How does one add a 'plain text node' to a zend form?

Question

I'm trying to add a plain text node in a zend form - the purpose is to only dispay some static text.

The problem is - im not aware of any such way to do it.

I have used 'description' but that HAS to be attached to a form element.

Is there any way to simply display some text as part of a form? Zend considers everything as a form element so I cannot just print it out.

Eg:

The following will test your ability on so and so. . . .

etc...

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I faced the same problem and decided is better not to use Zend_Form at all, but to use directly view helpers (like Ruby on Rails does) and validate on the model.

Answer 2

There might be a better way, but I created a paragraph by using a custom form element and view helper. Seems like alot of code for something so simple. Please let me know if you've found a more simplistic way to do it.

//From your form, add the MyParagraph element
$this->addElement(new Zend_Form_Element_MyParagraph('myParagraph'));

class Zend_Form_Element_MyParagraph extends Zend_Form_Element
{
    public $helper = 'myParagraph';
    public function init()
    {
        $view = $this->getView();
    }
}

class Zend_View_Helper_MyParagraph extends Zend_View_Helper_FormElement {

    public function init() {
    }

    public function myParagraph() {
        $html = '<p>hello world</p>';
        return $html;
    }

}

Answer 3

Zend has a form note view helper (Zend_View_Helper_FormNote), which you can use to add text.

Just create a new form element (/application/forms/Element/Note.php):

class Application_Form_Element_Note extends Zend_Form_Element_Xhtml  
{  
    public $helper = 'formNote';  
}

In your form:

$note = new Application_Form_Element_Note(
    'test',
    array('value' => 'This is a <b>test</b>')
);
$this->addElement($note);