silverstripe-framework/docs/en/02_Developer_Guides/00_Model/11_Scaffolding.md

title: Building Model and Search Interfaces around Scaffolding summary: A Model-driven approach to defining your application UI.

Scaffolding

The ORM already has a lot of information about the data represented by a DataObject through its $db property, so SilverStripe will use that information to provide scaffold some interfaces. This is done though [api:FormScaffolder] to provide reasonable defaults based on the property type (e.g. a checkbox field for booleans). You can then further customise those fields as required.

Form Fields

An example is DataObject, SilverStripe will automatically create your CMS interface so you can modify what you need.

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {
	
	private static $db = array(
		'IsActive' => 'Boolean',
		'Title' => 'Varchar',
		'Content' => 'Text'
	);

	public function getCMSFields() {
		// parent::getCMSFields() does all the hard work and creates the fields for Title, IsActive and Content.
		$fields = parent::getCMSFields();
		$fields->dataFieldByName('IsActive')->setTitle('Is active?');
		
		return $fields;
	}
}

To fully customise your form fields, start with an empty FieldList.

:::php
<?php

	public function getCMSFields() {
		$fields = FieldList::create(
			TabSet::create("Root.Main",
				CheckboxSetField::create('IsActive','Is active?'),
				TextField::create('Title'),
				TextareaField::create('Content')
					->setRows(5)
			)
		);
		
		return $fields;
	}

You can also alter the fields of built-in and module DataObject classes through your own DataExtension, and a call to DataExtension->updateCMSFields.

Searchable Fields

The $searchable_fields property uses a mixed array format that can be used to further customise your generated admin system. The default is a set of array values listing the fields.

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

   private static $searchable_fields = array(
      'Name',
      'ProductCode'
   );
}

Searchable fields will be appear in the search interface with a default form field (usually a [api:TextField]) and a default search filter assigned (usually an [api:ExactMatchFilter]). To override these defaults, you can specify additional information on $searchable_fields:

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

	private static $searchable_fields = array(
		'Name' => 'PartialMatchFilter',
		'ProductCode' => 'NumericField'
	);
}

If you assign a single string value, you can set it to be either a [api:FormField] or [api:SearchFilter]. To specify both, you can assign an array:

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

   private static $searchable_fields = array(
       'Name' => array(
          'field' => 'TextField',
          'filter' => 'PartialMatchFilter',
       ),
       'ProductCode' => array(
           'title' => 'Product code #',
           'field' => 'NumericField',
           'filter' => 'PartialMatchFilter',
       ),
   );
}

To include relations ($has_one, $has_many and $many_many) in your search, you can use a dot-notation.

:::php
<?php

class Team extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Title' => 'Varchar'
  );

  private static $many_many = array(
    'Players' => 'Player'
  );

  private static $searchable_fields = array(
      'Title',
      'Players.Name',
   );
}

class Player extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Name' => 'Varchar',
    'Birthday' => 'Date'
  );

  private static $belongs_many_many = array(
    'Teams' => 'Team'
  );
}

Summary Fields

Summary fields can be used to show a quick overview of the data for a specific [api:DataObject] record. The most common use is their display as table columns, e.g. in the search results of a [api:ModelAdmin] CMS interface.

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Name' => 'Text',
    'OtherProperty' => 'Text',
    'ProductCode' => 'Int',
  ); 

  private static $summary_fields = array(
    'Name',
    'ProductCode'
  );
}

To include relations or field manipulations in your summaries, you can use a dot-notation.

:::php
<?php

class OtherObject extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Title' => 'Varchar'
  );
}

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Name' => 'Text',
    'Description' => 'HTMLText'
  );

  private static $has_one = array(
    'OtherObject' => 'OtherObject'
  );

  private static $summary_fields = array(
    'Name' => 'Name',
    'Description.Summary' => 'Description (summary)',
    'OtherObject.Title' => 'Other Object Title'
  );
}

Non-textual elements (such as images and their manipulations) can also be used in summaries.

:::php
<?php

class MyDataObject extends DataObject {

  private static $db = array(
    'Name' => 'Text'
  );

  private static $has_one = array(
    'HeroImage' => 'Image'
  );

  private static $summary_fields = array(
    'Name' => 'Name',
    'HeroImage.CMSThumbnail' => 'Hero Image'
  );
}

Related Documentation

• SearchFilters

API Documentation

• [api:FormScaffolder]
• [api:DataObject]