This is the fourth article in a series of articles about the Batch API in Drupal. The Batch API is a system in Drupal that allows data to be processed in small chunks in order to prevent timeout errors or memory problems.
So far in this series we have looked at creating a batch process using a form, followed by creating a batch class so that batches can be run through Drush and then using the finished state to control batch processing. All of these articles go together to form a basis of batch processing in Drupal.
In this article we will look at bringing these concepts together to perform a task that is quite common on websites, processing Comma Separated Value or CSV files, which we will do using the Drupal Batch API.
Processing CSV data is very common on the web. Whilst it is quite common to integrate with an API it is sometimes simpler to just generate a CSV file of the data you need from one system and upload it into a form on a website. Most systems will allow you to export data as a CSV file of some kind, but it's also very easy to export a CSV from commonly used programs like Excel and Google Sheets.
Processing a CSV file in PHP is quite simple, but once you reach one hundred records you will find that PHP will start to throw errors due to timeouts or memory issues. The solution is to employ the Batch API to spread the load of that processing over a number of different requests.
Drupal provides a robust framework for creating and managing content. However, managing form fields in complex content entities can be challenging. The Field Group, Inline Entity Form, and Conditional Fields modules offer practical tools for improving the user experience and streamlining the content creation process.
In the above live stream, we’ll use all three modules to organize and clean up fields on an “Event” content type.
Below are the show notes for the live stream.
Every great product needs a great supporting documentation - this rule is as simple and well known as it is hard to stick to, especially if we are talking about the continuously growing Open Source system that Drupal is. A while ago we came to realise that Drupal documentation needs a revamp. Together with ever amazing community members, the DA engineering team has been looking for a solution that will bring world class documentation to Drupal and that joint effort did not go in vain as such a solution has been defined!
As each of you can imagine, the goal of overhauling documentation tooling to a modern docs-as-code system is a big challenge so it is logical that we decided to define bite-sized deliverables and today we are happy to announce the first phase of the project - delivering clear and easy to follow user guide for Drupal CMS. And we need your help!
The Drupal Association is kicking off an initiative to bring Drupal.org documentation and accompanying software to world-class level. For the first phase dedicated to the Drupal CMS we are partnering with Drupalize.me: they will create the gold-standard user guide for Drupal CMS.
But that is just the beginning! As a next step Drupal Association will onboard the Documentation Lead who, in close collaboration with the community, will help to ensure that Drupal.org documentation is clear, comprehensive and current.
Last but not the least, we will implement a docs-as-code system that will improve the creation and maintenance process of documentation.
Now the question is how you can help? And the answer is simple - by “Adopting a Document”!
Inspired by the “Adopt a Highway” program that is becoming more and more popular in North America, we created a way for the partners to get involved in creating great documentation by taking care of one of the Drupal CMS milestones and sponsoring creation and further maintenance of the documentation for one or multiple Drupal CMS working tracks.
Thanks to your support, future users of Drupal CMS will be able to easily find answers to the questions that might arise as they discover Drupal CMS capabilities.
But not only that, as we find it fair for the partners who will decide to contribute to the initiative to receive some benefits:
Your logo will be placed in the sidebar of the adopted documentation section—which Your logo will be placed on the documentation page(s) you adopt, visible to the thousands of new users we expect to try Drupal CMS
Your logo will be highlighted on Drupal.org as a Drupal CMS sponsor, as well as at DrupalCons for the next year!
For each $100 of contribution you will receive 1 credit that you will be able to use within 1 year.
We’ve got 30 documentation sections available for sponsorship so far. You can adopt one of those and by donating $2400 you will ensure that future users will be able to easily find answers to the questions that might arise as they discover Drupal CMS as well as will enable for the next phase of the project to get started.
Sounds exciting, right? So if you are keen to be part of Adopt a document - do reach out to me and let’s work together to bring Drupal Documentation to the new level!
After watching the Driesnote earlier this week, I wanted to try and play around with the AI tools that were demonstrated. Here's my notes so far. And instructions on how you can set it all up to experiment with the new AI tools in Drupal.
joe Thu, 09/26/2024 - 14:47
I have been working with Drupal for quite some time (from the days of Drupal-7 🙂). I was always up to-date with the new changes in Drupal APIs (at least in theory 😅 ). Whenever a new change was introduced in APIs, I checked them and tried them out.
I did the same thing for the new ValidationAPI. I checked the documentation, tried one basic Hello World type of scenario with some example code and thought it was all good.
DrupalCon, the main event about the digital experience platform Drupal, was held this year in Barcelona, Spain, from 24-27 September. DrupalCon unites thousands of people from around the globe who use, develop, design, and support the Drupal platform. Over 1,300 digital experts and Drupal professionals gathered to exchange ideas, work on the Drupal project, and propel Drupal innovation.
On 24 September, Founder and Project Lead Dries Buytaert gave an inspiring keynote about developing an exciting new product - Drupal CMS. Dries shared a progress update on the timeline of Drupal CMS, showing a demo of the current state, the event-building and SEO capabilities, and the acceleration of site building through AI tools. This will allow Drupal experts and potential end users to drastically change how they build websites, using prompts to create in minutes what used to take days.
DrupalCon Barcelona hosted over 100 workshops, presentations, and several exciting keynotes in a packed three-day program. After the Opening Ceremony, the Women in Drupal Awards were held, recognizing the incredible impact Drupal has on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Winners Pamela Barone, All Petrovska, and Esmeralda Tijhoff took home the awards, acknowledging their accomplishments in the Drupal community.
For almost ten years, the results of the Drupal Business Survey have been presented at DrupalCon. The Drupal Business Survey, organized by the Drupal Business Network, has been collecting data from Drupal service providers and agencies from all over the world. On 26 September, insights from the 2024 survey were shared in an informative session. While the digital industry is not unaware of worldly events that impact economy and sales, many agencies are excited about Drupal CMS. Over 70 digital agencies working with Drupal came to gather to review and work on their strategy for 2025 and beyond.
In the Expo Hall, DrupalCon Barcelona attendees learned more about the Ripple Makers membership and Drupal Certified Partners at the Drupal Association booth. Ripple Makers is the revamped Drupal Association Membership, supporting driving innovation and adoption of Drupal as a high-impact digital public good. The Drupal Certified Partner program recognizes and awards agencies that demonstrate significant innovation, philanthropic leadership, and contribution to the Drupal project. To learn more about the Drupal Certified Partner program, visit the Certified Partner Program page on Drupal.org.
The Drupal Association Board got together the weekend prior to DrupalCon for their bi-annual in-person board meeting. Topics of discussion included Drupal CMS, its roadmap, and the overall strategy and ambitions for Drupal. They held their public board meeting on Wednesday at DrupalCon to announce the newest Board Members: Alejandro Moreno, Sachiko Muto, and Stella Power. During the public meeting, CEO Tim Doyle also announced the launch of a new program, Adopt-a-Document.
On the last day of the conference, Drupal experts stayed for Contribution Day, where they worked on Drupal’s next exciting innovations. Drupal’s community has over 100,000 passionately committed users driving innovation of one of the world’s largest open source projects. Many social events occur in the evenings at DrupalCon, including Drupal’s pub quiz called Trivia Night on Thursday.
At the closing ceremony, the city for DrupalCon Europe 2025 was announced: Vienna.
The Drupal Association is a nonprofit organization focused on accelerating Drupal, fostering the growth of the Drupal community, and supporting the project’s vision to create a safe, secure, and open web for everyone. The Drupal Association also administers Drupal.org on behalf of the Drupal community. You can also support the continued success of the Drupal project by getting involved. Learn more.