Extended default form inside block, possible?

Question

Ok. So I have a content type, let's say "My favorite places". So naturally Drupal has a form to create new "favorite place" at node/add/my-favorite-places which appears as a page. I managed to create a customized template for this form my_favorite_places-node-form.tpl.php following this very helpful thread. How do you theme a content type's create/edit form in Drupal 7?

I'd like to use this form in several pages on my site. So I was thinking to make it into a block. In below mockups, My favorite places = Content Type A.

However...... I had some experiences customizing front page for anonymous users showing login & register form at the same time, which doesn't run properly with a block (messaging issue). An expert mentioned that form rendering calls should never be fired from inside blocks.

So, I was wondering whether this is a good idea. And if so, how should I do that, if possible without installing another contrib module.

Please advise. Thanks.

Answer 1

You can definitely use forms inside blocks but its always best to run them through Drupal's form API to benefit from their security layers. Alejandro's suggestion to use drupal_get_form is right but you might find it easier to use the Advanced Form Block module which does exactly what you are asking, including creating multiple form blocks of the same content type. You create a block through their interface, chosing the content-type you want to create, and its then available to place through blocks admin or context, etc.

Answer 2

Using php inside blocks or simply pouring your database with php used to be bad practice.

Said that, the function toy are looking for is drupal get form:

https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/includes%21form.inc/function/drupal_get_form/7