Question

My form currently has a save button but no apply button. I tried to insert one but it does the same thing as save. Any ideas? Here is the code:

    <div class="formelm-buttons">
        <button type="button" onclick="Joomla.submitbutton('propform.save')">
            <?php echo JText::_('JSAVE') ?>
        </button>
        <button type="button" onclick="Joomla.submitbutton('propform.cancel')">
            <?php echo JText::_('JCANCEL') ?>
        </button>
    </div>

Answer 1

In short:

Remove $this->setRedirect($this->getReturnPage()); from your save function.

Reason it breaks apply:

So this is the function from your comment:

public function save($key = null, $urlVar = 'id')
{
    $result = parent::save($key, $urlVar); // If ok, redirect to the return page.
    if ($result) {
        $this->setRedirect($this->getReturnPage());
    }
    return $result;
}

I understand this function is placed inside a controller which extends JControllerForm.
Now, this is pretty badly documented but: JControllerForm::save($key, $urlVar) will set the redirect for you.

This means that when you run $this->setRedirect($this->getReturnPage()); you will override what JControllerForm has already done for you. The difference between save and apply is where to redirect after a successful save.

So if you remove that setRedirect, the apply should start working (if everything else is alright). Also if you have constructed the table for this save correctly the $urlVar parameter will be set for you. So if that is the case, you don’t need to override save at all.