The Alternative forms module enables you to create alternatives of various already existing forms. The alternative forms can then be used instead of the default ones in the system's administration interface or on the live site. You can even create multiple alternative forms for a single object and use each of them in a different situation.

 

Alternative forms can be created for:

 

•Forms - you can create alternative forms for existing forms and use them on the live site instead of the default form, while you can conveniently switch between various alternative forms in properties of the On-line form web part. Using alternative forms, you can also replace the default forms for creating or editing forms in the system's administration interface.

•Custom tables - using alternative forms, you can only replace a custom table's default form for adding or editing custom table items in the system's administration interface.

•Document types - you can create alternative forms for each document type. A typical usage of this feature is in the User contributions module, where you can provide users with a form for creation or editing of user-contributed documents on the live site which is different from the one used in the user interface. Using alternative forms, it is also possible to replace the default forms for adding or editing of documents in CMS Desk -> Content -> Edit (after clicking the New button or on the document's Form tab, respectively).

•System tables - you can create alternative forms for the system tables. A typical example is the User system table, as it has a dedicated alternative form to display a user profile, another form for profile editing, and yet another one for user registration. Using alternative forms, it is also possible to replace the default forms for adding or editing system tables data via the administration interface.

 

The module has no dedicated user interface, there only is the Alternative forms tab available when editing () one of the objects listed above. On this tab, you can create and manage alternative forms of the currently edited item. In the Creating an alternative form topic, you can see an example of how an alternative form for a form can be created and used on the live site.

 

Some actions (typically creation of a new item or editing of an existing one) are associated with a reserved alternative form code name. If there is a form defined in the system which has the special code name, it is used instead of the default form when the respective action is performed. Please see the Automatically used alternative forms topic for more details.

 

Data about users of the system are stored in the User and User - Settings system tables. When creating an alternative form for creation or editing of users, it is possible to have fields from both of the system tables included in a single alternative form. For more information, please see the Joining two classes into one form topic.

 

The Alternative forms internals and API sub-chapter provides information about the database tables and classes used by the module, as well as examples of how alternative forms can be managed using Kentico CMS API.