Add new existing field for existing content type

Question

I have a development site (let be site 1) and a site where I check my code (site 2). My goal was to add a new existing field to a paragraphs type (/admin/structure/paragraphs_type), so I did the following:

On site 1:

• I re-used an existing field in one of the paragraphs type
• I exported the configuration
• I deleted uuid and _core.default_config_hash from the configuration files (from those which was relevant for me)
• I wrote an update hook which will create the same config file (except order), when my module will be updated on other sites, where it was previously installed my module
• I put the exported 3 files to my module's config/optional dir

Than I moved this module to the site 2 where I run the update hooks. But the newly added field wasn't showed up on the paragraphs type's page under the correct paragraphs type. All the configuration's dependencies are right and enabled. Configuration file is same except the order. If I want to add the field on site 2 manually again, after config import I get this error: There was a problem creating field : 'field_config' entity with ID 'paragraph.text_boxes.field_text' already exists.

Note: before I added the new field, I had a configuration export under git, so after I added a new field and exported the configuration I saw exactly which configs was touched.

What am I doing wrong? How can I add a new existing field to a paragraphs (or a content type)? What's missing?

Answer 1

if I am not wrong, I believe, Site 1 is your local development environment, and site 2 is your production environment.

I wrote an update hook which will create the same config file (except order), when my module will be updated on other sites, where it was previously installed my module Why would you write an update hook ? You can simply export the configs, and import them on prod. If this does not suit you, I would suggest you to use Features module for this. It will make sure you get a working module which can be installed even without features module in place on Prod.

Answer 2

Well finally I found a working solution for me, however I don't know why doesn't show up by default after config save.

First I need to connect my existing field (which I want to re-use) to the selected content type/paragraphs type:

\Drupal\field\Entity\FieldConfig::create([
  'entity_type' => 'node',
  'bundle'      => 'page',
  'field_name'  => 'field_text',
])->save();

This code will add a new field which machine name is field_text (needs to be exist in the system) into page content type which is a node.

Than if I edit the configuration (with configFactory) I can set the field name, view and form settings, etc. However you are able to set field settings with FieldConfig. (but not display and form)