X-Git-Url: https://git.decadent.org.uk/gitweb/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=lib%2FMaypole%2FModel%2FCDBI%2FAsForm.pm;h=f1fe978b1c36e7273f883d54a364cda003ec97ae;hb=c3973978e1373a262d13da63c9e9ecfde4b72cc7;hp=da295789b8902354d6a13e8441d7c00596a5ba16;hpb=72ee4cbcfbb971c12dc6bd6d540edf96692061ca;p=maypole.git

diff --git a/lib/Maypole/Model/CDBI/AsForm.pm b/lib/Maypole/Model/CDBI/AsForm.pm
index da29578..f1fe978 100644
--- a/lib/Maypole/Model/CDBI/AsForm.pm
+++ b/lib/Maypole/Model/CDBI/AsForm.pm
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 package Maypole::Model::CDBI::AsForm;
 
-use 5.006;
+#TODO -- 
+# lots of doc
+# _to_select_or_create  -- select input stays
+# _to_create_or_select  -- create input trumps
+# 
+
+# TESTED and Works --
+#  has_many select -- $obj->to_field($has_many_col);   # select one form many
+#                  -- $class->to_field($has_many_col); # foreign inputs  
+#  $class->search_inputs; /
+
 
 use strict;
 use warnings;
@@ -9,26 +19,22 @@ use base 'Exporter';
 use Data::Dumper;
 use Class::DBI::Plugin::Type ();
 use HTML::Element;
+use Carp qw/cluck/;
 
 our $OLD_STYLE = 0;
 # pjs  --  Added new methods to @EXPORT 
-our @EXPORT = qw( to_cgi to_field _to_textarea _to_textfield _to_select
-				  type_of _to_foreign_inputs _to_enum_select _to_bool_select
-				  to_select_from_many _to_select_from_related hasmany_class
-				  _to_hidden _rename_foreign_input _to_readonly
-                                  make_param_foreign make_hidden_elmnt make_hidden_elmnt 
-                                  a_select_box unselect_element do_select search_inputs);
-				  
-				  
-
-our $VERSION = '2.41'; 
-# PJS VERSION .05
-# Changes :
-# 08-09-05 - fixed broken has_a select box 
-#          - fiked some docs
-#          - _to_foreign_inputs now takes 3 positional parameters 
-#            (accssr,  fields, accssr_meta_info)
-
+our @EXPORT = 
+	qw( 
+		to_cgi to_field  foreign_input_delimiter search_inputs unselect_element
+		_field_from_how _field_from_relationship _field_from_column
+		_to_textarea _to_textfield _to_select  _select_guts
+		_to_foreign_inputs _to_enum_select _to_bool_select
+		_to_hidden _to_link_hidden _rename_foreign_input _to_readonly
+		_options_from_objects _options_from_arrays _options_from_hashes 
+		_options_from_array _options_from_hash 
+    );
+
+our $VERSION = '.10'; 
 
 =head1 NAME
 
@@ -43,22 +49,43 @@ Maypole::Model:CDBI::AsForm - Produce HTML form elements for database columns
     ...
 
     sub create_or_edit {
-        my $class = shift;
-        my %cgi_field = $class->to_cgi;
+        my $self = shift;
+        my %cgi_field = $self->to_cgi;
         return start_form,
                (map { "<b>$_</b>: ". $cgi_field{$_}->as_HTML." <br>" } 
                     $class->Columns),
                end_form;
     }
 
-    # <form method="post"...>
-    # Title: <input type="text" name="Title" /> <br>
-    # Artist: <select name="Artist"> 
-    #           <option value=1>Grateful Dead</option>
-    #           ...
-    #         </select>
-    # ...
-    # </form>
+# Example of has_many select
+package Job;
+__PACKAGE__->has_a('job_employer' => 'Employer');
+__PACKAGE__->has_a('contact'  => 'Contact')
+
+package Contact;
+__PACKAGE__->has_a('cont_employer' => 'Employer');
+__PACKAGE__->has_many('jobs'  => 'Job',
+        { join => { job_employer => 'cont_employer' },
+          constraint => { 'finshed' => 0  },
+          order_by   => "created ASC",
+        }
+);
+
+package Employer;
+__PACKAGE__->has_many('jobs'  => 'Job',);
+__PACKAGE__->has_many('contacts'  => 'Contact',
+            order_by => 'name DESC',
+);
+
+
+  # Choose some jobs to add to a contact (has multiple attribute).
+  my $job_sel = Contact->to_field('jobs'); # Uses constraint and order by
+    
+
+  # Choose a job from $contact->jobs 
+  my $job_sel = $contact->to_field('jobs');
+    
+
 
 =head1 DESCRIPTION
 
@@ -69,330 +96,711 @@ into textareas, and fields with a has-a relationship to other
 C<Class::DBI> tables are turned into select drop-downs populated with
 objects from the joined class.
 
-=head1 METHODS
 
-The module is a mix-in which adds two additional methods to your
-C<Class::DBI>-derived class. 
+=head1 ARGUMENTS HASH
 
+This provides a convenient way to tweak AsForm's behavior in exceptional or 
+not so exceptional instances. Below describes the arguments hash and 
+example usages. 
 
-=head2 search_inputs
 
-Returns hashref of search inputs elements to use in cgi.
+  $beer->to_field($col, $how, $args); 
+  $beer->to_field($col, $args);
 
-Uses fields specified in search_fields, makes foreign inputs if necessary.
+Not all _to_* methods pay attention to all arguments. For example, '_to_textfield' does not look in $args->{'items'} at all.
+ 
+=over
 
-=cut
+=item name -- the name the element will have , this trumps the derived name.
 
-sub search_inputs {
-  my ($class, $r) = @_;
-  warn "In model search_inputs " if $class->model_debug;
-  $class = ref $class || $class;
-  #my $accssr_class = { $class->accessor_classes };
-  my %cgi;
-  my $sfs = $class->search_fields;
-
-  foreach my $field ( @$sfs ) {
-    if ( ref $field eq "HASH" ) { # foreign search fields
-      my ($accssr, $cols)  = each %$field;
-      unless (  @$cols ) {
-				# default to search fields for related 
-				#$cols =  $accssr_class->{$accssr}->search_fields;
-	die ("$class search_fields error: Must specify at least one column to search in the foreign object named '$accssr'");
-      }
-      my $fcgi  = $class->_to_foreign_inputs($accssr, $cols);
-      # unset the default values for a select box
-      foreach (keys %$fcgi) {
-	$class->unselect_element($fcgi->{$_});
-      }
-      $cgi{$accssr} = $fcgi;
-      #warn "Searchy inputs for field $field is " . Dumper($cgi{$accssr});
-    } else {  
-      $cgi{$field} = $class->to_field($field);
-      $class->unselect_element($cgi{$field});
-    }
-  }
-  return \%cgi;
-}
+  $beer->to_field('brewery', 'readonly', {
+ 		name => 'brewery_id'
+  });
+  
+=item value -- the initial value the element will have, trumps derived value
 
+  $beer->to_field('brewery', 'textfield', { 
+		name => 'brewery_id', value => $beer->brewery,
+		# however, no need to set value since $beer is object
+  });
+ 
+=item items -- array of items generally used to make select box options
 
-=head2 do_select
+Can be array of objects, hashes, arrays, or strings, or just a hash.
 
-Retrieves object selected from a select box and puts in $r->objects[0].
-The select box input must be named the same as the primary key.
+   # Rate a beer
+   $beer->to_field(rating =>  select => {
+		items => [1 , 2, 3, 4, 5],
+   });
+ 
+   # Select a Brewery to visit in the UK
+   Brewery->to_field(brewery_id => {
+		items => [ Brewery->search_like(location => 'UK') ],
+   });
 
-NOTE only works with tables with single primary key for now.
+  # Make a select for a boolean field
+  $Pub->to_field('open' , { items => [ {'Open' => 1, 'Closed' => 0 } ] }); 
 
-=cut
+=item selected -- something representing which item is selected in a select box
 
-sub do_select {
-    my ($self, $r) = @_;
-	$r->objects([ $self->retrieve($r->params->{$self->primary_column}) ]);
-	$r->template('view');
-}
+   $beer->to_field('brewery', {
+		selected => $beer->brewery, # again not necessary since caller is obj.
+   });
 
+Can be an simple scalar id, an object, or an array of either
 
-=head2 unselect_element
+=item class -- the class for which the input being made for field pertains to.
 
-Unselects all options in a HTML::Element of type select.
-It does nothing if element is not a select element.
+This in almost always derived in cases where it may be difficult to derive, --
+   # Select beers to serve on handpump
+   Pub->to_field(handpumps => select => {
+   		class => 'Beer', order_by => 'name ASC', multiple => 1,
+	});
 
-=cut
+=item column_type -- a string representing column type
+   
+  $pub->to_field('open', 'bool_select', {
+		column_type => "bool('Closed', 'Open'),
+  });
 
-sub unselect_element {
-	my ($self, $el) = @_;
-	#unless (ref $el eq 'HTML::Element') { 
-	#$self->_croak ('Need an HTML::Element to unselect. You gave a ' . Dumper($el)); }
-	if ($el->tag eq 'select') {
-		foreach my $opt ($el->content_list) {
-			$opt->attr('selected', undef) if $opt->attr('selected');
-		}
-	}
-}
+=item column_nullable -- flag saying if column is nullable or not
 
+Generally this can be set to get or not get a null/empty option added to
+a select box.  AsForm attempts to call "$class->column_nullable" to set this
+and it defaults to true if there is no shuch method.
+  
+  $beer->to_field('brewery', { column_nullable => 1 });    
 
-# make a select box from args
-sub a_select_box {
-	my ($self, $name, $vals, $selected_val, $contents) = @_;
-	die "Usage: Need a name and array ref of values to make a select boxes" unless ($name && $vals);
-	$selected_val ||= "";
-	$contents ||= $vals ;
-
-	my $a = HTML::Element->new('select', 'name' => $name);
-	my $i = 0;
-	my $c;
-	foreach my $v ( @$vals ) {
-		my $opt = HTML::Element->new('option', 'value' => $v);
-		$opt->attr('selected' => 'selected') if $v eq $selected_val;
-	 	$c = $contents->[$i++] || $v;
-		$opt->push_content($c);
-		$a->push_content($opt);
-	}
-	$a;
-}
+=item r or request  -- the mapyole request object 
 
+=item uri -- uri for a link , used in methods such as _to_link_hidden
 
-=head2 make_hidden_elmnt
+ $beer->to_field('brewery', 'link_hidden', 
+      {r => $r, uri => 'www.maypole.perl.org/brewery/view/'.$beer->brewery}); 
+ # an html link that is also a hidden input to the object. R is required to
+ # make the uri  unless you  pass a  uri
 
-Makes a hidden HTML::Element and puts it in template_args{hidden_elements}
-$model->make_hidden_elmnt($name, $val);
+=item order_by, constraint, join
 
-=cut
+These are used in making select boxes. order_by is a simple order by clause
+and constraint and join are hashes used to limit the rows selected. The
+difference is that join uses methods of the object and constraint uses 
+static values. You can also specify these in the relationship arguments.
+
+  BeerDB::LondonBeer->has_a('brewery', 'BeerDB::Brewery', 
+           order_by     => 'brewery_name ASC',
+	   constraint   => {location  => 'London'},
+	   'join'       => {'brewery_tablecolumn  => 'beer_obj_column'}, 
+	  );
+	   
+=item no_hidden_constraints -- 
+
+Tell AsForm not to make hidden inputs for relationship constraints. It does
+this  sometimes when making foreign inputs . 
 
-sub make_hidden_elmnt {
-	my ($self, $r, $col, $val) = @_;
-	my $elmnt = HTML::Element->new('input', 'type'=>'hidden', 'name'=>$col, 'value'=>$val);
+=back
 
-	$r->{template_args}{hidden_elements} ||= [];  
-	push @{ $r->{template_args}{hidden_elements} }, $elmnt;
+=head2 to_cgi
+
+  $self->to_cgi([@columns, $args]); 
+
+This returns a hash mapping all the column names to HTML::Element objects 
+representing form widgets.  It takes two opitonal arguments -- a list of 
+columns and a hashref of hashes of arguments for each column.  If called with an object like for editing, the inputs will have the object's values.
+
+  $self->to_cgi(); # uses $self->columns;  # most used
+  $self->to_cgi(qw/brewery style rating/); # sometimes
+  # and on rare occassions this is desireable if you have a lot of fields
+  # and dont want to call to_field a bunch of times just to tweak one or 
+  # two of them.
+  $self->to_cgi(@cols, {brewery => {  
+                                     how => 'textfield' # too big for select 
+								   }, 
+                        style   => { 
+						             column_nullable => 0, 
+						             how => 'select', 
+								     items => ['Ale', 'Lager']
+								   }
+						}
+
+=cut
+
+sub to_cgi {
+	my ($class, @columns) = @_; # pjs -- added columns arg
+	my $args = {};
+	if (not @columns) {
+		@columns = $class->columns;
+		# Eventually after stabalization, we could add display_columns 
+		#keys map { $_ => 1 } ($class->display_columns, $class->columns); 
+	}
+	else {
+		if ( ref $columns[-1] eq 'HASH' ) { $args = pop @columns; }
+	}
+	map { $_ => $class->to_field($_, $args->{$_}) } @columns;
 }
 
+=head2 to_field($field [, $how][, $args])
 
+This maps an individual column to a form element. The C<how> argument
+can be used to force the field type into any you want. All that you need 
+is a method named "_to_$how" in your class. Your class inherits many from
+AsForm  already. Override them at will. 
 
-=head2 make_param_foreign
+If C<how> is specified but the class cannot call the method it maps to,
+then AsForm will issue a warning and the default input will be made. 
+You can write your own "_to_$how" methods and AsForm comes with many.
+See C<HOW Methods>. You can also pass this argument in $args->{how}.
 
-Makes a new foreign parameter out of parameter and accessor
-Just puts accssr__FOREIGN__ in front of param name 
 
 =cut
 
-sub make_param_foreign {
-	my ($self, $r, $p, $accssr) = @_;
-	$r->params->{$accssr . '__FOREIGN__' . $p} = $r->params->{$p};
+sub to_field {
+	my ($self, $field, $how, $args) = @_;
+    if (ref $how)   { $args = $how; $how = ''; }
+	unless ($how)   { $how = $args->{how} || ''; }
+#warn "In to_field field is $field how is $how. args ar e" . Dumper($args) . " \n";
+
+    #if (ref $field) { $args = $field; $field = '' }
+
+	#use Data::Dumper;
+	#warn "args to_field  are $field, . " . Dumper($how) . " ,  " . Dumper($args);
+	
+
+	return	$self->_field_from_how($field, $how, $args)   || 
+	       	$self->_field_from_relationship($field, $args) ||
+		   	$self->_field_from_column($field, $args)  ||
+	  		$self->_to_textfield($field, $args);
 }
 
-=head2 to_cgi
+=head2 search_inputs
 
-This returns a hash mapping all the column names of the class to
-HTML::Element objects representing form widgets.
+  my $cgi = $class->search_inputs ([$args]); # optional $args
+
+Returns hash or hashref of search inputs elements for a class making sure the
+inputs are empty of any initial values.
+You can specify what columns you want inputs for in
+$args->{columns} or
+by the method "search_columns". The default is  "display_columns".
+If you want to te search on columns in related classes you can do that by
+specifying a one element hashref in place of the column name where
+the key is the related "column" (has_a or has_many method for example) and
+the value is a list ref of columns to search on in the related class.
+
+Example:
+  sub  BeerDB::Beer::search_columns {
+     return ( 'name' , 'rating', { brewery => [ 'name', 'location'] } );
+  }
 
-pjs -- added a columns list argument to specify which columns to make
-inputs for.
+  # Now foreign inputs are made for Brewery name and location and the
+  # there will be no name clashing and processing can be automated.
 
 =cut
 
-sub to_cgi {
-	my ($class, @columns) = @_; # pjs -- added columns arg
-	@columns = $class->columns unless (@columns);
-	map { $_ => $class->to_field($_) } @columns;
+
+sub search_inputs {
+    my ($class, $args) = @_;
+    $class = ref $class || $class;
+    #my $accssr_class = { $class->accessor_classes };
+    my %cgi;
+
+    $args->{columns} ||= $class->can('search_columns') ?[$class->search_columns] : [$class->display_columns];
+
+    foreach my $field ( @{ $args->{columns} } ) {
+		my $base_args = {
+			no_hidden_constraints => 1,
+			column_nullable => 1, # empty option on select boxes
+			value  => '',
+		};
+        if ( ref $field eq "HASH" ) { # foreign search fields
+            my ($accssr, $cols)  = each %$field;
+			$base_args->{columns} = $cols;
+            unless (  @$cols ) {
+                # default to search fields for related
+                #$cols =  $accssr_class->{$accssr}->search_columns;
+                die ("$class search_fields error: Must specify at least one column to search in the foreign object named '$accssr'");
+            }
+            my $fcgi  = $class->to_field($accssr, 'foreign_inputs', $base_args);
+
+            # unset the default values for a select box
+            foreach (keys %$fcgi) {
+	      		my $el = $fcgi->{$_};
+				if ($el->tag eq 'select') {
+					
+					$class->unselect_element($el);
+					my ($first, @content) = $el->content_list;
+					my @fc = $first->content_list;
+					my $val = $first ? $first->attr('value') : undef;  
+					if ($first and (@fc > 0 or (defined $val and $val ne '')) ) { # something ( $first->attr('value') ne '' or 
+					              
+					   #(defined $first->attr('value') or $first->attr('value') ne ''))  
+					   # push an empty option on stactk
+					   $el->unshift_content(HTML::Element->new('option'));
+				    }
+				}
+					
+            }
+            $cgi{$accssr} = $fcgi;
+			delete $base_args->{columns};
+		}
+        else {
+            $cgi{$field} = $class->to_field($field, $base_args); #{no_select => $args->{no_select}{$field} });
+	      	my $el = $cgi{$field};
+			if ($el->tag eq 'select') {
+				$class->unselect_element($el);
+				my ($first, @content) = $el->content_list;
+				if ($first and $first->content_list) { # something 
+					   #(defined $first->attr('value') or $first->attr('value') ne ''))  
+					   # push an empty option on stactk
+					   $el->unshift_content(HTML::Element->new('option'));
+		  		}
+			}
+        }
+    }
+    return \%cgi;
 }
 
 
-=head2 to_field($field [, $how])
 
-This maps an individual column to a form element. The C<how> argument
-can be used to force the field type into one of C<textfield>, C<textarea>
-or C<select>; you can use this is you want to avoid the automatic detection
-of has-a relationships.
 
-# pjs 
-   -- added support for enum and bool.   Note for enum and bool you need 
-      a better column_type method than the Plugin::Type ' s as it won't work 
-      if you are using MySQL. I have not tried others.  
-      See those method's docs below.
-   -- Foreign inputs for might_have, must_have, has_own, and has_many(i think).
-   -- Really any relationship except has_a and is_a as has_a gets a select box
-      and is_a are not considered foreign. 
-   -- Note a good column_type sub can be 
-      used to get the correct type for is_a columns.
-   -- More efficient _to_select -- no object creation.
-   -- Attempts to set default value in field for you using a "column_default" 
-      method you write yourself or your CDBI driver like mysql writes.
-   -- _to_hidden 
+=head2 unselect_element
+
+  unselect any selected elements in a HTML::Element select list widget
 
 =cut
+sub unselect_element {
+   my ($self, $el) = @_;
+   #unless (ref $el eq 'HTML::Element') {
+   #$self->_croak ('Need an HTML::Element to unselect. You gave a ' . Dumper($el)); }
+   if ($el->tag eq 'select') {
+       foreach my $opt ($el->content_list) {
+           $opt->attr('selected', undef) if $opt->attr('selected');
+       }
+   }
+}
 
-sub to_field {
-	my ($self, $field, $how) = @_;
-	my $class = ref $self || $self;
-	if ($how and $how =~ /^(text(area|field)|select)$/) {
-		no strict 'refs';
-		my $meth = "_to_$how";
-		return $self->$meth($field);
+=head2 _field_from_how($field, $how,$args)
+
+Returns an input element based the "how" parameter or nothing at all.
+Override at will. 
+
+=cut
+
+sub _field_from_how {
+	my ($self, $field, $how, $args) = @_;
+	return unless $how;
+	$args ||= {};
+	no strict 'refs';
+	my $meth = "_to_$how";
+	if (not $self->can($meth)) { 
+		warn "Class can not $meth";
+		return;
 	}
+	return $self->$meth($field, $args); 
+	return;
+}
+
+=head2 _field_from_relationship($field, $args)
+
+Returns an input based on the relationship associated with the field or nothing.
+Override at will.
 
-	my $meta = $self->meta_info;
-	my ($rel_type) = grep{ defined $meta->{$_}{$field} } keys %$meta;
-	$rel_type ||= ''; 
-        my $fclass = $rel_type ? $meta->{$rel_type}{$field}{foreign_class} : '';
+For has_a it will give select box
+
+=cut
+
+sub _field_from_relationship {
+	my ($self, $field, $args) = @_;
+	return unless $field;
+	my $rel_meta = $self->related_meta('r',$field) || return; 
+	my $rel_name = $rel_meta->{name};
+	#my $meta = $self->meta_info;
+	#grep{ defined $meta->{$_}{$field} } keys %$meta;
+	my $fclass = $rel_meta->foreign_class;
 	my $fclass_is_cdbi = $fclass ? $fclass->isa('Class::DBI') : 0;
 
 	# maybe has_a select 
-    return  $self->_to_select($field, $fclass) if $rel_type eq 'has_a' and
-		$fclass_is_cdbi;
+	if ($rel_meta->{name} eq 'has_a' and $fclass_is_cdbi) {
+	    # This condictions allows for trumping of the has_a args
+		if  (not $rel_meta->{args}{no_select} and not $args->{no_select}) 
+		{
+    		$args->{class} = $fclass;
+    		return  $self->_to_select($field, $args);
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+	# maybe has many select
+	if ($rel_meta->{name} eq 'has_many' and $fclass_is_cdbi and ref $self) {
+	    # This condictions allows for trumping of the has_a args
+		if  (not $rel_meta->{args}{no_select} and not $args->{no_select}) 
+		{
+    		$args->{class} = $fclass;
+			my @itms = $self->$field; # need list not iterator
+			$args->{items} = \@itms;
+    		return  $self->_to_select($field, $args);
+		}
+		return;
+	}
 
+		
+	
+	#NOOO!  maybe select from has_many 
+#	if ($rel_type eq 'has_many' and ref $self) {
+#		$args->{items} ||= [$self->$field];
+#		# arg name || fclass pk name || field
+#		if (not $args->{name}) {
+#			$args->{name} =  eval{$fclass->primary_column->name} || $field; 
+#		}
+#    	return  $self->_to_select($field, $args);
+#	}
+#
 	# maybe foreign inputs 
 	my %local_cols = map { $_ => 1 } $self->columns; # includes is_a cols
-	if ($fclass_is_cdbi and (not $local_cols{$field} or $rel_type eq 'has_own'))
+	if ($fclass_is_cdbi and (not $local_cols{$field} or $rel_name eq 'has_own'))
 	{
-		return $self->_to_foreign_inputs($field, undef, $meta->{$rel_type}{$field});
+		$args->{related_meta} = $rel_meta; # suspect faster to set these args 
+		return $self->_to_foreign_inputs($field, $args);
 	}
+	return;
+}
 			
-	# the rest 
-	my $type;
-    if ($class->can('column_type')) {
-		$type = $class->column_type($field);
-	}	
-	else {
-    	# Right, have some of this
-    	eval "package $class; Class::DBI::Plugin::Type->import()";
-    	$type = $class->column_type($field);
-	}
+=head2 _field_from_column($field, $args)
+
+Returns an input based on the column's characteristics, namely type, or nothing.
+Override at will.
 
-	#return $self->_to_textfield($field)
-	#	if $type  and $type =~ /(var)?char/i;  #common type
-	return $self->_to_textarea($field)
+=cut
+
+sub _field_from_column {
+	my ($self, $field, $args) = @_;
+	return unless $field;
+	my $class = ref $self || $self;
+	# Get column type	
+    unless ($args->{column_type}) { 
+    	if ($class->can('column_type')) {
+			$args->{column_type} = $class->column_type($field);
+		}	
+		else {
+    		# Right, have some of this
+    		eval "package $class; Class::DBI::Plugin::Type->import()";
+    		$args->{column_type} = $class->column_type($field);
+		}
+    }
+    my $type = $args->{column_type};
+
+	return $self->_to_textfield($field, $args)
+		if $type  and $type =~ /^(VAR)?CHAR/i;  #common type
+	return $self->_to_textarea($field, $args)
 		if $type and $type =~ /^(TEXT|BLOB)$/i;
-	return $self->_to_enum_select($field, $type)  
+	return $self->_to_enum_select($field, $args)  
 		if $type and  $type =~ /^ENUM\((.*?)\)$/i; 
-	return $self->_to_bool_select($field, $type)
+	return $self->_to_bool_select($field, $args)
 		if $type and  $type =~ /^BOOL/i; 
-	return $self->_to_readonly($field)
+	return $self->_to_readonly($field, $args)
 	    if $type and $type =~ /^readonly$/i;
-	return $self->_to_textfield($field);
+	return;
 }
 
+
 sub _to_textarea {
-	my ($self, $col) = @_;
+	my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
  	# pjs added default	
-	my $a =
-		HTML::Element->new("textarea", name => $col, rows => "3", cols => "22");
-	my $val;
-	if (ref $self) { 
-		$val = $self->$col; 
-	}
-	else { 
-		$val = eval {$self->column_default($col);}; 
-	    $val = '' unless defined $val;  
+    $args ||= {};
+    my $val =  $args->{value}; 
+    
+    unless (defined $val) {
+        if (ref $self) {
+			$val = $self->$col; 
+		}
+		else { 
+			$val = eval {$self->column_default($col);}; 
+	    	$val = '' unless defined $val;  
+		}
 	}
+    my ($rows, $cols) = _box($val);
+    $rows = $args->{rows} if $args->{rows};
+    $cols = $args->{cols} if $args->{cols};;
+    my $name = $args->{name} || $col; 
+	my $a =
+		HTML::Element->new("textarea", name => $name, rows => $rows, cols => $cols);
 	$a->push_content($val);
 	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
 	$a;
 }
 
 sub _to_textfield {
-	my ($self, $col) = @_;
- 	# pjs added default	
-	my $val;
-	if (ref $self) { 
-		$val = $self->$col; 
-	}
-	else { 
-		$val = eval {$self->column_default($col);}; 
-	    $val = '' unless defined $val;  
-	}
-
-	my $a = HTML::Element->new("input", type => "text", name => $col);
-	$a->attr("value" => $val);
-	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
-	$a;
+    my ($self, $col, $args ) = @_;
+    use Carp qw/confess/;
+    confess "No col passed to _to_textfield" unless $col;
+    $args ||= {};
+    my $val  = $args->{value}; 
+    my $name = $args->{name} || $col; 
+
+    unless (defined $val) {
+        if (ref $self) {
+            # Case where column inflates.
+            # Input would get stringification which could be not good.
+            #  as in the case of Time::Piece objects
+            $val = $self->can($col) ? $self->$col : ''; # in case it is a virtual column
+            if (ref $val) {
+				if (my $meta = $self->related_meta('',$col)) {
+               		if (my $code = $meta->{args}{deflate4edit} || $meta->{args}{deflate} ) {
+                    	$val  = ref $code ? &$code($val) : $val->$code;
+					}
+					elsif ( $val->isa('Class::DBI') ) {
+					    $val  = $val->id;
+					}
+					else { 
+						#warn "No deflate4edit code defined for $val of type " . 
+					     #ref $val . ". Using the stringified value in textfield..";
+					}
+               	}
+				else {
+					$val  = $val->id if $val->isa("Class::DBI"); 
+               }
+        	}
+			
+        }
+       	else {
+         	$val = eval {$self->column_default($col);};
+           	$val = '' unless defined $val;
+        }
+    }
+	my $a;
+	# THIS If section is neccessary or you end up with "value" for a vaiue
+	# if val is 
+	$val = '' unless defined $val; 
+   	$a = HTML::Element->new("input", type => "text", name => $name, value =>$val);
+    $OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
+    $a;
 }
 
+
+# Too expensive version -- TODO
+#sub _to_select {
+#	my ($self, $col, $hint) = @_;
+#	my $fclass = $hint || $self->__hasa_rels->{$col}->[0];
+#	my @objs        = $fclass->retrieve_all;
+#	my $a           = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $col);
+#	for (@objs) {
+#		my $sel = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $_->id);
+#		$sel->attr("selected" => "selected")
+#			if ref $self
+#			and eval { $_->id eq $self->$col->id };
+#		$sel->push_content($_->stringify_self);
+#		$a->push_content($sel);
+#	}
+#	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
+#	$a;
+#}
+
+
+
 # pjs 
 # -- Rewrote this to be efficient -- no object creation. 
 # -- Added option for CDBI classes to specify a limiting clause
 # via "has_a_select_limit". 
 # -- Added selected argument to set a selected 
 
+=head2 recognized arguments
+ 
+  selected => $object|$id,
+  name     => $name,
+  value    => $value,
+  where    => SQL 'WHERE' clause,
+  order_by => SQL 'ORDER BY' clause,
+  limit    => SQL 'LIMIT' clause,
+  items    => [ @items_of_same_type_to_select_from ],
+  class => $class_we_are_selecting_from
+  stringify => $stringify_coderef|$method_name
+  
+  
+
+
+# select box requirements
+# 1. a select box for objecs of a has_a related class -- DONE 
+=head2  1. a select box out of a has_a or has_many related class.
+  # For has_a the default behavior is to make a select box of every element in 
+  # related class and you choose one. 
+  #Or explicitly you can create one and pass options like where and order
+  BeerDB::Beer->to_field('brewery','select', {where => "location = 'Germany'");
+  
+  # For has_many the default is to get a multiple select box with all objects.
+  # If called as an object method, the objects existing ones will be selected. 
+  Brewery::BeerDB->to_field('beers','select', {where => "rating > 5"}); 
+  
+
+=head2  2. a select box for objects of arbitrary class -- say BeerDB::Beer for fun. 
+  # general 
+  BeerDB::Beer->to_field('', 'select', $options)
+
+  BeerDB::Beer->to_field('', 'select'); # Select box of all the rows in class
+                                  # with PK as ID, $Class->to_field() same.
+  BeerDB::Beer->to_field('','select',{ where => "rating > 3 AND class like 'Ale'", order_by => 'rating DESC, beer_id ASC' , limit => 10});
+  # specify exact where clause 
+
+=head2 3. If you already have a list of objects to select from  -- 
+
+  BeerDB:;Beer->to_field($col, 'select' , {items => $objects});
+
+# 3. a select box for arbitrary set of objects 
+ # Pass array ref of objects as first arg rather than field 
+ $any_class_or_obj->to_field([BeerDB::Beer->search(favorite => 1)], 'select',);
+ 
+
+=cut
+
 sub _to_select {
-    my ($self, $col, $hint, $selected) = @_;
-	my $has_a_class;
-	if (not $col) { # class is making select box of self
-		$has_a_class = ref $self || $self;
-		$col = $self->primary_column;
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+    $args ||= {};
+	# Do we have items already ? Go no further. 
+    if ($args->{items} and ref $args->{items}) {  
+       	my $a = $self->_select_guts($col,  $args);
+    	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
+		if ($args->{multiple}) { $a->attr('multiple', 'multiple');}
+		return $a;
 	}
+
+	# Else what are we making a select box out of ?  
+	# No Column parameter --  means making a select box of args->class or self 
+    # Using all rows from class's table
+    if (not $col) { 
+		unless ($args->{class}) {
+        	$args->{class} = ref $self || $self;
+			# object selected if called with one
+            $args->{selected} = { $self->id => 1} 
+				if not $args->{selected} and ref $self;
+		}
+        $col = $args->{class}->primary_column;
+    }
+    # Related Class maybe ? 
+    elsif (my $rel_meta =  $self->related_meta('r:)', $col) ) {
+        $args->{class} = $rel_meta->{foreign_class};
+        # related objects pre selected if object
+				
+		# "Has many" -- Issues:
+		# 1) want to select one  or many from list if self is an object
+		# Thats about all we can do really, 
+		# 2) except for mapping which is TODO and  would 
+		# do something like add to and take away from list of permissions for
+		# example.
+
+		# Hasmany select one from list if ref self
+		if ($rel_meta->{name} =~ /has_many/i and ref $self) {
+		    my @itms =  $self->$col; # need list not iterator
+			$args->{items} = \@itms;
+			my $a = $self->_select_guts($col,  $args);
+		    $OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
+		    return $a;
+		}
+		else {
+			$args->{selected} ||= [ $self->$col ] if  ref $self; 
+			#warn "selected is " . Dumper($args->{selected});
+			my $c = $rel_meta->{args}{constraint} || {};
+			my $j = $rel_meta->{args}{join} || {};
+			my @join ; 
+			if (ref $self) {
+				@join   =  map { $_ ." = ". $self->_attr($_) } keys %$j; 
+			}
+			my @constr= map { "$_ = '$c->{$_}'"} keys %$c; 
+			$args->{where}    ||= join (' AND ', (@join, @constr));
+			$args->{order_by} ||= $rel_meta->{args}{order_by};
+			$args->{limit}    ||= $rel_meta->{args}{limit};
+		}
+			
+    }
+    # We could say :Col is name and we are selecting  out of class arg.
+	# DIE for now
 	else {
-		$has_a_class = $hint || $self->__hasa_rels->{$col}->[0];
+		#$args->{name} = $col;
+		die "Usage _to_select. $col not related to any class to select from. ";
+		
+    }
+		
+    # Set arguments 
+	unless ( defined  $args->{column_nullable} ) {
+	    $args->{column_nullable} = $self->can('column_nullable') ?
+			 $self->column_nullable($col) : 1;
 	}
 
-	$selected ||= {};
-	if (ref $self and my $id = eval { $self->$col->id }) {
-		$selected->{$id} = 1;  
-	}
-	#pjs  Possible sql limiting clause ("WHERE acol = 'X' " or "LIMIT 10", etc) 
-	my $select_box_limit = eval { $self->has_a_select_limit->{$col} } || '' ;  
-
-	# Get columns to appear in select box options on forms. 
-	# TODO -- there is maybe a good idiom for this.
-	my @select_box_cols;
-	@select_box_cols = $has_a_class->columns('SelectBox');
-	@select_box_cols = $has_a_class->columns('Stringify') 
-											unless @select_box_cols;
-	@select_box_cols = $has_a_class->_essential 
-											unless @select_box_cols;
-	unshift @select_box_cols, $has_a_class->columns('Primary'); 
-	my $sql = "SELECT " . join( ', ', @select_box_cols) . " FROM " . 
-		      $has_a_class->table . " " . $select_box_limit;
-	my $opts_data = $self->db_Main->selectall_arrayref($sql); 
-	
-    my $a = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $col);
-    for (@$opts_data) { 
-		my $id = shift @$_;
-        my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $id );
-        $opt->attr("selected" => "selected") if $selected->{$id}; 
-		my $content = eval {$has_a_class->stringify_selectbox($_);} || 
-					  join(' ', @$_);
-        $opt->push_content( $content );
-        $a->push_content($opt);
-    }
+	# Get items to select from
+    $args->{items} = _select_items($args);
+	#use Data::Dumper;
+	#warn "Just got items. They are  " . Dumper($args->{items});
+
+	# Make select HTML element
+	$a = $self->_select_guts($col, $args);
+
+	if ($args->{multiple}) {$a->attr('multiple', 'multiple');}
+
+	# Return 
     $OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
     $a;
+
+}
+
+
+##############
+# Function # 
+# #############
+# returns the intersection of list refs a and b
+sub _list_intersect {
+	my ($a, $b) = @_;
+	my %isect; my %union;
+    foreach my $e (@$a, @$b) { $union{$e}++ && $isect{$e}++ }
+	return  %isect;
+}
+############
+# FUNCTION #
+############
+# Get Items 
+sub _select_items { 
+	my $args = shift;
+	my $fclass = $args->{class};
+    my @disp_cols = @{$args->{columns} || []};
+    @disp_cols = $fclass->columns('SelectBox') unless @disp_cols;
+    @disp_cols = $fclass->columns('Stringify')unless @disp_cols;
+    @disp_cols = $fclass->_essential unless @disp_cols;
+	unshift @disp_cols,  $fclass->columns('Primary');
+	#my %isect = _list_intersect(\@pks, \@disp_cols);
+	#foreach (@pks) { push @sel_cols, $_ unless $isect{$_}; } 
+    #push @sel_cols, @disp_cols;		
+
+	#warn "in select items. args are : " . Dumper($args);
+	my $distinct = '';
+	if ($args->{'distinct'}) {
+    	$distinct = 'DISTINCT ';
+	}
+
+    my $sql = "SELECT $distinct" . join( ', ', @disp_cols) . 
+	          " FROM " . $fclass->table;
+
+	$sql .=	" WHERE " . $args->{where}   if $args->{where};
+	$sql .= " ORDER BY " . $args->{order_by} if $args->{order_by};
+	$sql .= " LIMIT " . $args->{limit} if $args->{limit};
+	#warn "_select_items sql is : $sql";
+
+	return $fclass->db_Main->selectall_arrayref($sql);
+
 }
 
+
 # Makes a readonly input box out of column's value
-# Currently object method only
+# No args makes object to readonly
 sub _to_readonly {
-	my ($self, $col, $val) = @_;
-	unless (defined $val) {
-		$self->_croak("Cannot call _to_readonly on class without value arg.")
-			unless ref $self;
-		$val = $self->$col;
-	}
-	my $a = HTML::Element->new('input', 'type' => 'text', readonly => '1',
-		'name' => $col, 'value'=>$val);
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+    my $val = $args->{value};
+    if (not defined $val ) { # object to readonly
+    	$self->_croak("AsForm: To readonly field called as class method without a value") unless ref $self; 
+        $val = $self->id;
+        $col = $self->primary_column;
+    }
+    my $a = HTML::Element->new('input', 'type' => 'text', readonly => '1',
+        'name' => $col, 'value'=>$val);
 	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
-	$a;
+    $a;
 }
 
+
 =head2 _to_enum_select
 
 $sel_box = $self->_to_enum_select($column, "ENUM('Val1','Val2','Val3')");
@@ -404,17 +812,24 @@ This will not work unless you write your own column_type method in your model.
 =cut
 
 sub _to_enum_select {
-    my ($self, $col, $type) = @_;
-	$type =~ /ENUM\((.*?)\)/i;
-	(my $enum = $1) =~ s/'//g;
-	my @enum_vals = split /\s*,\s*/, $enum;
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+	my $type = $args->{column_type};
+    $type =~ /ENUM\((.*?)\)/i;
+    (my $enum = $1) =~ s/'//g;
+    my @enum_vals = split /\s*,\s*/, $enum;
+
+    # determine which is pre selected --
+    # if obj, the value is , otherwise use column_default which is the first
+    # value in the enum list unless it has been overridden
+    my $selected = eval { $self->$col  };
+    $selected = eval{$self->column_default($col)} unless defined $selected;
+    $selected = $enum_vals[0]               unless defined $selected;
 
     my $a = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $col);
-    for ( @enum_vals ) { 
-        my $sel = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $_); 
-        $sel->attr("selected" => "selected") if ref $self 
-                                                and eval { $self->$col eq $_ };
-        $sel->push_content($_); 
+    for ( @enum_vals ) {
+        my $sel = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $_);
+        $sel->attr("selected" => "selected") if $_ eq $selected ;
+        $sel->push_content($_);
         $a->push_content($sel);
     }
     $OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
@@ -433,40 +848,110 @@ TODO -- test without bool string.
 
 =cut
 
+# TCODO fix this mess with args
 sub _to_bool_select {
-    my ($self, $col, $type) = @_;
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+	my $type = $args->{column_type};
 	my @bool_text = ('No', 'Yes');	
 	if ($type =~ /BOOL\((.+?)\)/i) {
 		(my $bool = $1) =~ s/'//g;
 		@bool_text = split /,/, $bool;
 	}
-	my $one= ref $self ? eval {$self->$col;} : $self->column_default($col);
+
+	# get selectedod 
+	
+	my $selected = $args->{value} if defined $args->{value};
+	$selected = $args->{selected} unless defined $selected;
+	$selected =  ref $self ? eval {$self->$col;} : $self->column_default($col)
+		unless (defined $selected);
+
     my $a = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $col);
+    if ($args->{column_nullable} || $args->{value} eq '') {
+		my $null =  HTML::Element->new("option");
+		$null->attr('selected', 'selected') if  $args->{value} eq '';
+	    $a->push_content( $null ); 
+	}
+	   
     my ($opt0, $opt1) = ( HTML::Element->new("option", value => 0),
 						  HTML::Element->new("option", value => 1) ); 
-    $opt0->attr("selected" => "selected") if not $one; 
     $opt0->push_content($bool_text[0]); 
-    $opt1->attr("selected" => "selected") if $one; 
     $opt1->push_content($bool_text[1]); 
+	unless ($selected eq '') { 
+    	$opt0->attr("selected" => "selected") if not $selected; 
+    	$opt1->attr("selected" => "selected") if $selected; 
+	}
     $a->push_content($opt0, $opt1);
     $OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
     $a;
 }
 
 
-=head2 _to_hidden($name, $value)
+=head2 _to_hidden($col, $args)
 
-This makes a hidden html element. Give it a name and value.
+This makes a hidden html element. Give it a name and value or if name is
+a ref it will use the PK name and value of the object.
 
 =cut
+
 sub _to_hidden {
     my ($self, $name, $val) = @_;
-	return HTML::Element->new('input', 'type' => 'hidden', 
-	                          'name' => $name, 'value'=>$val
-	);
+    my $args = {};
+    my $obj;
+    if (ref $name and $name->isa("Class::DBI")) {
+       $obj = $name;
+       $name= ($obj->primary_columns)[0]->name;
+    }
+    if (ref $val) {
+		$args = $val;
+        $val = $args->{value};
+        $name = $args->{name} if $args->{name};
+    }
+    elsif (not $name ) { # hidding object caller
+        $self->_croak("No object available in _to_hidden") unless ref $self;
+        $name = ($self->primary_column)[0]->name;
+        $val  = $self->id;
+    }
+    return HTML::Element->new('input', 'type' => 'hidden',
+                              'name' => $name, 'value'=>$val
+    );
 }
 
+=head2 _to_link_hidden($col, $args) 
 
+Makes a link with a hidden input with the id of $obj as the value and name.
+Name defaults to the objects primary key. The object defaults to self.
+
+=cut
+
+sub _to_link_hidden {
+    my ($self, $accessor, $args) = @_;
+    my $r =  eval {$self->controller} || $args->{r} || '';
+    my $uri = $args->{uri} || '';
+   use Data::Dumper;
+    $self->_croak("_to_link_hidden cant get uri. No  Maypole Request class (\$r) or uri arg. Need one or other.")
+        unless $r;
+    my ($obj, $name);
+    if (ref $self) { # hidding linking self
+         $obj  = $self;
+         $name = $args->{name} || $obj->primary_column->name;
+    }
+    elsif ($obj = $args->{items}->[0]) {
+        $name = $args->{name} || $accessor || $obj->primary_column->name; 
+		# TODO use meta data above maybe
+    }
+    else {           # hiding linking related object with id in args
+        $obj  = $self->related_class($r, $accessor)->retrieve($args->{id});
+        $name = $args->{name} || $accessor ; #$obj->primary_column->name;
+		# TODO use meta data above maybe
+    }
+    $self->_croak("_to_link_hidden has no object") unless ref $obj;
+    my $href =  $uri || $r->config->{uri_base} . "/". $obj->table."/view/".$obj->id;
+    my $a = HTML::Element->new('a', 'href' => $href);
+    $a->push_content("$obj");
+    $a->push_content($self->_to_hidden($name, $obj->id));
+	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
+    $a;
+}
 
 =head2 _to_foreign_inputs
 
@@ -482,19 +967,22 @@ so it can use edit columns or search_columns
 NOTE , this names the foreign inputs is a particular way so they can be
 processed with a general routine and so there are not name clashes.
 
+args -
+related_meta -- if you have this, great, othervise it will determine or die
+columns  -- list of columns to make inputs for 
+
 =cut
 
 sub _to_foreign_inputs {
-	my ($self, $accssr, $fields, $accssr_meta) = @_;
-	if (!$accssr_meta) {
-		my $class_meta = $self->meta_info;
-		my ($rel_type) = grep { defined $class_meta->{$_}->{$accssr} }
-			keys %$class_meta;
-		$self->_croak( "No relationship for accessor $accssr") if not $rel_type;
-		$accssr_meta = $class_meta->{$rel_type}->{$accssr};
+	my ($self, $accssr, $args) = @_;
+	my $rel_meta = $args->{related_meta} || $self->related_meta('r',$accssr); 
+	my $fields 		= $args->{columns};
+	if (!$rel_meta) {
+		$self->_croak( "No relationship for accessor $accssr");
 	}
 
-	my $classORobj = ref $self && ref $self->$accssr ? $self->$accssr : $accssr_meta->{foreign_class};
+	my $rel_type = $rel_meta->{name};
+	my $classORobj = ref $self && ref $self->$accssr ? $self->$accssr : $rel_meta->{foreign_class};
 	
 	unless ($fields) { 	
 		$fields = $classORobj->can('display_columns') ? 
@@ -502,8 +990,8 @@ sub _to_foreign_inputs {
 	}
 	
 	# Ignore our fkey in them to  prevent infinite recursion 
-	my $me 	        = eval {$accssr_meta->{args}{foreign_column}} || '';  
-	my $constrained = $accssr_meta->{args}{constraint}; 
+	my $me 	        = eval {$rel_meta->{args}{foreign_column}} || '';  
+	my $constrained = $rel_meta->{args}{constraint}; 
 	my %inputs;
 	foreach ( @$fields ) {
 		next if $constrained->{$_} || ($_ eq $me); # don't display constrained
@@ -512,7 +1000,7 @@ sub _to_foreign_inputs {
 
 	# Make hidden inputs for constrained columns unless we are editing object
 	# TODO -- is this right thing to do?
-	unless (ref $classORobj) {
+	unless (ref $classORobj || $args->{no_hidden_constraints}) {
 		$inputs{$_} = $classORobj->_to_hidden($_, $constrained->{$_}) 
 			foreach ( keys %$constrained );  
 	}
@@ -520,169 +1008,305 @@ sub _to_foreign_inputs {
 	return \%inputs;
 }
 
-=head2 _rename_foreign_input
 
-_rename_foreign_input($html_el_or_hash_of_them); # changes made by reference
-
-Recursively renames the foreign inputs made by to_foreign_inputs so they 
-can be processed generically.  The format is "accessor__AsForeign_colname". 
+=head2 _hash_selected
 
-So if an Employee is a Person who has own  Address and you call 
+Method to make sense out of the "selected" argument which can be in a number
+of formats perhaps.  It returns a hashref with the the values of options to be
+as the keys. 
 
-  Employee->to_field("person")  
-  
-then you will get inputs for Address named like this: 
+Below handles these formats for the "selected" slot in the arguments hash:
+  Object (with id method)
+  Scalar (assumes it is value)
+  Array ref *OF* objects, arrays of data (0 elmnt used), hashes of data
+    (id key used), and simple scalars.
+    
 
-  person__AsForeign__address__AsForeign__street
-  person__AsForeign__address__AsForeign__city
-  person__AsForeign__address__AsForeign__state  
-  person__AsForeign__address__AsForeign__zip  
+=cut 
+ 
+############
+# FUNCTION #
+############
+sub _hash_selected {
+	my ($args) = shift;
+	my $selected = $args->{value} || $args->{selected};
+	#warn "**** SELECTED is $selected ****";
+	my $type = ref $selected;
+    return $selected unless $selected and $type ne 'HASH'; 
+	#warn "Selected dump : " . Dumper($selected);
+	# Single Object 
+    if ($type and $type ne 'ARRAY') {
+	   my $id = $selected->id;
+	   $id =~ s/^0*//;
+       return  {$id => 1};
+    }
+    # Single Scalar id 
+	elsif (not $type) {
+		return { $selected => 1}; 
+	}
+	
 
-And the processor would know to create this address, put the address id in
-person address slot, create the person and put the address id in the employee
-before creating the employee. 
+	# Array of objs, arrays, hashes, or just scalalrs. 
+	elsif ($type eq 'ARRAY') {
+		my %hashed;
+		my $ltype = ref $selected->[0];
+		# Objects
+		if ($ltype and $ltype ne 'ARRAY')  {
+			%hashed = map { $_->id  => 1 } @$selected;
+       	}
+		# Arrays of data with id first 
+	    elsif ($ltype and $ltype eq 'ARRAY') {
+			%hashed = map { $_->[0]  => 1 } @$selected; 
+		}
+		# Hashes using pk or id key
+		elsif ($ltype and $ltype eq 'HASH') {
+			my $pk = $args->{class}->primary_column || 'id';
+			%hashed = map { $_->{$pk}  => 1 } @$selected; 
+		}
+		# Just Scalars
+        else { 
+			%hashed = map { $_  => 1 } @$selected; 
+		}
+		return \%hashed;
+	}
+	else { warn "AsForm Could not hash the selected argument: $selected"; }
+} 
+		
 
-=cut
 
-sub _rename_foreign_input {
-	my ($self, $accssr, $input) = @_;
-	if ( ref $input ne 'HASH' ) {
-		my $new_name = $accssr . "__AsForeign__" . $input->attr('name');
-		$input->attr( name => $new_name );
-	}
-	else {
-		$self->_rename_foreign_input($accssr, $input->{$_}) 
-			foreach (keys %$input);
-	}
-}
 
+=head2 _select_guts 
 
-# pjs 
+Internal api  method to make the actual select box form elements.
 
-=head2 to_select_from_many 
+3 types of lists making for -- 
+  Hash, Array, 
+  Array of CDBI objects.
+  Array of scalars , 
+  Array or  Array refs with cols from class,
+  Array of hashes 
 
+=cut
 
-Usage:  $object->to_select_from_many($accessor|$objects_to_select_from, [$element_name], [$options]);
 
-CD->has_many( 'songs' => "Songs" );
-... in some nearby piece of code:
-my $cd = CD->retrieve($id);
-my $select_song_html = $cd->to_select_from_many('songs');
-print "<h1>Choose your Favorite song from $cd</h1>";
-print $select_song_html.as_XML;
-return;
 
-# OR if you only want to select from a group of objects
+sub _select_guts {
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_; #$nullable, $selected_id, $values) = @_;
 
-my @favorites = $cd->favorite_songs;
-my $select_from_favorites = $cd->to_select_from_many(\@favorites);
+    #$args->{stringify} ||=  'stringify_selectbox';
 
-This an object method that makes a select box out of  the objects related to this object by a has_many relationship.  The select box only allows one selection.
-The multiple attribute can easily be added if needed to the element returned :
-$this_element->attr('multiple', 'multiple');
+    $args->{selected} = _hash_selected($args) if defined $args->{selected};
+	my $name = $args->{name} || $col;
+    my $a = HTML::Element->new('select', name => $name);
+	$a->attr( %{$args->{attr}} ) if $args->{attr};
+    
+    if ($args->{column_nullable}) {
+		my $null_element = HTML::Element->new('option', value => '');
+        $null_element->attr(selected => 'selected')
+	    	if ($args->{selected}{'null'});
+        $a->push_content($null_element);
+    }
 
-You can pass an array ref of objects to select from instead of the class accessor name if you already have the objects to select from. 
+ 	my $items = $args->{items};
+    my $type = ref $items;
+	my $proto = eval { ref $items->[0]; } || "";
+	my $optgroups = $args->{optgroups} || '';
+	
+	# Array of hashes, one for each optgroup
+	if ($optgroups) {
+		my $i = 0;
+		foreach (@$optgroups) {
+			my $ogrp=  HTML::Element->new('optgroup', label => $_);
+			$ogrp->push_content($self->_options_from_hash($items->[$i], $args));
+			$a->push_content($ogrp);
+			$i++;
+		}
+	}		
+    # Single Hash
+    elsif ($type eq 'HASH') {
+        $a->push_content($self->_options_from_hash($items, $args));
+    }
+    # Single Array
+    elsif ( $type eq 'ARRAY' and not ref $items->[0] ) {
+        $a->push_content($self->_options_from_array($items, $args));
+    }
+    # Array of Objects
+    elsif( $type eq 'ARRAY' and $proto !~ /ARRAY|HASH/i ) {
+        # make select  of objects
+        $a->push_content($self->_options_from_objects($items, $args));
+    }
+    # Array of Arrays
+    elsif ( $type eq 'ARRAY' and $proto eq 'ARRAY' ) {
+        $a->push_content($self->_options_from_arrays($items, $args));
+    }
+    # Array of Hashes
+    elsif ( $type eq 'ARRAY' and $proto eq 'HASH' ) {
+        $a->push_content($self->_options_from_hashes($items, $args));
+    }
+    else {
+        die "You passed a weird type of data structure to me. Here it is: " .
+	Dumper($items );
+    }
 
-Also, you can pass the name you want the element to have as a second argument.
-The default is the primary key name (as returned by primary_column) of the firstobject that is being selected from.
+    return $a;
 
-If related class has a multi column pk, this dies for now.#strange things may happen as primary_column method is used.
 
-=cut
+}
 
+=head2 _options_from_objects ( $objects, $args);
 
-sub to_select_from_many {
-    my ($self, $accessor, $elmnt_name) = @_;
-	my $objs = ref $accessor eq "ARRAY" ? $accessor : [$self->$accessor];
-	my $rel_class = ( @$objs ) ? ref $objs->[0] : 
-	                eval{$self->hasmany_class($accessor)}; 
+Private method to makes a options out of  objects. It attempts to call each
+objects stringify method specified in $args->{stringify} as the content. Otherwise the default stringification prevails.
 
-	$elmnt_name = eval {$rel_class->primary_column} ||  "__AF_TSFM_OBJS__" 
-		unless $elmnt_name;
+*Note only  single primary keys supported
 
-	return  _to_select_from_objs($objs, $elmnt_name);
-    
+=cut
+sub _options_from_objects {
+    my ($self, $items, $args) = @_;
+	my $selected = $args->{selected} || {};
+	my $stringify = $args->{stringify} || '';
+    my @res;
+	for (@$items) {
+		my $id = $_->id;
+		my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $id);
+		$id =~ s/^0*//; # leading zeros no good in hash key
+		$opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected->{$id}; 
+		my $content = $stringify ? $_->stringify :  "$_";
+		$opt->push_content($content);
+		push @res, $opt; 
+	}
+    return @res;
 }
 
-=head2 _to_select_from_objs($objects, $name, $selected);
+sub _options_from_arrays {
+    my ($self, $items, $args) = @_;
+	my $selected = $args->{selected} || {};
+    my @res;
+	my $class = $args->{class} || '';
+	my $stringify = $args->{stringify} || '';
+	for my $item (@$items) {
+	    my @pks; # for future multiple key support
+	    push @pks, shift @$item foreach $class->columns('Primary');
+		my $id = $pks[0];
+		$id =~ s/^0+//;  # In case zerofill is on .
+		my $val = defined $id ? $id : '';
+		my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value =>$val);
+		$opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected->{$id};
+		
+		my $content = ($class and $stringify and $class->can($stringify)) ? 
+		              $class->$stringify($_) : 
+			          join( '/', map { $_ if $_; }@{$item} );
+		$opt->push_content( $content );
+        push @res, $opt; 
+    }
+    return @res;
+}
 
-Private method to makes a select box of objects passed with name passed. 
-Assumes they are same type
 
-=cut
-sub _to_select_from_objs {
-    my ($objs, $elmnt_name) = @_;
-	CGI::Carp::croak("Usage: element name required") unless ($elmnt_name);
-#	$elmnt_name ||= eval {$objs->[0]->primary_column};
-#	unless ($elmnt_name) {
-#		my $num = @$objs;
-#		$self->_carp ("Element name arg. not passed and couldn't get element name from object 0. Number of objects in arg are: $num"); 
-#		return;
-#	}
+sub _options_from_array {
+    my ($self, $items, $args) = @_;
+    my $selected = $args->{selected} || {};
+    my @res;
+    for (@$items) {
+		my $val = defined $_ ? $_ : '';
+        my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $val);
+        #$opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected =~/^$id$/;
+        $opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected->{$_};
+        $opt->push_content( $_ );
+        push @res, $opt;
+    }
+    return @res;
+}
 
-	my $a = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $elmnt_name);
-	for (@$objs) {
-		my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $_->id);
-		$opt->push_content($_->stringify_self);
-		$a->push_content($opt);
-	}
-	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
-	$a;
+sub _options_from_hash {
+    my ($self, $items, $args) = @_;
+    my $selected = $args->{selected} || {};
+    my @res;
+
+    my @values = values %$items;
+    # hash Key is the option content  and the hash value is option value
+    for (sort keys %$items) {
+		my $val = defined $items->{$_} ? $items->{$_} : '';
+        my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $val);
+        #$opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected =~/^$id$/;
+        $opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected->{$items->{$_}};
+        $opt->push_content( $_ );
+        push @res, $opt;
+    }
+    return @res;
 }
-	
 
-# pjs EXPERIMENTAL
-#  TODO this is crap. I think this will just be a public sub to select many objects from a class. Then you can do thingks like add them to has_many and stuff. 
-#
-#  not finished
-# usage: CD->has_many('songs', 'Song', 'cd_id');
-#        my $song_sel_element = $class->_to_select_many('songs', @options);
-# @options have same form as a  SQL::Abstract options with exception of
-# -HINT element which is the class name if you want to give it. 
-# { '-HINT' => $classname, # so you can cheat, or be efficient
-#   'logic'=> 'OR',        # default is OR 
-#   $limiting_col => $limit_val,
-#   $limiting_col2=> $limit_val2,
-#   . . . }
-#
-# 
-# make select box for has many. This is a multiple select box (select many) 
-# element. If you want to choose between on of the has_many's an object has (
-# ie -- a cd has many songs and you want to choose one of the songs from it)
-# then pass an additional hash ref of limiting cols and vals. 
-# $cd->_to_many_select('songs', {'cd_id' => $cd->id, . . .}
-sub _to_select_many {
-    my ($self, $accessor, $hint, $where, $order ) = @_;
-    my $has_many_class = $hint || $self->hasmany_class($accessor);
-	my %selected = ();
-	%selected = map { $_->id => 1} $self->$accessor if ref $self;
-
-	my $pk = $has_many_class->primary_column;
-	my $a = $self->_to_select($pk, $has_many_class, \%selected, $where, $order); 
-	$a->attr('multiple', 'multiple');
 
-	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
-	$a;
+sub _options_from_hashes {
+    my ($self, $items, $args) = @_;
+	my $selected = $args->{selected} || {};
+	my $pk = eval {$args->{class}->primary_column} || 'id';
+	my $fclass = $args->{class} || '';
+	my $stringify = $args->{stringify} || '';
+	my @res;
+	for (@$items) {
+		my $val = defined $_->{$pk} ? $_->{$pk} : '';
+		my $opt = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $val);
+		$opt->attr(selected => "selected") if $selected->{$val};
+		my $content = ($fclass and $stringify and $fclass->can($stringify)) ? 
+		              $fclass->$stringify($_) : 
+			          join(' ', @$_);
+		$opt->push_content( $content );
+        push @res, $opt; 
+    }
+	return @res;
 }
 
+# TODO -- Maybe
+#sub _to_select_or_create {
+#	my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+#	$args->{name} ||= $col;
+#	my $select = $self->to_field($col, 'select', $args);
+#	$args->{name} = "create_" . $args->{name};
+#	my $create = $self->to_field($col, 'foreign_inputs', $args);
+#	$create->{'__select_or_create__'} = 
+#		$self->to_field('__select_or_create__',{ name => '__select_or_create__' , value => 1 } );
+#	return ($select, $create);
+#}
+	
+# 
+# checkboxes: if no data in hand (ie called as class method), replace
+# with a radio button, in order to allow this field to be left
+# unspecified in search / add forms.
+# 
+# Not tested
+# TODO  --  make this general checkboxse
+# 
+#
+sub _to_checkbox {
+    my ($self, $col, $args) = @_;
+    my $nullable = eval {self->column_nullable($col)} || 0; 
+    return $self->_to_radio($col) if !ref($self) || $nullable;
+    my $value = $self->$col;
+    my $a = HTML::Element->new("input", type=> "checkbox", name => $col);
+    $a->attr("checked" => 'true') if $value eq 'Y';
+    return $a;
+}
 
 
-
-sub _to_select_old_version {
-	my ($self, $col, $hint) = @_;
-	my $has_a_class = $hint || $self->__hasa_rels->{$col}->[0];
-	my @objs        = $has_a_class->retrieve_all;
-	my $a           = HTML::Element->new("select", name => $col);
-	for (@objs) {
-		my $sel = HTML::Element->new("option", value => $_->id);
-		$sel->attr("selected" => "selected")
-			if ref $self
-			and eval { $_->id eq $self->$col->id };
-		$sel->push_content($_->stringify_self);
-		$a->push_content($sel);
-	}
-	$OLD_STYLE && return $a->as_HTML;
-	$a;
+# TODO  -- make this general radio butons
+#
+sub _to_radio {
+    my ($self, $col) = @_;
+    my $value = ref $self && $self->$col || '';
+    my $nullable = eval {self->column_nullable($col)} || 0; 
+    my $a = HTML::Element->new("span");
+    my $ry = HTML::Element->new("input", type=> "radio", name=>$col, value=>'Y' );
+    my $rn = HTML::Element->new("input", type=> "radio", name=>$col, value=>'N' );
+    my $ru = HTML::Element->new("input", type=> "radio", name=>$col, value=>'' ) if $nullable;
+    $ry->push_content('Yes'); $rn->push_content('No');
+    $ru->push_content('n/a') if $nullable;
+    if ($value eq 'Y') { $ry->attr("checked" => 'true') }
+    elsif ($value eq 'N') { $rn->attr("checked" => 'true') }
+    elsif ($nullable) { $ru->attr("checked" => 'true') }
+    $a->push_content($ry, $rn);
+    $a->push_content($ru) if $nullable;
+    return $a;
 }
 
 
@@ -690,99 +1314,117 @@ sub _to_select_old_version {
 ############################ HELPER METHODS ######################
 ##################################################################
 
-# hasmany_class($accessor) -- stole code from Maypole::Model::CDBI
-# Returns class of has_many relationship when given the accessor
-sub hasmany_class  {
-	my ( $self, $accessor ) = @_;
-	$self->_croak("No accessor (2nd arg) passed to hasmany_class")
-		unless $accessor;
-	my $rel_meta = $self->meta_info('has_many' => $accessor);
-	
-	my $mapping; 
-	if ( $mapping = $rel_meta->{args}->{mapping} and @$mapping ) {
-		return $rel_meta->{foreign_class}->meta_info('has_a')->{ $$mapping[0] }->{foreign_class};
-	}
-	else {
-		return $rel_meta->{foreign_class};
-	}
-}
+=head2 _rename_foreign_input
 
+_rename_foreign_input($html_el_or_hash_of_them); # changes made by reference
 
-1;
+Recursively renames the foreign inputs made by _to_foreign_inputs so they 
+can be processed generically.  It uses foreign_input_delimiter. 
 
-=head1 ***NEW PJS Stuff**** GETTING SPECIFIC IN MODEL CLASS 
+So if an Employee is a Person who has_many  Addresses and you call and the
+method 'foreign_input_delimiter' returns '__AF__' then 
 
-You can tell AsForm some things in your model classes to get custom results. In particular you can have:
+  Employee->to_field("person");  
+  
+will get inputs for the Person as well as their Address (by default,
+override _field_from_relationship to change logic) named like this: 
 
-=head2 Custom column_type methods
+  person__AF__address__AF__street
+  person__AF__address__AF__city
+  person__AF__address__AF__state  
+  person__AF__address__AF__zip  
 
-Since much of this modules functionality relies on the subroutine C<column_type>
-returning the type string from the database table definition Model classes can
-benefit a great deal by writing their own. See example.  This version tries to
-call column_type with the model class first. IF your model's column_type returns
-undef or it has no such method it falls back on 
-C<&Class::DBI::Plugin::Type::column_type> which is database independent but not
-fully functional yet. For full functionality make a custom C<column_type> method
-in your base model class and override it in subclasses at will. Some \
-Class::DBI::* drivers such as Class::DBI::mysql have mostly functional ones.  
+And the processor would know to create this address, put the address id in
+person->{address} data slot, insert the person and put the person id in the employee->{person} data slot and then insert the employee with that data.
 
-With a column_type sub you can set bool options for users , make select boxes 
-for ordinary columns (by lying and returning an enum('blah', 'blh') string for a
-column, get correct types for is_a inherited columns, optimize , and maybe more.
+=cut
 
-=head2 Appropriate elements for columns inherited from an is_a relationship
+sub _rename_foreign_input {
+	my ($self, $accssr, $element) = @_;
+	my $del = $self->foreign_input_delimiter;
+	
+	if ( ref $element ne 'HASH' ) {
+	#	my $new_name = $accssr . "__AF__" . $input->attr('name');
+		$element->attr( name => $accssr . $del . $element->attr('name'));
+	}
+	else {
+		$self->_rename_foreign_input($accssr, $element->{$_}) 
+			foreach (keys %$element);
+	}
+}
+
+=head2 foreign_input_delimiter
 
-At least you have the power to get them by making column_type work.
+This tells AsForm what to use to delmit forieign_input names with. The name has the form -- $foreign_accessor. $DELIMITER . $foreign_column 
 
-=head2 Select box specifications for has_a columns.
+=cut
 
-You can specify columns to be selected for a select box's options 
- for a class by :
+sub foreign_input_delimiter { '__AF__' };
 
-	__Package__->columns('SelectBox' => qw/col1 col2/);
+=head2 _box($value) 
 
-If you don't, 'Stringify' columns are used if they exist and lastly 'Essential'
-columns. The 'Primary' column is always the option value. This means don't 
-include it in the 'SelectBox' columns unless you want it in the option content. 
+This functions computes the dimensions of a textarea based on the value 
+or the defaults.
 
-You can limit rows selected for the select box with a has_a_select_limit sub like so:
+=cut
 
-	Customer->has_a(pay_plan => "PayPlan");
-	Customer->has_a(pick_fromTopFive  => "Movie");
-	sub has_a_select_limit { {
-	 	pay_plan            => "WHERE is_available = 1", 
-	  	pick_fromTopFive    => "ORDER BY rank ASC LIMIT 5" }
+sub _box
+{
+	
+	my ($min_rows, $max_rows, $min_cols, $max_cols) = (2 => 50, 20 => 100);
+    my $text = shift;
+    if ($text) {
+	my @rows = split /^/, $text;
+	my $cols = $min_cols;
+	my $chars = 0;
+	for (@rows) {
+	    my $len = length $_;
+	    $chars += $len;
+	    $cols = $len if $len > $cols;
+	    $cols = $max_cols if $cols > $max_cols;
 	}
+	my $rows = @rows;
+	$rows = int($chars/$cols) + 1 if $chars/$cols > $rows;
+	$rows = $min_rows if $rows < $min_rows;
+	$rows = $max_rows if $rows > $max_rows;
+	($rows, $cols)
+    }
+    else { ($min_rows, $min_cols) }
+}
 
-If you need complex stringification make a C<stringify_selectbox> sub which 
-takes an arrayref. Elements are in order specified in columns('SelectBox') 
-or whatever columns list was used. Otherwise, the array is joined on ' '. 
 
-=cut
+1;
 
 
 =head1 CHANGES
 
-Many by Peter Speltz
+=head1 MAINTAINER 
+
+Maypole Developers
 
+=head1 AUTHORS
 
-Version 1.x of this module returned raw HTML instead of
-C<HTML::Element> objects, which made it harder to manipulate the
-HTML before sending it out. If you depend on the old behaviour, set
-C<$Class::DBI::AsForm::OLD_STYLE> to a true value.
+Peter Speltz, Aaron Trevena 
 
-=head1 MAINTAINER 
+=head1 AUTHORS EMERITUS
 
-Tony Bowden
+Simon Cozens, Tony Bowden
 
-=head1 ORIGINAL AUTHOR
+=head1 TODO
 
-Simon Cozens
+  Documenting 
+  Testing - lots
+  chekbox generalization
+  radio generalization
+  select work
+  Make link_hidden use standard make_url stuff when it gets in Maypole
+  How do you tell AF --" I want a has_many select box for this every time so,
+     when you call "to_field($this_hasmany)" you get a select box
 
 =head1 BUGS and QUERIES
 
 Please direct all correspondence regarding this module to:
-  bug-Class-DBI-AsForm@rt.cpan.org
+ Maypole list. 
 
 =head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
 
@@ -797,4 +1439,3 @@ L<Class::DBI>, L<Class::DBI::FromCGI>, L<HTML::Element>.
 
 =cut
 
-