FlexibleCast returning a string

[dinandmentink]

I think I may be missing something obvious, but can't figure it out.

I have an Association model, to which I have added a CTA layout:

Flexible::make(trans("admin.ctas"), "ctas")
    ->button(trans("admin.cta"))
    ->addLayout(trans("admin.cta"), 'cta', [
        Text::make(trans("admin.title"), "title"),
        Text::make(trans("admin.link"), "link"),
        Select::make(trans("admin.color"), "color")
            ->options([
                "primary" => trans("admin.primary"),
                "secondary" => trans("admin.secondary"),
                "light" => trans("admin.light"),
                "dark" => trans("admin.dark"),
                "white" => trans("admin.white"),
            ]),
    ]),

In my Association model I use the FlexibleCast:

class Association extends Model
{
    protected $casts = [
        "ctas" => FlexibleCast::class,
    ];
}

Now, after saving some cta's the database holds this value in a json column, everything working as I would expect:

[{"key": "gZ16OPeItKGroBYo", "layout": "cta", "attributes": {"link": "/pages/contact", "color": "secondary", "title": "Contact"}}]

However, the cast doesn't seem to work. Because Association::find(2)->ctas returns to me the following String(!):

 "[{"key": "gZ16OPeItKGroBYo", "layout": "cta", "attributes": {"link": "/pages/contact", "color": "secondary", "title": "Contact"}}]"

It doesn't seem to be actually casting ctas to a collection of objects. Am I missing something? json_decode, or using `"json" as cast works as I would expect.

[toonvandenbos]

Hi @dinandmentink, did you try using JSON casting just to see if all casts are not working or just the FlexibleCast ? Did you use Whitecube\NovaFlexibleContent\Value\FlexibleCast; ?

[dinandmentink]

Thanks for the response. Yes, json casting works as I would expect:

protected $casts = [
        "ctas" => "json",
    ];

>>> App\Models\Association::first()->ctas
=> [
     [
       "key" => "nlxDnMG2P8kGt73Z",
       "layout" => "cta",
       "attributes" => [
         "link" => "/pages/contact",
         "color" => "primary",
         "title" => "Contact",
       ],
     ],
   ]

Also, yes confirm I am using Whitecube\NovaFlexibleContent\Value\FlexibleCast;:

protected $casts = [
    "ctas" => \Whitecube\NovaFlexibleContent\Value\FlexibleCast::class,
];

>>> App\Models\Association::first()->ctas
=> "[{"key": "nlxDnMG2P8kGt73Z", "layout": "cta", "attributes": {"link": "/pages/contact", "color": "primary", "title": "Contact"}}]"

[toonvandenbos]

Inside the HasFlexible trait (which we're using in FlexibleCast) we're returning the raw value (string) when in the following context :

if(app()->getProvider(NovaServiceProvider::class) && !app()->runningInConsole() && !app()->environment('testing')) {
    return $value;
}

In other words, if you're testing inside Nova itself it won't return the casted value (because the field will take care of it by itself). Is that your case ?

[dinandmentink]

Ah, yes, thanks, this is the case. This helps a lot, thanks.

I ran into this issue because I first tried "what kind of return do I get in tinker" before writing tests or checking the view. Now that I know I'm getting a different result in the console there's no issue anymore.

Edit: Maybe it would be a good idea to add this to the documentation. Is there a github repo for the documentation that I can write a pr against?

[ramunasartme]

I have the same issue. How to solve?

[TijmenWierenga]

@toonvandenbos I'm running into issues with casting as well due to the raw value being used in all contexts.

I'm in the situation where I have Nova installed in my application which is also exposing an API. This means the NovaServiceProvider is always there so my API will never cast into layouts.

Am I doing something wrong or is this by design?