how to populate select list using hook_form_alter()?

Question

I wanted to add values to a select list dynamically. Another module generates an array from a web service and I want to use those values to populate a select list in a form using hook_form_alter.

I tried directly adding the options in #options of the field using the following code

<?php $form['field_mage_category']['und']['#options']=$arr; ?>

The above code adds the options to the select list and returns a value according to the options selected but when the form is loaded again for editing. The option is set to default value and other issue is that when a single option is deleted. The respective value is not getting deleted from the field_data table.

I tried using #after-build property to populate the select list.below code is the call to _add_category_select_list function

      <?php function main_menu_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id){
       if($form_id=='main_menu_node_form'){
           form['field_mage_category']['#after_build'] = array('_add_category_select_list');
          } ?>

and following is the code in the _add_category_select_list function

<?php function _add_category_select_list($element, &$form_state) {
$mlib=new Mlibrary();
$main_category=$mlib->get_main_menu_Categories();
   foreach($main_category as $main){
       $element['und']['#options'] = array($main['category_id'] => $main['Title'])+  $element['und']['#options'];
    }

return ($element);
   } ?>

The above code populates the select list but when the option is selected it is not returning any values for the options selected. Can anyone give me a proper way to add #options to select list dynamically using hook_form_alter or any other options that will allow me to add options from my module.

Answer 1

Your first method was very close; I wouldn't advise using an #after_build function for this simply because it's not necessary.

When you're dealing with field widgets added to forms the actual form elements (textfield, select, checkbox, etc.) are a little further down in the array (see Why is hook_form_alter() so messy? for more info).

In your case this should work:

$form['field_mage_category']['und'][0]['value']['#options'] = $arr;

Answer 2

For select field we can use as follows

$form['field_task']['und']['#options'] =$arr;
//array('black'=>'black')