6. The List View

This document will cover the List view which you use to browse the objects in your system. It will cover configuration of the list itself and the filters you can use to control what’s visible.

6.1. Basic configuration

SonataAdmin Options that may affect the list view:

# config/packages/sonata_admin.yaml

sonata_admin:
    templates:
        list:                       '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/list.html.twig'
        action:                     '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/action.html.twig'
        select:                     '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/list__select.html.twig'
        list_block:                 '@SonataAdmin/Block/block_admin_list.html.twig'
        short_object_description:   '@SonataAdmin/Helper/short-object-description.html.twig'
        batch:                      '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/list__batch.html.twig'
        inner_list_row:             '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/list_inner_row.html.twig'
        base_list_field:            '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/base_list_field.html.twig'
        pager_links:                '@SonataAdmin/Pager/links.html.twig'
        pager_results:              '@SonataAdmin/Pager/results.html.twig'

6.2. Routes

You can disable listing entities by removing the corresponding routes in your Admin. For more detailed information about routes, see Routing:

// src/Admin/PersonAdmin.php

final class PersonAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
{
    protected function configureRoutes(RouteCollectionInterface $collection): void
    {
        // Removing the list route will disable listing entities.
        $collection->remove('list');
    }
}

6.2.1. Custom route

Default route for a link is show (for FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_MANY_TO_ONE and FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_ONE_TO_ONE). Using this, the route can be customized as follows:

 namespace App\Admin;

 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\AbstractAdmin;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Form\FormMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\ListMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Show\ShowMapper;

 final class MediaAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
 {
     protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
     {
         $list
             ->addIdentifier('field', null, [
                 'route' => [
                     'name' => 'edit'
                 ]
             ]);
     }
}

6.3. Customizing the fields displayed on the list page

You can customize the columns displayed on the list through the configureListFields method. Here is an example:

// ...

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
{
    $list
        // addIdentifier allows to specify that this column
        // will provide a link to the entity
        // (edit or show route, depends on your access rights)
        ->addIdentifier('name')

        // you may specify the field type directly as the
        // second argument instead of in the options
        ->add('isVariation', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_BOOLEAN)

        // if null, the type will be guessed
        ->add('enabled', null, [
            'editable' => true
        ])

        // editable association field
        ->add('status', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_CHOICE, [
            'editable' => true,
            'class' => 'Vendor\ExampleBundle\Entity\ExampleStatus',
            'choices' => [
                1 => 'Active',
                2 => 'Inactive',
                3 => 'Draft',
            ],
        ])

        // editable multiple field
        ->add('winner', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_CHOICE, [
            'editable' => true,
            'multiple' => true,
            'choices' => [
                'jury' => 'Jury',
                'voting' => 'Voting',
                'encouraging' => 'Encouraging',
            ],
        ])

        // we can add options to the field depending on the type
        ->add('price', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_CURRENCY, [
            'currency' => $this->currencyDetector->getCurrency()->getLabel()
        ])

        // Here we specify which property is used to render the label of each entity in the list
        ->add('productCategories', null, [
            'associated_property' => 'name'
            // By default, sorting will be done on the associated property.
            // To sort on another property, add the following:
            'sort_field_mapping' => [
                'fieldName' => 'weight',
            ],
        ])

        // you may also use dotted-notation to access
        // specific properties of a relation to the entity
        ->add('image.name')

        // you may also use a custom accessor
        ->add('description1', null, [
            'accessor' => 'description'
        ])
        ->add('description2', null, [
            'accessor' => function ($subject) {
                return $this->customService->formatDescription($subject);
            }
        ])

        // You may also specify the actions you want to be displayed in the list
        ->add(ListMapper::NAME_ACTIONS, null, [
            'actions' => [
                'show' => [],
                'edit' => [
                    // You may add custom link parameters used to generate the action url
                    'link_parameters' => [
                        'full' => true,
                    ]
                ],
                'delete' => [],
            ]
        ])

    ;
}

Tip

Edit and Delete actions are enabled in the default configuration. You can add your own! Default template file is: @SonataAdmin/CRUD/list__action_[ACTION_NAME].html.twig

6.3.1. Options

Note

  • (m) stands for mandatory

  • (o) stands for optional

  • type (m): defines the field type - mandatory for the field description itself but will try to detect the type automatically if not specified

  • template (o): the template used to render the field

  • label (o): the name used for the column’s title

  • link_parameters (o): add link parameter to the related Admin class when the Admin::generateUrl is called

  • code (o): the method name to retrieve the related value (for example, if you have an array type field, you would like to show info prettier than [0] => ‘Value’; useful when a getter is not enough). Notice: works with string-like types (string, text, html)

  • associated_property (o): property path to retrieve the “string” representation of the collection element, or a closure with the element as argument and return a string.

  • sort_field_mapping (o): property of the collection element to sort on.

  • identifier (o): if set to true a link appears on the value to edit the element

6.3.2. Available types and associated options

Type

Options

Description

ListMapper::TYPE_ACTIONS

actions

edit

link_parameters

List of available actions

Name of the action (show, edit, history, delete, etc)

Route parameters

ListMapper::TYPE_BATCH

Renders a checkbox

ListMapper::TYPE_SELECT

Renders a select box

FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_*

See Field Types

6.3.3. Setting up custom action buttons

You can specify your own action buttons by setting up the ‘template’ option like so:

$listMapper
    ->add(ListMapper::NAME_ACTIONS, ListMapper::TYPE_ACTIONS, [
        'actions' => [
            'show' => [],
            'edit' => [],
            'delete' => ['template' => 'Admin/MyController/my_partial.html.twig'],
            //this twig file will be located at: templates/Admin/MyController/my_partial.html.twig
        ]
    ]);

6.3.4. Symfony Data Transformers

If the model field has a limited list of values (enumeration), it is convenient to use a value object to control the available values. For example, consider the value object of moderation status with the following values: awaiting, approved, rejected:

final class ModerationStatus
{
    public const AWAITING = 'awaiting';
    public const APPROVED = 'approved';
    public const REJECTED = 'rejected';

    private static $instances = [];

    private string $value;

    private function __construct(string $value)
    {
        if (!array_key_exists($value, self::choices())) {
            throw new \DomainException(sprintf('The value "%s" is not a valid moderation status.', $value));
        }

        $this->value = $value;
    }

    public static function byValue(string $value): ModerationStatus
    {
        // limitation of count object instances
        if (!isset(self::$instances[$value])) {
            self::$instances[$value] = new static($value);
        }

        return self::$instances[$value];
    }

    public function getValue(): string
    {
        return $this->value;
    }

    public static function choices(): array
    {
        return [
            self::AWAITING => 'moderation_status.awaiting',
            self::APPROVED => 'moderation_status.approved',
            self::REJECTED => 'moderation_status.rejected',
        ];
    }

    public function __toString(): string
    {
        return self::choices()[$this->value];
    }
}

To use this Value Object in the Symfony Form: https://symfony.com/doc/current/forms.html component, we need a Data Transformer: https://symfony.com/doc/current/form/data_transformers.html

use Symfony\Component\Form\DataTransformerInterface;
use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\TransformationFailedException;

final class ModerationStatusDataTransformer implements DataTransformerInterface
{
    public function transform($value): ?string
    {
        $status = $this->reverseTransform($value);

        return $status instanceof ModerationStatus ? $status->value() : null;
    }

    public function reverseTransform($value): ?ModerationStatus
    {
        if (null === $value || '' === $value) {
            return null;
        }

        if ($value instanceof ModerationStatus) {
            return $value;
        }

        try {
            return ModerationStatus::byValue($value);
        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
            throw new TransformationFailedException($e->getMessage(), $e->getCode(), $e);
        }
    }
}

For quick moderation of objects, it is convenient to do this on the page for viewing all objects. But if we just indicate the field as editable, then when editing we get in the object a string with the value itself (awaiting, approved, rejected), and not the Value Object (ModerationStatus). To solve this problem, you must specify the Data Transformer in the data_transformer field so that it correctly converts the input data into the data expected by your object:

// ...

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
{
    $list
        ->add('moderation_status', 'choice', [
            'editable' => true,
            'choices' => ModerationStatus::choices(),
            'data_transformer' => new ModerationStatusDataTransformer(),
        ])
    ;
}

6.4. Customizing the query used to generate the list

You can customize the list query thanks to the configureQuery method:

protected function configureQuery(ProxyQueryInterface $query): ProxyQueryInterface
{
    $query = parent::configureQuery($query);

    $rootAlias = current($query->getRootAliases());

    $query->andWhere(
        $query->expr()->eq($rootAlias . '.my_field', ':my_param')
    );
    $query->setParameter('my_param', 'my_value');

    return $query;
}

6.5. Customizing the sort order

Configuring the default ordering column can be achieved by overriding the configureDefaultSortValues() method. All three keys DatagridInterface::PAGE, DatagridInterface::SORT_ORDER and DatagridInterface::SORT_BY can be omitted:

// src/Admin/PostAdmin.php

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\AbstractAdmin;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridInterface;

final class PostAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
{
    // ...

    protected function configureDefaultSortValues(array &$sortValues): void
    {
        // display the first page (default = 1)
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::PAGE] = 1;

        // reverse order (default = 'ASC')
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::SORT_ORDER] = 'DESC';

        // name of the ordered field (default = the model's id field, if any)
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::SORT_BY] = 'updatedAt';
    }

    // ...
}

Note

The DatagridInterface::SORT_BY key can be of the form mySubModel.mySubSubModel.myField.

Note

For UI reason, it’s not possible to sort by multiple fields. However, this behavior can be simulate by adding some default orders in the configureQuery() method. The following example is using SonataAdminBundle with SonataDoctrineORMAdminBundle:

// src/Admin/PostAdmin.php

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\AbstractAdmin;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridInterface;

final class PostAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
{
    // ...

    protected function configureDefaultSortValues(array &$sortValues): void
    {
        // display the first page (default = 1)
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::PAGE] = 1;

        // reverse order (default = 'ASC')
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::SORT_ORDER] = 'DESC';

        // name of the ordered field (default = the model's id field, if any)
        $sortValues[DatagridInterface::SORT_BY] = 'updatedAt';
    }

    protected function configureQuery(ProxyQueryInterface $query): ProxyQueryInterface
    {
        $rootAlias = current($query->getRootAliases());

        $query->addOrderBy($rootAlias.'.author', 'ASC');
        $query->addOrderBy($rootAlias.'.createdAt', 'ASC');

        return $query;
    }

    // ...
}

6.6. Filters

You can add filters to let user control which data will be displayed:

// src/Admin/PostAdmin.php

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridMapper;

final class ClientAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
{
    protected function configureDatagridFilters(DatagridMapper $datagrid): void
    {
        $datagrid
            ->add('phone')
            ->add('email')
        ;
    }

    // ...
}

All filters are hidden by default for space-saving. User has to check which filter he wants to use.

To make the filter always visible (even when it is inactive), set the parameter show_filter to true:

protected function configureDatagridFilters(DatagridMapper $datagrid): void
{
    $datagrid
        ->add('phone')
        ->add('email', null, [
            'show_filter' => true
        ])

        // ...
    ;
}

By default the template generates an operator for a filter which defaults to sonata_type_equal. Though this operator_type is automatically detected it can be changed or even be hidden:

protected function configureDatagridFilters(DatagridMapper $datagrid): void
{
    $datagrid
        ->add('foo', null, [
            'operator_type' => 'sonata_type_boolean'
        ])
        ->add('bar', null, [
            'operator_type' => 'hidden'
        ])

        // ...
    ;
}

If you don’t need the advanced filters, or all your operator_type are hidden, you can disable them by setting advanced_filter to false. You need to disable all advanced filters to make the button disappear:

protected function configureDatagridFilters(DatagridMapper $datagrid): void
{
    $datagrid
        ->add('bar', null, [
            'operator_type' => 'hidden',
            'advanced_filter' => false
        ])

        // ...
    ;
}

6.6.1. Default filters

Default filters can be added to the datagrid values by using the configureDefaultFilterValues method. A filter has a value and an optional type. If no type is given the default type is equal is used:

protected function configureDefaultFilterValues(array &$filterValues): void
{
    $filterValues['foo'] = [
        'type'  => ContainsOperatorType::TYPE_CONTAINS,
        'value' => 'bar',
    ];
}

Available types are represented through classes which can be found here.

Types like equal and boolean use constants to assign a choice of type to an integer for its value:

namespace Sonata\Form\Type;

final class EqualType extends AbstractType
{
    const TYPE_IS_EQUAL = 1;
    const TYPE_IS_NOT_EQUAL = 2;
}

The integers are then passed in the URL of the list action e.g.: /admin/user/user/list?filter[enabled][type]=1&filter[enabled][value]=1

This is an example using these constants for an boolean type:

use Sonata\Form\Type\EqualType;
use Sonata\Form\Type\BooleanType;

final class UserAdmin extends Sonata\UserBundle\Admin\Model\UserAdmin
{
    protected function configureDefaultFilterValues(array &$filterValues): void
    {
        $filterValues['enabled'] = [
            'type'  => EqualType::TYPE_IS_EQUAL, // => 1
            'value' => BooleanType::TYPE_YES     // => 1
        ];
    }
}

Please note that setting a false value on a the boolean type will not work since the type expects an integer of 2 as value as defined in the class constants:

namespace Sonata\Form\Type;

final class BooleanType extends AbstractType
{
    const TYPE_YES = 1;
    const TYPE_NO = 2;
}

This approach allow to create dynamic filters:

class PostAdmin extends Sonata\UserBundle\Admin\Model\UserAdmin
{
    protected function configureDefaultFilterValues(array &$filterValues): void
    {
        // Assuming security context injected
        if (!$this->securityContext->isGranted('ROLE_ADMIN')) {
            $user = $this->securityContext->getToken()->getUser();

            $filterValues['author'] = [
                'type'  => EqualType::TYPE_IS_EQUAL,
                'value' => $user->getId()
            ];
        }
    }
}

Note

this is not a secure approach to hide posts from others. It’s only an example for setting filters on demand!

6.6.2. Callback filter

If you have the SonataDoctrineORMAdminBundle installed you can use the CallbackFilter filter type e.g. for creating a full text filter:

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridMapper;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Filter\Model\FilterData;

final class UserAdmin extends Sonata\UserBundle\Admin\Model\UserAdmin
{
    protected function configureDatagridFilters(DatagridMapper $datagrid): void
    {
        $datagrid
            ->add('full_text', CallbackFilter::class, [
                'callback' => [$this, 'getFullTextFilter'],
                'field_type' => TextType::class,
            ]);
    }

    public function getFullTextFilter(ProxyQueryInterface $query, string $alias, string $field, FilterData $data): bool
    {
        if (!$data->hasValue()) {
            return false;
        }

        // Use `andWhere` instead of `where` to prevent overriding existing `where` conditions
        $query->andWhere($query->expr()->orX(
            $query->expr()->like($alias.'.username', $query->expr()->literal('%' . $data->getValue() . '%')),
            $query->expr()->like($alias.'.firstName', $query->expr()->literal('%' . $data->getValue() . '%')),
            $query->expr()->like($alias.'.lastName', $query->expr()->literal('%' . $data->getValue() . '%'))
        ));

        return true;
    }
}

The callback function should return a boolean indicating whether it is active.

You can also get the filter type which can be helpful to change the operator type of your condition(s):

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Filter\Model\FilterData;
use Sonata\Form\Type\EqualType;

final class UserAdmin extends Sonata\UserBundle\Admin\Model\UserAdmin
{
    public function getFullTextFilter(ProxyQueryInterface $query, string $alias, string $field, FilterData $data): bool
    {
        if (!$data->hasValue()) {
            return false;
        }

        $operator = $data->isType(EqualType::TYPE_IS_EQUAL) ? '=' : '!=';

        $query
            ->andWhere($alias.'.username '.$operator.' :username')
            ->setParameter('username', $data->getValue())
        ;

        return true;
    }
}

6.7. Visual configuration

You have the possibility to configure your List View to customize the render without overriding to whole template.

The following options are available:

  • header_style: Customize the style of header (width, color, background, align…)

  • header_class: Customize the class of the header

  • collapse: Allow to collapse long text fields with a “read more” link

  • row_align: Customize the alignment of the rendered inner cells

  • label_icon: Add an icon before label

Example:

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
{
    $list
        ->add('id', null, [
            'header_style' => 'width: 5%; text-align: center',
            'row_align' => 'center'
        ])
        ->add('name', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_STRING, [
            'header_style' => 'width: 35%'
        ])
        ->add('description', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_STRING, [
            'header_style' => 'width: 35%',
            'collapse' => true
        ])
        ->add('upvotes', null, [
            'label_icon' => 'fas fa-thumbs-up'
        ])
        ->add('actions', null, [
            'header_class' => 'customActions',
            'row_align' => 'right'
        ])
    ;
}

If you want to customise the collapse option, you can also give an array to override the default parameters:

->add('description', TextType::class, [
    'header_style' => 'width: 35%',
    'collapse' => [
        // height in px
        'height' => 40,

        // content of the "read more" link
        'more' => 'I want to see the full description',

         // content of the "read less" link
        'less' => 'This text is too long, reduce the size',
    ]
])

If you want to show only the label_icon:

->add('upvotes', null, [
    'label' => false,
    'label_icon' => 'fas fa-thumbs-up',
])

6.8. Mosaic view button

You have the possibility to show/hide mosaic view button.

# config/packages/sonata_admin.yaml

sonata_admin:
    # for hide mosaic view button on all screen using `false`
    show_mosaic_button: true

You can show/hide mosaic view button using admin service configuration. You need to add option show_mosaic_button in your admin services:

# config/services.yaml

sonata_admin.admin.post:
    class: Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\PostAdmin
    tags:
        - { name: sonata.admin, model_class: Sonata\AdminBundle\Entity\Post, manager_type: orm, group: admin, label: Post, show_mosaic_button: true }

sonata_admin.admin.news:
    class: Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\NewsAdmin
    tags:
        - { name: sonata.admin, model_class: Sonata\AdminBundle\Entity\News, manager_type: orm, group: admin, label: News, show_mosaic_button: false }

6.9. Show Icons on Action Buttons

You can choose if the action buttons on the list-page show an icon, text or both.

# config/packages/sonata_admin.yaml

sonata_admin:
    options:
        # Choices are: text, icon or all (default)
        list_action_button_content: icon

6.10. Checkbox range selection

Tip

You can check / uncheck a range of checkboxes by clicking a first one, then a second one with shift + click.

6.11. Displaying a non-model field

The list view can also display fields that are not part of the model class.

In some situations you can add a new getter to your model class to calculate a field based on the other fields of your model:

// src/Entity/User.php

public function getFullName(): string
{
    return $this->getGivenName().' '.$this->getFamilyName();
}

// src/Admin/UserAdmin.php

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list)
{
    $list->addIdentifier('fullName');
}

In situations where the data are not available in the model or it is more performant to have the database calculate the value you can override the configureQuery() Admin class method to add fields to the result set. In configureListFields() these fields can be added using the alias given in the query.

In the following example the number of comments for a post is added to the query and displayed:

// src/Admin/PostAdmin.php

protected function configureQuery(ProxyQueryInterface $query): ProxyQueryInterface
{
    $query = parent::configureQuery($query);

    $query
        ->leftJoin('n.Comments', 'c')
        ->addSelect('COUNT(c.id) numberofcomments')
        ->addGroupBy('n');

    return $query;
}

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
{
    $list->addIdentifier('numberofcomments');
}

Lastly, you can also define your list fields as virtual. This way, Sonata’s FieldDescription will always return a value of null, as documented here: https://docs.sonata-project.org/projects/SonataAdminBundle/en/4.x/cookbook/recipe_virtual_field/

Combine this with configuring a custom template and you’ll have a list column fully customizable in what it eventually renders.

// src/Admin/PostAdmin.php

protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list)
{
    $list->add('thisPropertyDoesNotExist', null, [
        'virtual_field' => true,
        'template' => 'path/to/your/template.html.twig'
    ]);
}

6.12. Advance Usage

6.12.1. Displaying sub model properties

Note

This only makes sense when the prefix path is made of models, not collections.

If you need to display only one field from a sub model or embedded object in a dedicated column, you can simply use the dot-separated notation:

namespace App\Admin;

use Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\AbstractAdmin;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Form\FormMapper;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridMapper;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\ListMapper;
use Sonata\AdminBundle\Show\ShowMapper;

final class UserAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
{
    protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
    {
        $list
            ->addIdentifier('id')
            ->add('firstName')
            ->add('lastName')
            ->add('address.street')
            ->add('address.ZIPCode')
            ->add('address.town')
        ;
    }
}

6.12.2. Custom template

If you need a specific layout for a row cell, you can define a custom template:

 namespace App\Admin;

 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Admin\AbstractAdmin;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\FieldDescription\FieldDescriptionInterface;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Form\FormMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\DatagridMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Datagrid\ListMapper;
 use Sonata\AdminBundle\Show\ShowMapper;

final class MediaAdmin extends AbstractAdmin
 {
     protected function configureListFields(ListMapper $list): void
     {
         $list
             ->addIdentifier('id')
             ->add('image', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_STRING, ['template' => '@SonataMedia/MediaAdmin/list_image.html.twig'])
             ->add('custom', FieldDescriptionInterface::TYPE_STRING, ['template' => '@SonataMedia/MediaAdmin/list_custom.html.twig'])
         ;
     }
 }

The related template:

{% extends '@SonataAdmin/CRUD/base_list_field.html.twig' %}

{% block field %}
    <div>
        <strong>{{ object.name }}</strong> <br/>
        {{ object.providername}} : {{ object.width }}x{{ object.height }} <br/>
    </div>
{% endblock %}