Visualforce - Beyond Basics Series 30 - Use FieldSets for FutureProof

What is FieldSet ?

It is nothing but grouping the related fields in the sObject & giving them a Name.

What is the use of it ?

Since, it's a group of fields it can be used as a collection, rather than individual fields. At beginning, it may seems not required, but as organization grows, this feature is very important to maintain the Org health.

Where should be used ?

This will be used mainly in Visualforce & Apex. For example, you have created a feature which requires 100 fields to be processed by the user. Would you be happy to add inputField/outputField in the Visualforce page for all 100 fields ?  Won't you think is there any better way ?
yes, fieldset is the solution. you just fieldset to iterate through the fields & use them. These are the usefulness,

1.   efficient coding
2.   less maintainance
3.   future proof - you can add a field or remove from the fieldset, but doesn't need to change the page.

How to use it ?

In visualforce page, you normally use repeat component to iterate through them & then, either input/output the values according the requirements.

Where is the Code ?

I have illustrated how to use a fieldset to iterate & display the values in the page. you need to create the fieldset before running the page.

	<apex:page standardController="Opportunity">
	<apex:pageBlock>
	<apex:pageBlockSection>
	<!-- Iterating through fieldset -->
	<apex:repeat value="{!$ObjectType.Opportunity.FieldSets.OppFieldSet}"
	var="field">
	<apex:pageBlockSectionItem>
	<!-- Label -->
	<apex:outputPanel layout="none">
	<!-- Field Label -->
	<apex:outputLabel value="{!$ObjectType.Opportunity.fields[field].Label}"
	rendered="{!NOT(CONTAINS(field, '.'))}"/>
	<!-- Parent Field Label -->
	<apex:outputLabel value="{!field}" rendered="{!CONTAINS(field, '.')}"/>
	</apex:outputPanel>
	<!-- Field value -->
	<apex:outputField value="{!Opportunity[field]}"/>
	</apex:pageBlockSectionItem>
	</apex:repeat>
	</apex:pageBlockSection>
	</apex:pageBlock>
	</apex:page>

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