Editing Custom Module Data on the Live Site

Problem

Let's consider a situation when you need to expose editing interface for custom module class (or any other type of object) on the live site. There might be a couple of good reasons for doing this, for example there is a role responsible for management of data for a single class, so there is no need to overwhelm that role by exposing Kentico Admin interface, as it could be confusing for non-technical staff.
 

Solution

You can always implement you custom control that will allow you to create/update some object within a system. But what if you need to add a new field at some point of time?! - Yes, you'll need to update you custom control accordingly and promote it through all environments. It is not that exciting when we are talking about adding a single field.

So what would be the approach to take? UI Form will solve that problem. This is a great control that can work with any class as well as it knows how to handle alternative forms. There are just a couple of simple steps you need to take in order to build edit form for your object:

1. Create custom user control or web part

2. Add UI Form to it:
 

<cms:uiform runat="server" id="EditForm" islivesite="true">

</cms:uiform>

3. Initialize vital properties for UI Form:
 

EditForm.EditedObject = myObj; 

EditForm.Mode = CMS.ExtendedControls.FormModeEnum.Update;

EditForm.ObjectSiteID = SiteContext.CurrentSiteID;

EditForm.ObjectType = "className";

EditForm.AlternativeFormName = "formCodeName";

In case you need to create new record substitute firs two lines of code with the following:
 

EditForm.EditedObject = new MyCustomClass(); 

EditForm.Mode = CMS.ExtendedControls.FormModeEnum.Insert;

You'll have to place this code in init or load handlers of your control/web part

4. Add some logic that will alert user if operation has been completed successfully or there was some error

5. Make sure to add security checks, so only authorized users can make changes
 

Conclusion

Now you have a flexible control that you can change without code modifications, but adjusting alternative form or adding new field. It is always easier to reuse something existing and well tested instead of inventing something new. This is a case when less is more!