How to Create a Grid Form with UI Component in Magento

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Use Grid Forms in Magento?
  3. Setting the Stage: Preliminary Steps
  4. Creating a Grid Form: Step-by-Step Guide
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQs

Introduction

In today’s digital landscape, developing an e-commerce platform that stands out requires seamless interaction and intuitive design. One of the most effective ways to manage complex data on Magento is through grid forms. These forms allow users to handle large datasets efficiently, making the overall management process smoother and more effective. But how exactly can you create such a grid form using Magento's UI components? This blog post aims to answer that question comprehensively.

By the end of this post, you will understand the step-by-step process of creating a grid form with UI components in Magento. We will delve into foundational concepts, explore the implications of different methodologies, and examine real-life examples to illustrate key points.

Why Use Grid Forms in Magento?

Grid forms are essential in Magento for several reasons:

  1. Efficient Data Management: They allow for efficient handling of large datasets, facilitating better data manipulation and viewing.

  2. Customization: Grid forms can be customized to suit specific needs, making them versatile tools for various applications.

  3. User-Friendly Interface: They offer a structured and organized way to display and edit data, enhancing user experience.

  4. Accessibility: With well-designed grid forms, data is easily accessible and modifiable, saving time and effort for administrators.

Setting the Stage: Preliminary Steps

Before diving into the actual creation of a grid form, it's crucial to understand the preliminary steps involved. These include setting up your Magento environment, ensuring all necessary dependencies are installed, and having a basic understanding of Magento’s file structure and UI components.

Step 1: Environment Setup

Ensure you have a Magento environment set up. This includes a web server (Apache or Nginx), PHP, and a database (MySQL). You'll also need to have Composer installed to manage Magento dependencies.

Step 2: Understanding Components

Magento’s UI components are a powerful tool that provide robust, reusable elements. For grid forms, you'll primarily be working with the Listing and Form UI components.

Creating a Grid Form: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we have laid the groundwork, let’s dive into the steps to create a grid form using Magento UI components.

Step 1: Create a New Module

First, create a new module to house your grid component.

  1. Directory Structure: Follow Magento’s directory structure to create your module. For instance:

    app/code/Vendor/Module/

  2. Registration: Register your module by creating a registration.php file:

    <?php
\Magento\Framework\Component\ComponentRegistrar::register(
    \Magento\Framework\Component\ComponentRegistrar::MODULE,
    'Vendor_Module',
    __DIR__
);

  3. Module XML: Define your module in the module.xml file:

    <config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:Module/etc/module.xsd">
    <module name="Vendor_Module" setup_version="1.0.0"/>
</config>

Step 2: Create Database Schema

Define your database schema by creating a schema.xml file in Setup directory to set up the necessary tables.

<!-- app/code/Vendor/Module/Setup/schema.xml -->
<schema xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:Setup/Declaration/Schema/etc/schema.xsd">
  <table name="vendor_module_example" resource="default" engine="innodb" comment="Example Table">
      <column xsi:type="int" name="entity_id" nullable="false" identity="true" comment="Entity ID"/>
      <column xsi:type="varchar" name="name" nullable="false" length="255" comment="Name"/>
      <column xsi:type="text" name="description" nullable="true" comment="Description"/>
      <constraint xsi:type="primary" referenceId="PRIMARY">
          <column name="entity_id"/>
      </constraint>
  </table>
</schema>

Step 3: Data Provider and Collection

Create a data provider that fetches data from your tables.

  1. Data Provider: Configure the data provider.

    <!-- app/code/Vendor/Module/view/adminhtml/ui_component/vendor_module_example_listing.xml -->
<listing xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:ui:config/xsd/ui.xsd">
    <dataSource name="vendor_module_example_listing_data_source">
        <argument name="dataProvider" xsi:type="configurableObject">
            <class>Vendor\Module\Model\Example\DataProvider</class>
            <argument name="name" xsi:type="string">vendor_module_example_listing_data_source</argument>
        </argument>
    </dataSource>
</listing>

  2. Collection: Create the collection class for fetching data.

    <?php
namespace Vendor\Module\Model\ResourceModel\Example;

use Magento\Framework\Model\ResourceModel\Db\Collection\AbstractCollection;

class Collection extends AbstractCollection
{
    protected $_idFieldName = 'entity_id';
    protected $_eventPrefix = 'vendor_module_example_collection_event';

    protected function _construct()
    {
        $this->_init('Vendor\Module\Model\Example', 'Vendor\Module\Model\ResourceModel\Example');
    }
}

Step 4: Define Grid Layout

Define the grid layout by writing the necessary XML configuration.

  1. Grid XML Configuration:
    <!-- app/code/Vendor/Module/view/adminhtml/ui_component/vendor_module_example_listing.xml -->
<listing xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:ui:config/xsd/ui.xsd">
    <settings>
        <spinner>example_columns</spinner>
    </settings>
    <columns name="example_columns">
        <selectionsColumn name="ids">
            <settings>
                <indexField>entity_id</indexField>
            </settings>
        </selectionsColumn>
        <column name="entity_id">
            <settings>
                <filter>text</filter>
                <label translate="true">ID</label>
                <sortable>true</sortable>
            </settings>
        </column>
        <column name="name">
            <settings>
                <filter>text</filter>
                <label translate="true">Name</label>
                <sortable>true</sortable>
            </settings>
        </column>
    </columns>
</listing>

Step 5: Add Actions and Mass Actions

  1. Actions:

    <!-- part of vendor_module_example_listing.xml -->
<actionsColumn name="actions" class="Vendor\Module\Ui\Component\Example\Actions">
    <settings>
        <indexField>entity_id</indexField>
    </settings>
</actionsColumn>

  2. Mass Actions:

    <!-- part of vendor_module_example_listing.xml -->
<massaction name="example_massaction">
    <action name="delete">
        <settings>
            <confirm>
                <message translate="true">Are you sure you wan’t to delete selected items?</message>
            </confirm>
        </settings>
    </action>
</massaction>

Step 6: Backend Controllers

Backend controllers handle the CRUD operations. Create a controller for form submission.

<?php
namespace Vendor\Module\Controller\Adminhtml\Example;

use Magento\Backend\App\Action;

class Save extends Action
{
    public function execute()
    {
        // Handle the form submit logic here
    }
}

Step 7: Frontend Adjustments

Ensure that your grid interface aligns with the overall design of your Magento admin panel. With the UI components and configurations set, you should test and verify that the grid form operates as intended, providing seamless data management.

Conclusion

Creating a grid form using Magento's UI components requires methodical steps and careful configuration. This guide has covered the essential steps, from module creation to data provider setup and grid configuration. By following these steps, you can enhance your Magento admin interface, making management tasks more efficient and user-friendly.

Remember, the key to mastering Magento’s UI components lies in understanding their flexibility and leveraging them to build tailored solutions that meet specific needs. Keep experimenting, and don't hesitate to tap into the broader Magento community for tips and best practices.

FAQs

What are the benefits of using Magento UI components?

Magento UI components provide a versatile, reusable, and structured approach to building complex forms and grids, making them essential for efficient data handling.

Can I customize the grid form further?

Yes, Magento’s UI components are highly customizable. You can tailor the grid forms to suit specific requirements by modifying XML configurations and adding custom JavaScript or CSS.

Are there any prerequisites for creating grid forms?

A solid understanding of Magento’s file structure, dependency management with Composer, and basic PHP knowledge are prerequisites for creating and customizing grid forms effectively.