model/view relationships

Question

i have a model ready with the various form fields. how do i make those form fields get saved into the database? i tried reading the form documentation but it is so confusing. i know if i get it working, i will understand. can anyone help define a views.py function?

Answer 1

One of the best ways to learn this is to go through the great Django tutorial.

Answer 2

It is automatically saved to the database. You can populate the database from the admin interface (that must explitly be turned on) or using Python.

From Python, to add an entry for a model named "ProgramVersion" that has 12 fields (the model is in an 'app' named "programRelease"):

python manage.py shell
from programRelease.models import ProgramVersion
p9 = ProgramVersion(
       shortDescription   = 'First public release for v2.0.',
       longerDescription  = 'This is the first public release on the road to v2.0 of MSQuant.',
       slug               = 'version1_alfa',
       entry_pub_date     = '2009-10-02 14:51:02',
       software_pub_date  = '2009-10-02',
       name               = 'MSQuant',
       version            = '2.0a78',
       downloadURL        = 'http://www.pil.sdu.dk/1/MSQuant/MSQ,2.0a78,2009-10-02c.7z',
       downloadSizeMBytes = '11.8',
       addedFeatures      = '<none>',
       changedFeatures    = '<p>Quantitation of isotopes has been disabled - it does not provide much value anyway.</p>',
       fixedBugs          = '&lt;none&gt;',
       )
p9.save()

(all but the first line happens interactively in Python (can be pasted) and the current directory must be the root of your Django project - where urls.py and manage.py is.)

Answer 3

Note that models and forms are seperate things...

The first thing you need to do is make a form for your model (from the django docs)

from django.forms import ModelForm

# Create the form class.
class ArticleForm(ModelForm):
    class Meta:
        model = Article

In your view you need to create an instance of the form and read the values back, which is done with a bit of code like this

def edit_article(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        form = ArticleForm(request.POST)
        if form.is_valid():
            form.save()
            # do something.
    else:
        form = ArticleForm()
    return render_to_response("edit_article.html", {"form": form,})

You then need to create your template edit_article.html. If you put this in it

<form method="POST">
{{ form.as_p }}
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

Your form should display, and you should be able to submit it.

You'll need a suitable entry for urls.py too.

PS None of the above actually tested!