How to Access Multifield Values in AEM Sightly

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Sightly is a robust HTML templating language that allows developers to build dynamic web pages. One common task when working with Sightly is reading multifield values, which are complex data structures composed of multiple fields of data. This guide will explain how to read multifield values in AEM Sightly.

Key Takeaways

• AEM Sightly is a templating language used for creating dynamic web pages.
• Multifield values are complex data structures made up of multiple individual fields.
• Reading multifield values in Sightly involves accessing the multifield component and iterating over its values.
• The process involves both server-side logic (Java) and client-side templating (Sightly).
• It’s essential to handle potential null values to avoid errors.

Understanding Multifield Values in AEM

In AEM, multifield values are used to store complex data structures. A multifield may contain multiple individual fields, each of which can hold a unique piece of data.

Uses of Multifield Values

Multifields are often used in scenarios where a component needs to handle a variable number of similar items. For example, a multifield can be used to store information about multiple authors of a blog post, where each author has a name and a bio.

Preparing to Read Multifield Values in Sightly

To read multifield values in Sightly, you need to access the multifield component and iterate over its values. This process involves both server-side logic (usually written in Java) and client-side templating (with Sightly).

1. Access the Component: Identify the component which contains the multifield.
2. Identify the Multifield: Find the specific multifield within the component that you want to read.

Reading Multifield Values in Sightly

Once you’ve identified the multifield, you can start reading its values.

1. Get Multifield Values: On the server-side, use the AEM Java API to get the multifield values from the component. This typically involves calling the getProperties() method on the component and then getting the specific multifield.
2. Iterate Over Multifield Values: Once you have the multifield values, iterate over them. Each iteration will give you access to a single field within the multifield.

Sample Sightly Code

Here’s a sample Sightly code snippet that demonstrates this process:

htmlCopy

<sly data-sly-use.componentName="com.path.to.your.ComponentClass">
    <div data-sly-list.field="${componentName.multifield}">
        <p>${field.fieldName}</p>
    </div>
</sly>

In this example, componentName represents the Java class that contains the logic to access the multifield values. multifield represents the multifield itself, and fieldName represents an individual field within the multifield.

Handling Null Values

When reading multifield values, there’s a chance that some values may be null. It’s important to handle these potential null values to avoid null pointer exceptions.

1. Check for Null: Before accessing a field within the multifield, check if the field is null.
2. Provide Default Value: If a field is null, provide a default value or handle the null case appropriately.

Conclusion

Reading multifield values in AEM Sightly involves accessing the multifield component, iterating over its values, and handling potential null values. By following the steps outlined in this guide, developers can effectively use multifield values to create more complex, dynamic components in AEM. Always remember to handle null values to ensure your Sightly code is robust and error-free.