Question

I have this contact form which also relates to a few other tables with a HABTM relationship. They are displayed in the form either as a list or as checkboxes. What I want is to be able to search through them while still in the form to select those that are applicable to the contact I am adding with the form. I’m not sure how to do this- was thinking maybe Javascript?

An example of what I am talking about is like Facebook when you’re searching through your friends list.

Below are the HABTM relationships for the Contact Model:

    public $hasAndBelongsToMany = array(
    'Company' => array(
        'className' => 'Company',
        'joinTable' => 'companies_contacts',
        'foreignKey' => 'contact_id',
        'associationForeignKey' => 'company_id',
        'unique' => 'keepExisting',
        'dependent' => true,
        'conditions' => '',
        'fields' => '',
        'order' => '',
        'limit' => '',
        'offset' => '',
        'finderQuery' => '',
        'deleteQuery' => '',
        'insertQuery' => ''
    ),
    'Event' => array(
        'className' => 'Event',
        'joinTable' => 'contacts_events',
        'foreignKey' => 'contact_id',
        'associationForeignKey' => 'event_id',
        'unique' => 'keepExisting',
        'dependent' => true,
        'conditions' => '',
        'fields' => '',
        'order' => '',
        'limit' => '',
        'offset' => '',
        'finderQuery' => '',
        'deleteQuery' => '',
        'insertQuery' => ''
    ),
    'Screenoccupation' => array(
        'className' => 'Screenoccupation',
        'joinTable' => 'contacts_screenoccupations',
        'foreignKey' => 'contact_id',
        'associationForeignKey' => 'screenoccupation_id',
        'unique' => 'keepExisting',
        'dependent' => true,
        'conditions' => '',
        'fields' => '',
        'order' => '',
        'limit' => '',
        'offset' => '',
        'finderQuery' => '',
        'deleteQuery' => '',
        'insertQuery' => ''
    ),
    'Tapearchive' => array(
        'className' => 'Tapearchive',
        'joinTable' => 'contacts_tapearchives',
        'foreignKey' => 'contact_id',
        'associationForeignKey' => 'tapearchive_id',
        'unique' => 'keepExisting',
        'dependent' => true,
        'conditions' => '',
        'fields' => '',
        'order' => '',
        'limit' => '',
        'offset' => '',
        'finderQuery' => '',
        'deleteQuery' => '',
        'insertQuery' => ''
    ),
    'Relation' => array(
        'className' => 'Contact',
        'joinTable' => 'contacts_contacts',
        'foreignKey' => 'contact_id',
        'associationForeignKey' => 'related_id',
        'unique' => true,
        'conditions' => '',
        'fields' => '',
        'order' => '',
        'limit' => '',
        'offset' => '',
        'finderQuery' => '',
        'deleteQuery' => '',
        'insertQuery' => ''
    )
);

Not sure what other codes I need to show you guys, so please do let me know what codes are needed and I will add them to this question.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You could use a jquery plugin to do the job for you.

It seems that this one corresponds to your criteria. Chosen is nice too.

Anyway, do a google search to see all the jquery plugin available, and see if one fits your need.