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Adding dynamic field

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When working with complex form, the fields might be added to (or remove from) the form dynamically. The newly added fields also need to be validated.

This example demonstrates a sample scenario where you have to solve validating dynamic fields problem.

Before going to the details, there are some methods and events you need to know:

Method/Event Description
addField() method Adding new field
removeField() method Removing given field
added.field.bv event Called after adding new field
removed.field.bv event Called after removing given field

Assuming that you are managing a survey which consists of a question and some options that user can choose from. The form allows you to add more options but the number of options can't exceed 5.

<form id="surveyForm" method="post" class="form-horizontal">
    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="col-sm-3 control-label">Question</label>
        <div class="col-sm-5">
            <input type="text" class="form-control" name="question" />
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="col-sm-3 control-label">Options</label>
        <div class="col-sm-5">
            <input type="text" class="form-control" name="option[]" />
        </div>
        <div class="col-sm-4">
            <button type="button" class="btn btn-default addButton"><i class="fa fa-plus"></i></button>
        </div>
    </div>

    <!-- The option field template containing an option field and a Remove button -->
    <div class="form-group hide" id="optionTemplate">
        <div class="col-sm-offset-3 col-sm-5">
            <input class="form-control" type="text" name="option[]" />
        </div>
        <div class="col-sm-4">
            <button type="button" class="btn btn-default removeButton"><i class="fa fa-minus"></i></button>
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="form-group">
        <div class="col-sm-5 col-sm-offset-3">
            <button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Validate</button>
        </div>
    </div>
</form>
$(document).ready(function() {
    // The maximum number of options
    var MAX_OPTIONS = 5;

    $('#surveyForm')
        .bootstrapValidator({
            feedbackIcons: {
                valid: 'glyphicon glyphicon-ok',
                invalid: 'glyphicon glyphicon-remove',
                validating: 'glyphicon glyphicon-refresh'
            },
            fields: {
                question: {
                    validators: {
                        notEmpty: {
                            message: 'The question required and cannot be empty'
                        }
                    }
                },
                'option[]': {
                    validators: {
                        notEmpty: {
                            message: 'The option required and cannot be empty'
                        },
                        stringLength: {
                            max: 100,
                            message: 'The option must be less than 100 characters long'
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        })

        // Add button click handler
        .on('click', '.addButton', function() {
            var $template = $('#optionTemplate'),
                $clone    = $template
                                .clone()
                                .removeClass('hide')
                                .removeAttr('id')
                                .insertBefore($template),
                $option   = $clone.find('[name="option[]"]');

            // Add new field
            $('#surveyForm').bootstrapValidator('addField', $option);
        })

        // Remove button click handler
        .on('click', '.removeButton', function() {
            var $row    = $(this).parents('.form-group'),
                $option = $row.find('[name="option[]"]');

            // Remove element containing the option
            $row.remove();

            // Remove field
            $('#surveyForm').bootstrapValidator('removeField', $option);
        })

        // Called after adding new field
        .on('added.field.bv', function(e, data) {
            // data.field   --> The field name
            // data.element --> The new field element
            // data.options --> The new field options

            if (data.field === 'option[]') {
                if ($('#surveyForm').find(':visible[name="option[]"]').length >= MAX_OPTIONS) {
                    $('#surveyForm').find('.addButton').attr('disabled', 'disabled');
                }
            }
        })

        // Called after removing the field
        .on('removed.field.bv', function(e, data) {
           if (data.field === 'option[]') {
                if ($('#surveyForm').find(':visible[name="option[]"]').length < MAX_OPTIONS) {
                    $('#surveyForm').find('.addButton').removeAttr('disabled');
                }
            }
        });
});