Pass initial values to ChoiceField in django formset - django

Question

I can't figure out how to populate a django ChoiceField with initial data. Preferrably want to do it in the view, as it will change depending on the parameters I pass to the view.
views.py
def index(request):
init_ingredients = [{'food':'Candy','amt':12,'units':'cup'},{'food':'Bacon','amt':9,'units':'cup'}]
IngredientsFormSet = formset_factory(IngredientLineForm, can_delete=True)
if request.method == 'POST':
formset = IngredientsFormSet(request.POST, request.FILES)
...
else:
formset = IngredientsFormSet(initial=init_ingredients)
the 'food' field and the 'amt' field populate, but the 'units' field - which is an html Select input does not populate with initial value. Do I need to define choices too? and have the initial value be one of them?
forms.py
class IngredientLineForm(forms.Form):
food = forms.CharField(widget=forms.TextInput(attrs={'class':'foods form-control'})) #class = food
units = forms.ChoiceField(widget=forms.Select(attrs={'class':'units form-control'}))
amt = forms.CharField(widget=forms.NumberInput(attrs={'class':'amt form-control'}))

Answer 1

I use:
class netadminGlobalFormView(LoginRequiredMixin, FormView):
model = netInfo
form_class = netInfoForm
def get_initial(self):
initial = super(netadminGlobalFormView, self).get_initial()
initial['eth0_ip'] = self.model_instance.get_eth0_ip_stdout
initial['config_type'] = 'DHCP'
return initial
Note that here:
initial['config_type'] = 'DHCP'
I set a value from selection:
# value displayed value
config_types=(
('DHCP', 'Automatic (DHCP)'),
('MANUAL', 'Static (manual)')
)
and form definition includes the following:
class netInfoForm(ModelForm):
eth0_ip=forms.GenericIPAddressField(protocol='IPv4',
widget=forms.TextInput(
attrs={'placeholder': 'xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx'}),
max_length=IPv4_addr_chars,
label=IPv4_addr_html_label,
help_text='required: i.e. 192.168.111.12 ',
required=True
# ,error_messages={'required': 'Please enter IPv4 address, i.e. 192.168.111.12'}
)
config_type = forms.ChoiceField(choices=config_types, widget=forms.RadioSelect())
#,initial='MANUAL')
and in model:
class netInfo(models.Model):
eth0_ip = models.CharField(max_length = IPv4_addr_chars, blank=True, null=False, default=get_eth0_ip_stdout)
config_type = models.CharField(max_length=6, blank=False, null=False, default="DHCP")
W/o using initial value 'DHCP' or 'MANUAL' in sample above the choice starts unselected. Also note that initial could be set in form class (commented above).
So, exactly to your questions:
1> Do I need to define choices too?
Yes, choices should be defined in model.
2> and have the initial value be one of them?
Yes, initial values for choices must match your choices definition for form and model.
At least that's so in django 2.0 .
As about question 1) - I can't claim there is no ability to init choices other way, but for my sample answer for question 2) is exactly that - non-matching values ignored (didn't raise exception).