Dynamic autocomplete options - "reboot"
- Dominant language
- TypeScript
- Stars
- 25k
- Forks
- 6.8k
- Avg merge
- 1d 8h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 91
Description
#### Please describe the feature you would like to request.
Currently working with the autocompleter (or select) and using different templates which define and bubble up mat-optgroups is a challenging and manual process requiring understanding of the inner workings of the components and direct access of private fields.
https://stackblitz.com/edit/dynamic-autocomplete
In addition, when there are no "real" top-level options, a shim disabled option must be inserted and then disguised (or else very undesirable workarounds that don't work well with ngrx state-driven option lists must be undertaken). Otherwise, the autocomplete will not open, and reindexing of select handlers for the dynamic options will fail, so that the list either does not appear initially or cannot be navigated/selected from.
As this is a common use case for autocompleters with behavior driven by another selection (e.g.), and we do not want to access internals, we would like to propose a "reboot" method on the autocomplete (and select) whereby a group of MatOptions can be provided and Material will handle getting things into the correct state.
e.g.
```
...
this.autocomplete.setOptions(options);
...
```
#### What is the use-case or motivation for this proposal?
We have encountered multiple scenarios that were best handled by choosing between multiple optgroup-producing templates. For instance, another select may cause the user to choose a "Type" which then should drive our autocomplete to choose between a very complicated and a very simple template.
Currently, realizing this behavior (without putting all of it in one god controller) is unsafe as we must access class internals, and requires specific and fragile knowledge and patterns.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the dynamic option and optgroup scenarios in the linked StackBlitz, then read the autocomplete and select component APIs around option handling. Determine how a public reboot or setOptions API could support dynamic MatOptions without private-field access, and verify that the autocomplete opens and options remain navigable and selectable.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- angular, typescript
- Domain
- frontend
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100