating two menu items for callback functions. The first is for handling graceful degredation when reached outside an AJAX Request. The second is the AJAX callback, which add a delivery callback of “ajax_callback” so Drupal know to return an AJAX Response object.
3.b Return array of commands using a render array [D7] // AJAX Callback to read a message. function mymodule_read_message_callback($method, $mid) { $message = mymodule_load_message($mid); // @TODO: Graceful degredation if not from ajax method or if no message. $commands = array( // Replace content of current message subject. ajax_command_html(‘#current-msg h2’, $message->subject), // Replace content of current message body. ajax_command_html(‘#current-msg p’, $message->content), // Remove message from unread list. ajax_command_remove(‘#msg-’ . $mid), // Add message to read list ajax_command_append(‘#read-msgs’, ‘<li>’ . $message->subject . ‘</li>’), ); // Return an AJAX render array. return array( ‘#type’ => ‘ajax’, ‘#commands’ => $commands, ); } mymodule/mymodule.module Lines #5 thru #14, building an array of Core AJAX Callback commands. Each mapps to a javascript function. Line #16 building a render array of type ‘ajax’. Drupal will package into JSON and send back to the client.
Creating Custom Commands
To Create a Command… 1. Add a function to the Drupal ajax command JavaScript object 2. Write PHP code that returns an associative array. Must have an element with key of ‘command’ Value is name of the JavaScript function Additional elements for response data
That’s it.
A Custom Command in Drupal 7 1. Add a function to ‘Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands’ 2. Define a PHP function to return an array
- Add a function to ‘Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands’ (function($, Drupal) { // Add new command for reading a message. Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands.readMessage = function(ajax, response, status){ // Place content in current-msg div. $(‘#current-msg h2’).html(response.subject); $(‘#current-msg p’).html(response.content); // Remove from unread list. $(‘#msg-’ + response.mid).remove(); // Add message to read list. $(‘#read-msgs’).append(‘<li>’ + response.subject + ‘</li>’); } })(jQuery, Drupal); mymodule/js/commands.js Attach a new ‘readMessage’ command to the Drupal AJAX Commands JavaScript object. Function takes in the 3 arguments “ajax”, “response” & “status”. Wraps jQuery functions to display a message on the page.
- Define a PHP function to return an associative array /** * AJAX command to read a message. */ function mymodule_command_read_message($message) { return array( ‘command’ => ‘readMessage’, ‘mid’ => $message->mid, ‘subject’ => $message->subject, ‘content’ => $message->content, ); } mymodule/mymodule.module PHP function that mapps to the new JavaScript ‘readMessage’ array. Returns an associative array, with an element that has a key of ‘command’ and value of the JavaScript function name ‘readMessage’. Then additional elements to be sent as request data.
Using a custom command… 1. Tell Drupal to include custom JavaScript 2. Return custom command in callback function
Again…that’s it.
Using a Custom Command in Drupal 7 1. Use drupal_add_js() to include custom JavaScript on page 2. Add command to render array returned by callback
- Use drupal_add_js() to include custom JavaScript on page // Render a page of my messages function mymodule_messages_page() { // Include AJAX library. drupal_add_library(‘system’, ‘drupal.ajax’); // Include custom JavaScript. drupal_add_js(drupal_get_path(‘module’, ‘mymodule’) . ‘/js/commands.js’); // .. Build $content. return $content; } mymodule/mymodule.module The example function for creating the messages page. In addition to adding the Drupal AJAX library on line #4 also using drupal_add_js() to include custom javascript file on line #6.
- Add command to render array returned by callback // AJAX Callback to read a message. function mymodule_read_message_callback($method, $mid) { $message = mymodule_load_message($mid); // @TODO: Graceful degredation if not from ajax method or if no message. $commands = array( // Call the readMessage javascript function. mymodule_command_read_message($message), ); // Return an AJAX render array. return array( ‘#type’ => ‘ajax’, ‘#commands’ => $commands, ); } mymodule/mymodule.module The example callback function that returns an AJAX render array. Commands array on lines #5 thru #8, only returns a single command. The new custom command that was created.
AJAX Commands in Drupal 8
Changes to AJAX Commands 22 AJAX callback commands in Drupal 8 JavaScript attatches to ‘Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype’ object A PHP object that implements CommandInterface Must implement ‘render’ method
Example: The “Remove” Command Using the “examples” module (available on Drupal.org), showing using the ‘remove’ AJAX Callback command. The checkbox is checked, which makes an AJAX request, which returns the command to remove the element with the sample text.
A function on the ‘Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype’ object /** * Provide a series of commands that the client will perform. / Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype = { //… /* * Command to remove a chunk from the page. */ remove: function (ajax, response, status) { var settings = response.settings || ajax.settings || drupalSettings; $(response.selector).each(function () { Drupal.detachBehaviors(this, settings); }).remove(); }, //… } misc/ajax.js
An object that implements CommandInterface Must implement ‘render’ method namespace Drupal\Core\Ajax; use Drupal\Core\Ajax\CommandInterface; // AJAX command for calling the jQuery remove() method. class RemoveCommand Implements CommandInterface { protected $selector; // Constructs a RemoveCommand object. public function __construct($selector) { $this->selector = $selector; } // Implements Drupal\Core\Ajax\CommandInterface:render(). public function render() { return array( ‘command’ => ‘remove’, ‘selector’ => $this->selector, ); } } core/lib/Drupal/Core/Ajax/RemoveCommand.php
To Use Commands in Drupal 8 1. Include Drupal AJAX JavaScript library Must attach to a render array 2. Attach AJAX to page elements 3. Define a callback path and function Returns an AjaxResponse object
Example Scenario. Have a page that lists messages to read. When a message subject is clicked, an AJAX request is made to retrieve the message. The server returns an array of commands to run, which updates the page with the selected message.
Attach library to a render array namespace Drupal\mymodule\Controller; use Drupal\Core\Controller\ControllerBase; class MyModuleController extends ControllerBase { // … // Render a page of my messages public function messagesPage() { // … build $content // Create render array. $page[] = array( ‘#type’ => ‘markup’, ‘#markup’ => $content, ); // Attach JavaScript library. $page[‘#attached’][‘library’][] = ‘core/drupal.ajax’; return $page; } // … } mymodule/src/Controller/MyModuleController.php Function for building messages page is now using a render array. to the ‘#attached’, ‘library’ array of that render array, declaring the drupal.ajax library to be included.
Callback returns commands using an AJAXResponse() [D8] namespace Drupal\mymodule\Controller; use Drupal\Core\Controller\ControllerBase; class MyModuleController extends ControllerBase { // … // AJAX Callback to read a message. public function readMessageCallback($method, $mid) { $msg = mymodule_load_message($mid); // Create AJAX Response object. $response = new AjaxResponse(); // Replace content of current message subject. $response->addCommand(new HtmlCommand(‘#current-msg h2’, $msg->subject)); // Replace content of current message body. $response->addCommand(new HtmlCommand(‘#current-msg p’, $msg->content)); // Remove message from unread list. $response->addCommand(new RemoveCommand(‘#msg-’ . $mid)); // Add message to read list. $item = ‘<li>’ . $msg->subject . ‘</li>’; $response->addCommand(new AppendCommand(‘#read-msgs’, $item)); // Return ajax response. return $response; } mymodule/src/Controller/MyModuleController.php Returning an AjaxResponse object instead of a render array like in Drupal 7. AjaxResponse has an ‘addCommand’ method, which takes the argument of a command object.
Custom Commands in Drupal 8 1. Add function to ‘Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype’ 2. Define a command object that implements CommandInterface
- Add function to ‘Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype’ (function($, Drupal) { /** * Add new command for reading a message. */ Drupal.AjaxCommands.prototype.readMessage = function(ajax, response, status){ // Place content in current-msg div. $(‘#current-msg h2’).html(response.subject); $(‘#current-msg p’).html(response.content); // Remove from unread list. $(‘#msg-’ + response.mid).remove(); // Add message to read list. $(‘#read-msgs’).append(‘<li>’ + response.subject + ‘</li>’); } })(jQuery, Drupal); mymodule/js/commands.js Adding the custom ‘readMessage’ function to the Drupal 8 JavaScript AJAX Commands object. Still takes the same three arguments as in Drupal 7.
- Define command object that implements CommandInterface namespace Drupal\mymodule\Ajax; use Drupal\Core\Ajax\CommandInterface; class ReadMessageCommand implements CommandInterface { protected $message; // Constructs a ReadMessageCommand object. public function __construct($message) { $this->message = $message; } // Implements Drupal\Core\Ajax\CommandInterface:render(). public function render() { return array( ‘command’ => ‘readMessage’, ‘mid’ => $this->message->mid, ‘subject’ => $this->message->subject, ‘content’ => $this->message->content, ); } } mymodule/src/Ajax/ReadMessageCommand.php Creating a Command object which implements the CommandInterface. Must declare a ‘render’ method, which will return an associative array. This associative array must have an element with the key of ‘command’ and value of the JavaScript function to run.
Using a Custom Command in Drupal 8 1. Tell Drupal about custom JavaScript library 2. Attach library to a render array 3. Add command to AjaxResponse object in callback
- Tell Drupal about custom JavaScript library mymodule.commands: version: VERSION js: js/commands.js: {} dependencies: - core/drupal.ajax mymodule/mymodule.libraries.yml Must tell Drupal about custom library with a libraries.yml file. Provide an Asset library name, lists all the js files needed, and any dependencies on other libraries.
- Attach library to a render array namespace Drupal\mymodule\Controller; use Drupal\Core\Controller\ControllerBase; class MyModuleController extends ControllerBase { // … // Render a page of my messages public function messagesPage() { // .. build $content // Create render array. $page[] = array( ‘#type’ => ‘markup’, ‘#markup’ => $content, ); // Attach JavaScript library. $page[‘#attached’][‘library’][] = ‘mymodule/mymodule.commands’; return $page; } // … } mymodule/mymodule.module Function for building messages page is now using a render array. to the ‘#attached’, ‘library’ array of that render array, including the custom library. No longer including the AJAX library, as Drupal will know to include it from the libraries.yml file.
- Add command to AjaxResponse object in callback namespace Drupal\mymodule\Controller; use Drupal\Core\Controller\ControllerBase; class MyModuleController extends ControllerBase { // … // AJAX Callback to read a message. public function readMessageCallback($method, $mid) { $msg = mymodule_load_message($mid); // Create AJAX Response object. $response = new AjaxResponse(); // Call the readMessage javascript function. $response->addCommand( new ReadMessageCommand($msg)); ); // Return ajax response. return $response; } //… } mymodule/mymodule.module Returning an AjaxResponse object instead of adding the core commands, just adding the new custom command using the ‘addCommand’ method.
Let’s Review
AJAX Callback Commands Are… Returned by all AJAX Framework requests PHP abstraction for JavaScript functions Defined by core and modules
To Use AJAX Callback Commands… Include Drupal AJAX JavaScript library Attach AJAX to page elements Have server side callback return array of commands
To Create AJAX Callback Commands… Add function to Drupal ajax command JavaScript object. Write PHP code to return associative array with a ‘command’ key
To Use Custom AJAX Callback Commands… Include custom JavaScript Include custom command in callback function
Resources Drupal AJAX Framework: bit.ly/DrupalAJAX This Presentation: bit.ly/NERD15ajax Presentation Slides: bit.ly/NERD15ajaxSlides Example Code for Drupal 7: bit.ly/NERD15ajaxEx Creating Commands in D8: bit.ly/D8AjaxCmds
Send me feedback! @mikemiles86 #NERDsummit
Thank You! Questions? #NERDsummit @WeAreGenuine AJAX Callback Commands / @mikemiles86
When Drupal 7 was released in 2011, it came with an improved implementation of AJAX functionality. Good-bye “AHAH” and hello “AJAX Framework”. But four years later, some of the improvements that came along with the Drupal AJAX Framework go widely unused or unknown.
Introducing AJAX commands. The set of functions you should already be using, which allow AJAX callbacks to do much more then return rendered HTML.
This session will highlight and outline the Drupal AJAX command functions offered by the AJAX framework in both Drupal 7 and Drupal 8. In this session we will cover the following:
The Drupal AJAX command functions.
What functionality AJAX command functions provide. When and how to use the AJAX command functions. How to create custom AJAX commands.
for free. You
can too.
