Set default value with PHP on a node field.

Question

I'm using Drupal 7 and have created a content type called abc. In abc there is a field called seller. When a logged in user creates a new piece of abc content, the value of the seller field would be the name of the person who is logged in.

So what I want is a default value for the seller field for a small piece of PHP code. But I am not able to find the place to enter this PHP. In Drupal 6 there is text area for the php code to enter, how can this be done with Drupal 7.

Answer 1

I don't know if there is an UI for it, but fields allows either an array as allowed values or an callback.

This means that you most likely will need to create a function in a module instead of hardcoding the php which then would be saved in the database. IMO this is a good thing.

In your field config array you want something like this:

....
'settings' => array(
    'allowed_values' => array(),
    'allowed_values_function' => 'callback_function',
),
...

If you are new to this, take a look at field_create_field and field_update_field.

Answer 2

I'm using User reference field to properly describe content made by few authors. It can be multi value, node author is only one out of the box. So if You have big article performed by few people user reference field is reasonable solution.

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Sometimes User reference field is also needed, when you have real author of content and operator (person, who is posting content) and you need to know, who posted and when. If author is always operator, there is no need to use user reference field, because reference is already within Drupal core author stored.

Answer 3

If the content of this Field is the same as the Author of the Node, there is no need to make a seperate field.

Instead, you should add the already available Node:Author field to your View.