Bitrix arbitrary fields

What this solution does

Bitrix Custom Fields Module (rozmuar.bcf)

Module identifier: rozmuar.bcf

The module adds a custom property type for information blocks called Custom Fields. This is a field builder for element cards: an administrator describes a set of fields in the property settings, the element editor builds an input form based on this description, and the value is passed to the page as a ready data structure for output in templates.

Functionally, the solution is comparable to Advanced Custom Fields for WordPress. A single property replaces numerous individual information block properties and enables the creation of nested structures that cannot be assembled using standard Bitrix tools.

Benefits:

There is no need to create a separate information block property for each card field or a separate information block for each repeating section.

Card structure is configured by content managers in the interface without a programmer and without editing template code when adding a field.

The value in the template is accessible with a single request: simple values are provided as a flat array of code-to-value pairs, while nested groups and repeaters are provided as nested arrays.

Property configuration in the information block: Properties section, type 'Custom Fields (Form Builder)', tab 'Advanced'. For each field, specify the code, label, type, editor instructions, required flag, and settings specific to the selected type. Field order is changed by dragging with the handle ⠿.

Filling in the element card: the module renders a form based on the description. It supports fields of the required types, image and file uploads using standard Bitrix tools, real-time video preview, and search and selection of information block elements via drag-and-drop.

Output: the property value arrives on the page as a ready-made array in the VALUE field. The module has no separate settings system.

Example of retrieving data via API:

$res = CIBlockElement::GetByID($elementId);

$element = $res->GetNextElement();

$props = $element->GetProperties();

$data = $props['ACF']['VALUE'];

The array contains data in the following format:

[

'headline' => 'Headline',

'gallery' => [128, 129, 130], // File IDs

'author' => [45], // Selected information block element IDs

'features' => [ // Repeater

['title' => 'Fast', 'text' => '...'],

['title' => 'Reliable', 'text' => '...'],

],

]

Alternative retrieval method: CIBlockElement::GetProperty(...)->Fetch()['VALUE'].

The Bitrix Arbitrary Fields module extends InfoBlock functionality by providing a set of specialized field types for forms.

The Text field supports multi-line input via textarea. Number fields accept integer or decimal values with configurable minimum, maximum, and step limits. The Range slider allows entering numeric data using a slider with the same constraints.

E-mail and URL fields automatically validate the format. The Password field masks input characters. The Visual editor operates in WYSIWYG mode with a switch to HTML code, while content undergoes sanitization.

The Message field displays static hint text and does not store a value. The Video type supports links to YouTube, Vimeo, or video file uploads with live preview in the form and embedding capability via iframe and video tags on the page.

InfoBlock Element selection fixes a specific InfoBlock in settings, offering two columns in the card: All Elements and Selected, with name-based search, drag-and-drop sorting and moving, support for single or multiple selection with a limit, and stores the value as an ordered ID array.

The Select dropdown allows multiple selection. The Checkboxes set also supports multiple selection. The Radio button allows selecting only one value. The Button group implements the same logic as radio but as Yes/No buttons for boolean flags.

The Link field combines URL, text, and target attribute with URL scheme validation. The Image type uploads a single image via CFile with preview display. The File type allows uploading one arbitrary file via CFile. The Gallery type supports uploading multiple images with a set limit.

The Bitrix arbitrary fields module supports the following data types: Date for selecting a calendar date, Date and time for selecting a date and time, Time for selecting a time, and Color for selecting a color. A Tab acts as a visual form separator and does not store a value. A Field Group represents a single nested set of fields stored as an object. A Repeater allows creating repeating nested sets of fields stored as an array of objects.

For the “Bitrix arbitrary fields” module, General iT can perform installation, configuration and a functional check in your project.