AJAX Multi-contenttype select field

This adds a new field with a type ajaxmultictselect that can be used to improve backend load times and allow searching and selection across multiple contenttypes.

The add/edit page for a contenttype with multiple select fields can load slowly in instances where a site has thousands of pieces of content. A normal select field would populate the drop down on load. This in turn will query the database and produce a select field with thousands of <option>s populated with your content.

This field does not populate on load, but will populate with relevant content based on your search term. Improving load times and potentially the user experience.

To add the field install this extension on your Bolt install and then modify your contenttypes.yml file to add a new field, something like this:

Single select, multiple contenttypes

Basic usage example, with the ajax field searching a number of content types.

featured_item:
    label: "Featured item"
    autocomplete: true
    type: ajaxmultictselect
    values: (news,blog,project,research)/contenttype,title        

Multiple select, sortable

The field uses Bolts select field functionality which means it benefits from all of the same nice UI features such as multiple selection, sortable items, required, grouping, autocomplete, etc.

authors:
    autocomplete: true
    group: "Meta"
    label: "Author(s)"
    multiple: true
    required: true
    sortable: true
    type: ajaxmultictselect
    values: person/title

Inside a repeater, with a filter applied

The field works inside a repeater.

The filter value allows you to build up the where part of a setcontent tag.

In this example:

• event_start is a date field
• eventtypes is a taxonomy
• parent is a hierarchical parent field - blank meaning a root event.

    upcoming_events:
        group: "Featured content in upcoming events"
        label: "Featured Items"
        limit: 6
        prefix: "<p>Please select up to a maximum of 6 items.</p>"
        type: repeater
        fields:
            item:
                label: "Event/Event series"
                autocomplete: true
                type: ajaxmultictselect
                values: (event,eventseries,summits)/contenttype,title
                filter: { event_start: '>=today', eventtypes: '!conference', 'parent': '' }
            size:
                label: "Card size"
                type: select
                values: { 'small': 'Small', 'medium': 'Mediu', 'large': 'Large'}