Modifying the TCA
Modifying the TCA is easy, and doing so allows you to make the backend act just as you want it to. This tutorial explains how to make a small extension to store your modifications to the TCA array.
The TCA is essentially a large PHP array that contains all the configuration for how fields from TYPO3's database tables are rendered in the backend. It is responsible for controlling what kind of input should show up in a backend for for a given field. So, for example, the TCA is where the maximum length is set for an input field. Sometimes these values need to be changed to suit the needs of a particular client.
Modifying the TCA isn't as hard to do as it might seem to be. When I make a TYPO3 site for a client, I almost always create a small extension in which to store my modifications to the TCA. To do this on your own TYPO3 installation, follow these steps:
Requirements:
- The Extension Kickstarter must be installed in the Extension Manager (key: kickstarter).
- The
"Tools>Config+DBint" extension must be installed in the Extension
Manager (key: lowlevel). Note: this is a "shy" extension, so you may
have to check "disable shy extensions" in the Extension Manager before
it shows up in the list of extensions to install.
1. Create an empty extension using the kickstarter.
Click on the Extension Manager module in the backend and select "make new extension" from the menu. In the "enter extension key" field, be sure to give your extension a name. For this tutorial, I'm going to call my extension "cic_tcamod." Click on the "general info" plus sign and fill out the corresponding fields.
Once that's done, press "update" and then press "view results." Unless you want this extension to be available to all TYPO3 installations based on your TYPO3 source directory, go ahead and select the local install location and click on the "write" button to save your extension. At this point you'll see an install extension button. Don't click on it yet; we have a few more things to do before we can install the extension.