ng-lazy-forms v2.0.0

NgLazyForms

Context: In the Angular framework there are two types of forms, template driven and reactive. Both of them are effective for their respective use cases but neither addresses the problem of reusability and logic encapsulation. This flaw results in very bulky and complex form components.

Objective: Angular Lazy Forms is a project that aims to deliver IoC solution for creating Reactive Forms in Angular. The goal behind the idea is to enable user creation of small loosely coupled components which can be used to create complex forms.

Available on:

• GitHub
• npm

Installation

To use library simply run

npm i ng-lazy-forms

And import LazyFormsModule module in your app.module.ts:

imports: [
  ...
  LazyFormsModule,
],

Demo and Tutorial

Following demo application uses NgLazyForms to recreates application from Angular Reactive Forms tutorial as for version 5.2.9 with minor changes that are discussed in the tutorial. To inspect demo for yourself simply clone repository and run:

npm i
ng serve

Recreation steps are presented below. If somewhere in the tutorial appears a path or a file that does not exist yet it means that it should be created.

Setup

Create a new project named angular-lazy-forms:

ng new angular-lazy-forms

Install NgLazyForms package:

npm i ng-lazy-forms

Vocabulary

NgLazyForms use LazyMetadatas to generate and manage components called LazyControls.

• Component that implements LazyControl is refered as CustomLazyControl.
• Its metadata (which implements LazyMetadata) is refered as CustomLazyMetadata.

LazyMetadata

NgLazyForms define LazyMetadata as well as getter and setter:

export abstract class LazyMetadata {
  key: string;
  component: Type<LazyControlComponent>;
}

export function setLazyMetadata(value: LazyMetadata);
export function getLazyMetadata(propertyKey: string, target: object): LazyMetadata | any;

LazyControl

NgLazyForms define LazyControl as well as optional OnLazySetup interface:

export abstract class LazyControlComponent {
  abstract value: any;
  abstract metadata: LazyMetadata;
  abstract control: AbstractControl;
}

export interface OnLazySetup {
  onLazySetup();
}

Implementing OnLazySetup is advised as it allows a component to be rebuild without destroying it. This method is responsible for all the cleaning and set up of the component. Its functionality resembles quite a bit Angular's own ngOnChanges method. It is up to developer to provide it.

CustomLazyControl with CustomLazyMetadata

CustomLazyControl always comes with its own CustomLazyMetadata. It uses this metadata to build and configure itself. They are strongly coupled:

• CustomLazyControl expects its CustomLazyMetadata as an input.
• CustomLazyMetadata keeps a reference to its CustomLazyControl to tell NgLazyForms what component to create.

It is advised to keep them in the same file to avoid circular dependency warning as they both refer each other. Example of such a relation:

export class CustomLazyMetadata extends LazyMetadata {
  component = CustomLazyControl;
  ...
}

@Component({...})
export class CustomLazyControl implements LazyControlComponent {
  @Input() value: any;
  @Input() metadata: CustomLazyMetadata;
  control: AbstractControl;
  ...
}

If this seems overwhelming at the moment don't worry. It will become clearer with examples.

Create a BaseMetadata

NgLazyForms define LazyMetadata but it is advised to expand it so it can be used it the application. Following example is just a suggestion that should be adjusted for needs of every application.

In src/app/lazy-controls/metadata.ts paste:

import { LazyMetadata, getLazyMetadata, setLazyMetadata } from 'ng-lazy-forms';

export abstract class BaseMetadata extends LazyMetadata {
  label?: string;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.label = options['label'];
  }
}

export abstract class MetadataAccessor {
  metadata(propertyKey: string): BaseMetadata {
    return getLazyMetadata(propertyKey, this);
  }
}

export function metadata(value: BaseMetadata) {
  return setLazyMetadata(value);
}

• BaseMetadat class extends LazyMetadata by adding properties used by CustomLazyControls to build and customize itself. In this example, it is only the "label" but it could include "hint", "placeholder", "validators" etc.
• MetadataAccessor wraps getLazyMetadata method to provide easier access to metadata.
• metadata function simply wraps setLazyMetadata function shielding it from the rest of the application.

Create CustomLazyControls

The goal behind the idea is to enable user creation of small loosely coupled components which can be used to create complex forms.

Those "small loosely coupled components" are conventionally called CustomLazyControls. They should be small, reusable components that implement LazyControl. They depend on CustomLazyMetadata to build and customize itself.

Both CustomLazyControls and CustomLazyMetadatas do not ship with that library, it is up to the developer to create and maintain them.

In this tutorial, the Reactive Forms tutorial application is being recreated using NgLazyForms with exception of "Superpower" and "Sidekick". They are made using standard Reactive Forms to demonstrate that they can be used alongside NgLazyForms.

This means that following CustomLazyControls are required:

• DefaultControl - to display standard text/number controls.
• SelectControl - to display drop-down control.
• AddressControl - to display 4 encapsulated control (street, city, state, zip code).
• AddressArrayControl - to manage an array of addresses.

LazyControlsModule

First create LazyControlsModule, src/app/lazy-controls/lazy-controls.module.ts:

import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyFormsModule } from 'ng-lazy-forms';


@NgModule({
  imports: [
    CommonModule,
    ReactiveFormsModule,
    LazyFormsModule,
  ]
  declarations: [
  ],
  entryComponents: [
  ]
})
export class LazyControlsModule {}

Created CustomLazyControls must be added to both declarations and entryComponents arrays.

DefaultControl

Create src/app/lazy-controls/default/default-control.component.ts:

import { Component, Input } from '@angular/core';
import { FormControl } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup } from 'ng-lazy-forms';
import { BaseMetadata } from '../metadata';


export class DefaultMetadata extends BaseMetadata {
  type: string;
  component = DefaultControlComponent;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.type = options['type'] || 'text';
  }
}

@Component({
  templateUrl: './default-control.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./default-control.component.css']
})
export class DefaultControlComponent implements LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup {
  @Input() value: string | number | Date;
  @Input() metadata: DefaultMetadata;
  control: FormControl;

  constructor() { }

  onLazySetup() {
    this.createForm();
  }

  private createForm() {
    this.control = new FormControl(this.value);
  }
}

This file exports DefaultControl and DefaultMetadata.

DefaultMetadata extends BaseMetadata and by extention LazyMetadata. This means that the contract is fulfilled and DefaultMetadata in fact derives from LazyMetadata.

• The type field refers to html input type with default of "text".
• The component field keeps a reference to the DefaultControl. It tells NgLazyForms that for DefaultMetadata the DefaultControl should be rendered.

DefaultControl implements LazyControl by introducing these fields:

• The value is expected to be a string, number or a Date.
• The metadata should be of its own DefaultMetadata type so that so that DefaultControl can use fields introduced by it (i.e. type).
• The control is a FormControl because it renders a single control (not an array or an object).

onLazySetup method is very simple in this case. It creates a form every time this control is being built or rebuilt.

Now, create src/app/lazy-controls/default/default-control.component.ts:

<div class="form-group">
  <label class="center-block">{{metadata.label}}:
    <input class="form-control" [formControl]="control" [type]="metadata.type">
  </label>
</div>

This template contains few important things:

• The metadata.label is used to place a label of a control.
• The control is passed to formControl of an input.
• The metadata.type is used to define a type of a control.

This way created DefaultControl is configurable and reusable. It is capable of displaying input for text, number and Date using configuration from DefaultMetadata.

All that remains is to add newly created DefaultControl to LazyControlsModule:

declarations: [
  DefaultControlComponent,
],
entryComponents: [
  DefaultControlComponent,
]

Select Control

Create src/app/lazy-controls/select/select-control.component.ts:

import { Component, Input } from '@angular/core';
import { FormControl } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup } from 'ng-lazy-forms';
import { BaseMetadata } from '../metadata';


export class SelectMetadata extends BaseMetadata {
  collection: any[];
  component = SelectControlComponent;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.collection = options['collection'] || [];
  }
}

@Component({
  templateUrl: './select-control.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./select-control.component.css']
})
export class SelectControlComponent implements LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup {
  @Input() value: any;
  @Input() metadata: SelectMetadata;
  control: FormControl;

  constructor() { }

  onLazySetup() {
    this.createForm();
  }

  private createForm() {
    this.control = new FormControl(this.value);
  }
}

and src/app/lazy-controls/select/select-control.component.html:

<div class="form-group">
  <label class="center-block">{{metadata.label}}:
    <select class="form-control" [formControl]="control">
      <option *ngFor="let option of metadata.collection" [value]="option">{{option}}</option>
    </select>
  </label>
</div>

This Control is very similar to DefaultControl with a difference that SelectMetadata defines a collection field which is used in the template to display select options.

DefaultControl and SelectControl could be merged using type field of DefaultMetadata similar to the way it is done in Angular Dynamic Forms tutorial. It is up to the developer to make the decision what is the best design choice for given application.

Now, add newly created SelectControl to LazyControlsModule:

declarations: [
  ...,
  SelectControlComponent
],
entryComponents: [
  ...,
  SelectControlComponent
]

Address Control

Create src/app/lazy-controls/address/address-control.component.ts:

import { Component, Input } from '@angular/core';
import { FormGroup } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup } from 'ng-lazy-forms';
import { Address } from '../../models/address';
import { BaseMetadata } from '../metadata';


export class AddressMetadata extends BaseMetadata {
  component = AddressControlComponent;
}

@Component({
  templateUrl: './address-control.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./address-control.component.css']
})
export class AddressControlComponent implements LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup {
  @Input() value: Address;
  @Input() metadata: AddressMetadata;
  control: FormGroup;

  constructor() { }

  onLazySetup() {
    this.createForm();
  }

  private createForm() {
    this.control = new FormGroup({});
  }
}

At the moment there is no Address class created. It will be added later in this tutorial.

AddressControl is different as it creates FormGroup instead of FormControl. It also accepts an object as an input, not primitive. However, the biggest change is in the template.

Create src/app/lazy-controls/address/address-control.component.html:

<div lazyForm [formGroup]="control">
  <lazy-selector [value]="value.street" [metadata]="value.metadata('street')"></lazy-selector>
  <lazy-selector [value]="value.city" [metadata]="value.metadata('city')"></lazy-selector>
  <lazy-selector [value]="value.state" [metadata]="value.metadata('state')"></lazy-selector>
  <lazy-selector [value]="value.zip" [metadata]="value.metadata('zip')"></lazy-selector>
</div>

• lazyForm directive informs that this element is a container for CustomLazyControls.
• formGroup takes as an input parent element. It can be either FormGroup or FormArray.

This means that every lazy-selector (CustomLazyControl) within lazyForm container will be attached to the parent element.

lazy-selector is a component responsible for rendering correct component based on the CustomLazyMetadata passed. It takes two mandatory inputs value and metadata. It is also responsible for attaching itself to the parent element.

Now, add newly created AddressControl to LazyControlsModule:

declarations: [
  ...,
  AddressControlComponent
],
entryComponents: [
  ...,
  AddressControlComponent
]

Address Array Control

Create src/app/lazy-controls/address-array/address-array-control.component.ts:

import { Component, Input } from '@angular/core';
import { FormArray } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup } from 'ng-lazy-forms';
import { Address } from '../../models/address';
import { AddressMetadata } from '../address/address-control.component';
import { BaseMetadata } from '../metadata';


export class AddressArrayMetadata extends BaseMetadata {
  component = AddressArrayControlComponent;
  child: AddressMetadata;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.child = new AddressMetadata(options['child']);
  }
}

@Component({
  templateUrl: './address-array-control.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./address-array-control.component.css']
})
export class AddressArrayControlComponent implements LazyControlComponent, OnLazySetup {
  @Input() value: Address[];
  @Input() metadata: AddressArrayMetadata;
  control: FormArray;

  constructor() { }

  onLazySetup() {
    this.createForm();
  }

  private createForm() {
    this.control = new FormArray([]);
  }

  addItem() {
    this.control.markAsDirty();
    this.value.push(new Address());
  }

  removeItem(index: number) {
    this.control.markAsDirty();
    this.value.splice(index, 1);
  }
}

• AddressArrayMetadata contains child field of type AddressMetadata used to render elements of an array.
• AddressArrayControl is responsible for managing an array. Besides standard createForm method it defines two other, addItem and removeItem. They are very simple and operate on value, not control. value itself is shielded from outside the component. This means that any changes to that field in here have no effect on original value.

Create src/app/lazy-controls/address-array/address-array-control.component.html:l`:

<div lazyForm [formGroup]="control" class="well well-lg">
  <div *ngFor="let item of value; let i=index" style="margin-bottom: 40px">
    <h4>
      <span (click)="removeItem(i)" style="cursor: pointer" class="glyphicon glyphicon-trash text-danger"></span>
      {{metadata.label}} #{{i + 1}}
    </h4>
    <div style="margin-left: 1em;">
      <lazy-selector [value]="item" [metadata]="metadata.child"></lazy-selector>
    </div>
  </div>
  <button (click)="addItem()" type="button">Add a Secret Lair</button>
</div>

This template also uses lazyForm directive to define a container for lazy-selector which in this cases renders previously created AddressControl.

Now, add newly created AddressArrayControl to LazyControlsModule:

declarations: [
  ...,
  AddressArrayControlComponent
],
entryComponents: [
  ...,
  AddressArrayControlComponent
]

Create Models

Address

Create src/app/models/address.ts:

import { DefaultMetadata } from '../lazy-controls/default/default-control.component';
import { metadata, MetadataAccessor } from '../lazy-controls/metadata';
import { SelectMetadata } from '../lazy-controls/select/select-control.component';

export class Address extends MetadataAccessor {
  @metadata(new DefaultMetadata({ label: 'Street' }))
  street = '';

  @metadata(new DefaultMetadata({ label: 'City' }))
  city = '';

  @metadata(new SelectMetadata({
    label: 'State',
    collection: ['CA', 'MD', 'OH', 'VA']
  }))
  state = '';

  @metadata(new DefaultMetadata({ label: 'Zip Code' }))
  zip = '';

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super();
    this.update(options as Address);
  }

  update(options: Address) {
    this.street = options.street || this.street;
    this.city = options.city || this.city;
    this.state = options.state || this.state;
    this.zip = options.zip || this.zip;
  }
}

Address class:

• extends MetadataAccessor to be able to access metadata through metadata(propertyKey: string): BaseMetadata; method.
• defines update method so that we can easily assign new values.

@metadata attributes defined in src/app/lazy-controls/metadata.ts allows for the assignment of metadata to given fields. key is assigned automatically and is always the same as a field name.

• Every field has a defined label that will be used in their respective CustomLazyControls.
• state field has a defined collection which will be used to present options in SelectControl.

Hero

Create src/app/models/hero.ts:

import { AddressArrayMetadata } from '../lazy-controls/address-array/address-array-control.component';
import { DefaultMetadata } from '../lazy-controls/default/default-control.component';
import { metadata, MetadataAccessor } from '../lazy-controls/metadata';
import { Address } from './address';

export class Hero extends MetadataAccessor {
  id = 0;

  @metadata(new DefaultMetadata({ label: 'Name' }))
  name = '';

  @metadata(new AddressArrayMetadata({ label: 'Address' }))
  addresses: Address[];

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super();
    this.update(options as Hero);
  }

  update(options: Hero) {
    this.id = options.id || this.id;
    this.name = options.name || this.name;

    this.addresses = [];
    for (const address of options.addresses) {
      this.addresses.push(new Address(address));
    }
  }
}

• id field doesn't have metadata because it is never used in a form nor in a display template.

Create Hero Detail component

Create src/app/hero-detail/hero-detail.component.ts:

import { Component, Input, OnChanges } from '@angular/core';
import { FormBuilder, FormGroup } from '@angular/forms';
import { HeroService } from '../hero.service';
import { Hero } from '../models/hero';


@Component({
  selector: 'app-hero-detail',
  templateUrl: './hero-detail.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./hero-detail.component.css']
})
export class HeroDetailComponent implements OnChanges {
  @Input() hero: Hero;
  heroForm: FormGroup;

  constructor(private fb: FormBuilder, private heroService: HeroService) {
    this.createForm();
  }

  ngOnChanges() {
    setTimeout(() => this.createForm());
  }

  onSubmit() {
    this.hero.update(this.heroForm.value);
    this.heroService.updateHero(this.hero).subscribe(/* error handling */);
    this.heroForm.markAsPristine();
  }

  createForm() {
    this.heroForm = this.fb.group({
      power: '',
      sidekick: ''
    });
  }

  revert() { this.createForm(); }
}

HeroDetailComponent is simplified compared to the one in Reactive Forms tutorial. Form create, recreate, and revert operations are done in the same way using createForm method. There is no need for a deep copy of form addresses because in hero.update(...) method an array is recreated which server as a deep copy.

In ngOnChanges() method it is required to use setTimeout with no latency. This is because cycle must end before resetting the form. This may change in the future updates.

There is no logging of the hero name in this tutorial because NgLazyForms are not designed to work with something like that. The idea behind NgLazyForms is to have a clearer separation of concerns. Parent component (e.g. HeroDetailComponent) is supposed to orchestrate a form as a whole, not particular elements. If there is a need to listen for a particular CustomLazyControl it should be done within that CustomLazyControl.

Create template src/app/hero-detail/hero-detail.component.html:

<form lazyForm [formGroup]="heroForm" (ngSubmit)="onSubmit()">
  <div style="margin-bottom: 1em">
    <button type="submit"
            [disabled]="heroForm.pristine" class="btn btn-success">Save</button> &nbsp;
    <button type="button" (click)="revert()"
            [disabled]="heroForm.pristine" class="btn btn-danger">Revert</button>
  </div>

  <!-- Hero Detail Controls -->
  <lazy-selector [value]="hero.name" [metadata]="hero.metadata('name')"></lazy-selector>
  <lazy-selector [value]="hero.addresses" [metadata]="hero.metadata('addresses')"></lazy-selector>

  <div class="form-group radio">
    <h4>Super power:</h4>
    <label class="center-block"><input type="radio" formControlName="power" value="flight">Flight</label>
    <label class="center-block"><input type="radio" formControlName="power" value="x-ray vision">X-ray vision</label>
    <label class="center-block"><input type="radio" formControlName="power" value="strength">Strength</label>
  </div>
  <div class="checkbox">
    <label class="center-block">
      <input type="checkbox" formControlName="sidekick">I have a sidekick.
    </label>
  </div>
</form>

<p>heroForm value: {{ heroForm.value | json}}</p>

There are only two NgLazyForms specific elements in this template:

• lazyForm directive.
• two lazy-selector elements.

As discussed at the beginning of this tutorial sidekick and power remain as classic Reactive Forms elements to show they can be used alongside NgLazyForms.

Finishing Application

Create src/app/hero-list/hero-list.component.ts:

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
import 'rxjs/add/operator/finally';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
import { HeroService } from '../hero.service';
import { Hero } from '../models/hero';


@Component({
  selector: 'app-hero-list',
  templateUrl: './hero-list.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./hero-list.component.css']
})
export class HeroListComponent implements OnInit {
  heroes: Observable<Hero[]>;
  isLoading = false;
  selectedHero: Hero;

  constructor(private heroService: HeroService) { }

  ngOnInit() { this.getHeroes(); }

  getHeroes() {
    this.isLoading = true;
    this.heroes = this.heroService.getHeroes()
    // Todo: error handling
      .finally(() => this.isLoading = false);
    this.selectedHero = undefined;
  }

  select(hero: Hero) { this.selectedHero = hero; }
}

Create src/app/hero-list/hero-list.component.html:

<h3 *ngIf="isLoading"><i>Loading heroes ... </i></h3>
<h3 *ngIf="!isLoading">Select a hero:</h3>

<nav>
  <button (click)="getHeroes()" class="btn btn-primary">Refresh</button>
  <a *ngFor="let hero of heroes | async" (click)="select(hero)">{{hero.name}}</a>
</nav>

<div *ngIf="selectedHero">
  <hr>
  <h2>Hero Detail</h2>
  <h3>Editing: {{selectedHero.name}}</h3>
  <app-hero-detail [hero]="selectedHero"></app-hero-detail>
</div>

Edit src/app/app.component.html

<div class="container">
  <h1>Lazy Forms</h1>
  <app-hero-list></app-hero-list>
</div>

Create src/app/hero.service.ts:

import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import 'rxjs/add/operator/delay';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
import { of } from 'rxjs/observable/of';
import { Hero } from './models/hero';
import 'rxjs/add/operator/map';


const HEROES: any[] = [
  {
    id: 1,
    name: 'Whirlwind',
    addresses: [
      { street: '123 Main', city: 'Anywhere', state: 'CA', zip: '94801' },
      { street: '456 Maple', city: 'Somewhere', state: 'VA', zip: '23226' },
    ]
  },
  {
    id: 2,
    name: 'Bombastic',
    addresses: [
      { street: '789 Elm', city: 'Smallville', state: 'OH', zip: '04501' },
    ]
  },
  {
    id: 3,
    name: 'Magneta',
    addresses: []
  },
];

@Injectable()
export class HeroService {
  delayMs = 500;

  // Fake server get; assume nothing can go wrong
  getHeroes(): Observable<Hero[]> {
    return of(HEROES).delay(this.delayMs) // simulate latency with delay
      .map(heroes => {
        const temp = [];
        for (const hero of heroes) {
          temp.push(new Hero(hero));
        }
        return temp;
      });
  }

  // Fake server update; assume nothing can go wrong
  updateHero(hero: Hero): Observable<Hero> {
    const oldHero = HEROES.find(h => h.id === hero.id);
    const newHero = Object.assign(oldHero, hero); // Demo: mutate cached hero
    return of(newHero).delay(this.delayMs); // simulate latency with delay
  }
}

Edit src/app/add.module.ts:

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { LazyFormsModule } from 'ng-lazy-forms';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { HeroDetailComponent } from './hero-detail/hero-detail.component';
import { HeroListComponent } from './hero-list/hero-list.component';
import { HeroService } from './hero.service';
import { LazyControlsModule } from './lazy-controls/lazy-controls.module';


@NgModule({
  declarations: [
    AppComponent,
    HeroDetailComponent,
    HeroListComponent,
  ],
  imports: [
    BrowserModule,
    ReactiveFormsModule,
    LazyFormsModule,
    LazyControlsModule,
  ],
  providers: [HeroService],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule {}

Edit src/styles.css:

/* Master Styles */
h1 {
  color: #369;
  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-size: 250%;
}
h2, h3 {
  color: #444;
  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-weight: lighter;
}
body {
  margin: 2em;
}
body, input[text], button {
  color: #888;
  font-family: Cambria, Georgia;
}
a {
  cursor: pointer;
  cursor: hand;
}
button {
  font-family: Arial;
  background-color: #eee;
  border: none;
  padding: 5px 10px;
  border-radius: 4px;
  cursor: pointer;
  cursor: hand;
}
button:hover {
  background-color: #cfd8dc;
}
button:disabled {
  background-color: #eee;
  color: #aaa;
  cursor: auto;
}

/* Navigation link styles */
nav a {
  padding: 5px 10px;
  text-decoration: none;
  margin-right: 10px;
  margin-top: 10px;
  display: inline-block;
  background-color: #eee;
  border-radius: 4px;
}
nav a:visited, a:link {
  color: #607D8B;
}
nav a:hover {
  color: #039be5;
  background-color: #CFD8DC;
}
nav a.active {
  color: #039be5;
}

/* everywhere else */
* {
  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
}


/*
Copyright 2017-2018 Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that
can be found in the LICENSE file at http://angular.io/license
*/

Test Application

Run ng serve to test the application. It should work just like the demo created in Reactive Forms tutorial.

Add Validation

Adding validation to NgLazyForms is very simple. Edit src/app/lazy-controls/metadata.ts:

import { ValidatorFn, Validators } from '@angular/forms';
import { LazyMetadata, getLazyMetadata, setLazyMetadata } from 'ng-lazy-forms';

abstract class ValidatorsMetadata extends LazyMetadata {
  required?: boolean;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.required = options['required'] || false;
  }

  get validators(): ValidatorFn[] {
    const array = [];
    if (this.required) { array.push(Validators.required); }
    return array;
  }
}

export abstract class BaseMetadata extends ValidatorsMetadata {
  label?: string;

  constructor(options: {} = {}) {
    super(options);
    this.label = options['label'];
  }
}

export abstract class MetadataAccessor {
  metadata(propertyKey: string): BaseMetadata {
    return getLazyMetadata(propertyKey, this);
  }
}

export function metadata(value: BaseMetadata) {
  return setLazyMetadata(value);
}

It adds ValidatorsMetadata class which introduces required field as well as get validators(): ValidatorFn[] method that creates Angular validators array. Other validators can be added as well using this technique.

Now, edit all CustomLazyControls:

// Address Control
private createForm() {
  this.control = new FormGroup({}, this.metadata.validators);
}

// Address Array Control
private createForm() {
  this.control = new FormArray([], this.metadata.validators);
}

// Default Control
private createForm() {
  this.control = new FormControl(this.value, this.metadata.validators);
}

// Select Control
private createForm() {
  this.control = new FormControl(this.value, this.metadata.validators);
}

This adds validation functionality to CustomLazyControls.

Test Validation

To test validation edit src/app/models/hero.ts:

@metadata(new DefaultMetadata({ 
  label: 'Name',
  required: true
}))
name = '';

This will make name field required.

Now, at the end of src/app/hero-detail/hero-detail.component.html add this line:

<p>heroForm status: {{ heroForm.status | json }}</p>

Run again ng serve to see that validation does in fact work.