Ideal Forms logo
Download Github
The best forms just got better!
Ideal Forms 3 is smaller, faster, and more extensible.

License: GPL or MIT
Support: IE9+ and all modern browsers

Features

Major changes since version 2

Ideal Forms 3 is not compatible with version 2. You can still find Ideal Forms 2 under jq-idealforms-old, but support has been dropped. Here's what's new in version 3:

TODO

Setup

<!--[if IE 9]> <html class="ie9" lang="en"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gt IE 9)|!(IE)]><!--> <html lang="en"> <!--<![endif]-->
$('form').idealforms({ options });

TOC

Options

defaults = {
  field: '.field',
  error: '.error',
  iconHtml: '<i/>',
  iconClass: 'icon',
  invalidClass: 'invalid',
  validClass: 'valid',
  silentLoad: true,
  onValidate: $.noop,
  onSubmit: $.noop,
  rules: {},
  errors: {}
}

field

The field container for custom markup.

error

The error container for custom markup.

iconHtml

The element to use as icon. Set to false to disable icons.

iconClass

The class for the icon element.

invalidClass

The class that will be added to invalid fields.

validClass

The class that will be added to valid fields.

silentLoad

Initialize the form silently, otherwise focus the first invalid input.

onValidate(input, rule, valid)

Callback that runs after an input attempts to validate.

onSubmit(invalid, event)

Callback that runs when the form is submitted.

Example:

$('form').idealforms({
  onSubmit: function(invalid, e) {
    e.preventDefault();

    if (invalid) {
      alert(invalid +' fields!');
    } else {
      $.post('save.php', this.$form.serialize(), function(response) {
        // do something with response
      }, 'json');
    }
  }
});

rules

Field rules. See Adding Rules.

errors

User defined errors for added rules. See Custom Errors.

TOC

Markup

You can get started quickly using Ideal Forms' default markup: 

<form class="idealforms" novalidate autocomplete="off" action="/" method="post">

  <!-- Text -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Username:</label>
    <input name="username" type="text">
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- File -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Picture:</label>
    <input id="picture" name="picture" type="file" multiple>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Radio -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Sex:</label>
    <p class="group">
      <label><input name="sex" type="radio" value="male">Male</label>
      <label><input name="sex" type="radio" value="female">Female</label>
    </p>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Checkbox -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Hobbies:</label>
    <p class="group">
      <label><input name="hobbies[]" type="checkbox" value="football">Football</label>
      <label><input name="hobbies[]" type="checkbox" value="basketball">Basketball</label>
      <label><input name="hobbies[]" type="checkbox" value="dancing">Dancing</label>
    </p>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Select -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Options:</label>
    <select name="options">
      <option value="default">&ndash; Select an option &ndash;</option>
      <option value="1">One</option>
      <option value="2">Two</option>
    </select>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Textarea -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Comments:</label>
    <textarea name="comments" cols="30" rows="10"></textarea>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Button -->
  <button type="submit">Submit</button>

</form>

Markup with Rules

You can build simple forms by adding the rules to the markup, using the data-idealforms-rules attribute:

<form class="idealforms" novalidate autocomplete="off" action="/" method="post">

  <!-- Single -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Username:</label>
    <input name="username" type="text" data-idealforms-rules="required username">
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

  <!-- Group
  On inputs that share the same name,
  you only need to add the rules on the first one -->
  <div class="field">
    <label class="main">Hobbies:</label>
    <p class="group">
      <label><input name="group[]" type="checkbox" value="A"
        data-idealforms-rules="minoption:1 maxoption:2">A</label>
      <label><input name="group[]" type="checkbox" value="B">B</label>
      <label><input name="group[]" type="checkbox" value="C">C</label>
    </p>
    <span class="error"></span>
  </div>

</form>

Custom Markup

Ideal Forms 3 has been built from scratch with flexibility in mind. The markup is no longer tied to the plugin. If the default markup doesn't work for you, you can create your own markup. Ideal Forms will look for the following:

Then you have to tell Ideal Forms that you want to use custom markup. You can specify these options when initializing the plugin:

$('form').idealforms({
  field: '.myfield', // selector
  error: '.myerror', // selector
  validClass: 'myvalid', // class name
  invalidClass: 'myinvalid' // class name
});

TOC

Adding Rules

Pass an object to the rules option, where each key corresponds to a name attribute and each value is a string of rules assigned to that input. Always quote keys for consistency:

$('form').idealforms({
  rules: {
    'username': 'required username',
    'password': 'required password',
    'sex': 'minoption:1',
    'hobbies[]': 'minoption:1 maxoption:2',
    'options': 'select:default'
  }
});

You can also add rules after initializing the plugin:

$('form').idealforms('addRules', {
  'comments': 'required minmax:50:200'
});

Custom Errors

To display your own custom errors for the rules you added pass the names and a list of errors for each field:

$('form').idealforms({

  rules: {
    ...
  },

  errors: {
    'username': {
      required: 'Please enter a username',
      username: 'This username is not valid, try again'
    },
    'password': {
      password: 'Please enter a secure password'
    }
  }
});

TOC

Built-in Rules

A rule must be in this format rule:param where rule is the name of the rule and param is a rule parameter, for example minmax:10:50 will use the minmax rule with two arguments, 10 and 50.

TOC

Methods

To call a method run idealforms on the form and pass the method and arguments:

$('form').idealforms('method', arg1, arg2, ...);

Methods that have a colon like is:valid return something other than the instance, so they can't be chained.

.idealforms('addRules', rules)

See Adding Rules

.idealforms('get:invalid')

Returns a jQuery collection of all invalid fields. Access the length to check how many fields are invalid.

.idealforms('focusFirstInvalid')

Focus the first invalid field.

.idealforms('is:valid', name)

If you pass a name it will check if that input is valid, otherwise it will check if all inputs are valid.

.idealforms('reset', name)

If you pass a name it will reset that single input, if you don't it will reset all inputs to zero. That means emptying all the values of text inputs, unchecking all checkboxes and radios, and reverting selects to their default option.

TOC

Built-in Extensions

Ideal Forms 3 has been re-designed to be able to extend the core easily. Read on Custom Extensions to learn more.

Ideal Forms comes with a few built-in extensions. Extensions can be disabled with the disabledExtensions option by passing a space separated string of extensions.

$('form').idealforms({
  disabledExtensions: 'dynamicFields steps customInputs ajax'
});

Extension: Dynamic Fields

Name: dynamicFields

Dynamic Fields extends core with the following methods:

.idealforms('addFields', fields)

Add fields to the form.

{
  type*: 'text:subtype | file | group:subtype | select',
  label*: 'Label',
  value: 'value',
  attrs: 'attr="value"',
  after: 'name',
  before: 'name',
  list: [
    { value: 'value', text: 'text' }
    ...
  ],
  rules: 'rule rule rule'
}

Text subtypes include all HMTL5 text types, such as email, number, etc...

Group subtypes include radio and checkbox.

If before or after are not set, the field will be added at the end of the form.

Example:

$('form').idealforms('addFields', {
  'fruits[]': {
    type: 'group:checkbox',
    label: 'Fruits',
    list: [
      { value: 'apple', text: 'Apple', attrs: 'checked' },
      { value: 'orange', text: 'Orange' },
      { value: 'banana', text: 'Banana' }
    ],
    rules: 'minoption:1 maxoption:2'
  }
});

The HTML is generated according to built-in templates. If you're using your own custom markup you may need custom templates. Ideal Forms provides a simple templating system to easy the pain. These are the default templates that you may change in the options when calling the plugin. They are listed as real HTML for convenience but you must pass a string in the options (you can get the HTML from a script tag for example):

<!-- Base -->
<div class="field">
  <label class="main">{label}</label>
  {field}
  <span class="error"></span>
</div>

<!-- Text -->
<input name="{name}" type="{subtype}" value="{value}" {attrs}>

<!-- File -->
<input id="{name} "name="{name}" type="file" value="{value}" {attrs}>

<!-- Textarea -->
<textarea name="{name}" {attrs}>{text}</textarea>

<!-- Group -->
<p class="group">
  {@list}
  <label><input name="{name}" type="{subtype}" value="{#value}" {#attrs}>{#text}</label>
  {/list}
</p>

<!-- Select -->
<select name={name}>
  {@list}
  <option value="{#value}">{#text}</option>
  {/list}
</select>
$('form').idealforms({

  templates: {
    base: '...',
    text: '...',
    file: '...',
    textarea: '...',
    group: '...',
    select: '...'
  }
});

The templating rules are:

.idealforms('removeFields', names)

Remove fields from the form.

Example:

$('form').idealforms('removeFields', 'username password hobbies[]');

.idealforms('toggleFields', names)

Show or hide fields. When the fields are hidden they will be excluded from the validation.

Example:

$('form').idealforms('toggleFields', 'username password hobbies[]');

Dynamic Fields adds injection points for addFields, removeFields and toggleFields. Read about custom extensions for more info.

Extension: Steps

Name: steps

Steps let you organize your form in sections. Steps expects a container, navigation, wrapper, and at least one step. Using the default options you may build your form like so:

<div class="idealsteps-container">

  <nav class="idealsteps-nav"></nav>

  <form>

    <div class="idealsteps-wrap">

      <!-- Step 1 -->
      <section class="idealsteps-step">
        <!-- Form fields -->
      </section>

      <!-- Step 2 -->
      <section class="idealsteps-step">
        <!-- Form fields -->
      </section>

      <!-- Step 3 -->
      <section class="idealsteps-step">
        <!-- Form fields -->
      </section>

    </div>

  </form>

</div>

Steps adds the following options to Ideal Forms:

{
  steps: {
    container: 'idealsteps-container', // the main container
    nav: '.idealsteps-nav', // navigation
    navItems: 'li', // navigation element that receives events
    // Build nav items as "Step 1", "Step 2"... automatically
    // or pass your own custom function.
    // Set to `false` to use your own custom markup
    buildNavItems: function(i) {
      return 'Step '+ (i+1);
    },
    wrap: '.idealsteps-wrap',
    step: '.idealsteps-step',
    activeClass: 'idealsteps-step-active',
    before: null, // runs before changing steps
    after: null, // runs after changing steps
    fadeSpeed: 0
  }
}

For example, you could build the steps with your own text like so:

steps: {
  MY_stepsItems: ['One', 'Two', 'Three'],
  buildNavItems: function(i) {
    return this.opts.steps.MY_stepsItems[i];
  }
}

Steps provides these methods:

.idealforms('goToStep', index)

Go to the step number index. Indices start at 0.

.idealforms('prevStep')

Go to the previous step. It wraps around.

.idealforms('nextStep')

Go to the next step. It wraps around.

.idealforms('firstStep')

Go to the first step.

.idealforms('lastStep')

Go to the last step.

Steps adds the appendToStep:index option to addFields:

$('form').addFields({ 'field': { type: 'text', label: 'Field', appendToStep: 1 }});

Extension: Custom Inputs

Adds custom checkboxes, radios and file inputs (yes!) seamlessly. The custom select menu has been dropped from Ideal Forms 3 but you can find a new simple replacement being maintained as jquery.idealselect.

Note: File inputs must have an id as well as a name to work on IE.

This extension has no additional options or methods.

Extension: Ajax

Name: ajax

Adds an ajax rule. First specify a URL on your input:

<input type="text" name="username" data-idealforms-ajax="test-username.php"/>

Then add the rule to the field always at last and add an error to handle an invalid response:

$('form').idealforms({
  rules: {
    'username': 'required username ajax'
  },
  errors: {
    'username': {
      ajax: 'Checking user availability...',
      ajaxError: 'Username not available, try a different one.'
    }
  }
});

The ajax filter will read the URL and send a POST request to the server. The server side script must return a JSON encoded true (passes validation) or false (fails validation). for example in PHP:

<?php
echo json_encode(true);

If the response gets delayed the field will switch into "ajax mode" by showing a loading icon until the response comes back.

Extension: Datepicker

Name: datepicker

Adds a datepicker to date inputs. You must include jQuery UI first, then add the class datepicker to your date inputs:

<input name="event" type="text" placeholder="mm/dd/yyyy" class="datepicker">

Now you can add the date rule:

$('form').idealforms({
  rules: {
    'event': 'date'
  }
});

The default format is mm/dd/yyyy for Ideal Forms and mm/dd/yy for the jQuery UI datepicker. Note that Ideal Forms represents years with yyyy not yy, but the formats are interchangeable.

$('form').idealforms({
  rules: {
    'event': 'date:yyyy-mm-dd'
  }
});

$('.datepicker').datepicker('option', 'dateFormat', 'yy-mm-dd');

Extension: Adaptive

Name: adaptive

Adapts the form to the container when resizing the browser allowing it to work with any responsive grid system. Ideal Forms will add the class adaptive to the form and Steps navigation (if present) so you can add your own styles if you decide to use custom markup.

Ideal Forms calculates the adaptive width at which the change of layout occurs. If you use custom markup and styles make sure to set the adaptiveWidth plugin option using the formula:

$('form').idealforms({
  adaptiveWidth: 600 // the total width of a field (label + input + icon + error)
});

TOC

Custom Rules

You can add rules by extending the global rules object:

$.extend($.idealforms.rules, {

  ruleRegex: /abc/g,

  // The rule is added as "ruleFunction:arg1:arg2"
  // @param input {Node}
  ruleFunction: function(input, value, arg1, arg2, ...) {

  }
});

After you add a rule you must add an error for it, by extending the global errors object. Don't forget this step:

$.extend($.idealforms.errors, {
  ruleRegex: 'Must be a valid value for this rule',
  ruleFunction: 'Must be a valid value. {0}, {1}'
});

If the rule is a function that takes rule parameters pass the parameters as {0}, {1}, etc. If you want to print all the parameters use {*} where the default separator is a comma but you can use your own like {*~} where ~ is the custom separator.

TOC

Custom Extensions

To add a custom extension provide a name, extended options and extended methods if any. You can inject code into the following built-in methods:

It is recommended that you always namespace your extension, by prefixing it with a unique identifier. To allow for Ideal Forms localization, add the i18n option and all the strings that may change inside, then build your extension with localization in mind:

$.idealforms.addExtension({

  name: 'MY_extensionName',

  options: {
    MY_extension: {
      option: 'default',
      i18n: {
        initialized: 'Initialized'
      }
    }
  },

  methods: {

    // @extend
    _init: function() {
      console.log(this.opts.i18n.initialized +'!');
    },

    MY_newMethod: function() {

    }
  }
});

If an extension depends on another extension you may use _hasExtension:

_init: function() {
  if (this._hasExtension('ajax')) {
    ...
  }
}

TOC

Localization

To localize Ideal Forms load the corresponding i18n file from js/i18n after the plugin:

<script src="jquery.idealforms.js"></script>
<script src="jquery.idealforms.i18n.es.js"></script>

Creating your own locale file:

/**
 * i18n ES
 */
$.idealforms.i18n.es = {

  customInputs: {
    open: 'Abrir'
  },

  steps: {
    step: 'Paso'
  },

  errors: {
    required: 'Este campo es obligatorio',
    digits: 'Debe contener sólo cifras',
    name: 'Debe contener al menos 3 caracteres y contener únicamente letras',
    ...
  }
};

External plugins like the jQuery UI datepicker have to be localized separately in their own way.

Themes

Ideal Forms 3 themes are built with Stylus. To create your own theme to use with the default markup open styl/vars.stly, modify what you need and compile.

valid = #3F9DCC // valid font color
valid-bg = #EDF7FC // valid background color
invalid = #CC2A18 // invalid font color
invalid-bg = #FFEDED // invalid background color
ajax = #CFAA19 // ajax font color
ajax-bg = #FAF9E8 // ajax background color
ui-element = #ddd // buttons, select and steps backgruond color
error = #285d85 // error background color

label-width = 120px // main labels width
input-width = 290px // input width applies to all fields
error-width = (input-width/1.5)
radius = 3px // border-radius

icon = true // disable icons (must disable in plugin options too)
icon-size = 16px // must be square icon
icon-padding = 8px // padding between icon, input and error

radiocheck-sprite = true // `false` to use css-only style
radiocheck-size = 18px // size for css-only radiocheck
group-horizontal = false // group checkbox and radio horizontally

To customize the theme in your CSS file make sure to always add the form.idealforms selector so it takes precedence over the default styles, for example, you may change the default label width like:

form.idealforms label.main {
  width: 200px;
}

TOC

FAQ

How to access the Ideal Forms plugin instance

Ideal Forms attaches an instance of itself to your form(s). To access the instance (prototype) use data:

var instance = $('form').data('idealforms');

Now you an use methods like so:

instance.reset(); // reset the form

Why the icons don't show up

Ideal Forms assumes that your site has this common structure:

site
  + css
  + img
  + js
    index.html

When you download Ideal Forms, make sure to place the images inside img. If your folder structure is different you have to open css/jquery.idealforms.css and search and replace ../img/ with the correct path to your images folder relative to the plugin.

TOC

Build & Share

Ideal Forms 3 is built using some popular NodeJS tools. This is what you'll need to install globally:

Then clone the repo, cd into the folder and run npm install to install dependencies.

Finally run watch -c sh compile.sh to watch for changes and compile. Now you're ready to edit files and help make Ideal Forms better, or create your own fork.

If you want to test ajax make sure to run it on your localhost.

This instructions have only been tested on Ubuntu, but you should be able to compile on any Unix system. Some Windows terminal emulators don't provide the watch command, but you can still run the script normally with bash sh compile.sh.

Enjoy smiley

TOC

Update History

09/10/13

07/10/13

05/10/13