lazy-model

AngularJS directive that works like ng-model but accept changes only when form is submitted (otherwise changes are cancelled).

##UPDATE!!! As of Angular 1.3 there is ngModelOptions directive that allows to achive the same behavior natively

  <form name="userForm">
    <input type="text" ng-model="user.name" ng-model-options="{ updateOn: 'submit' }" name="userName">
    <button type="submit">save</button>
    <button type="button"  ng-click="userForm.userName.$rollbackViewValue();">cancel</button>
  </form>

jsfiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/104/ So you don't need lazy-model any more!

Why this is needed?

AngularJS 2-way binding is good feature: you change model - and all views are updated instantly.
But when dealing with forms I often need more transactional way: input something and accept changes or decline it. Official way to do it requires additional code in controller: create copy of model, link it with form and write changes back to original model when form is submitted (see http://docs.angularjs.org/guide/forms).
Being too lazy, I tried to put all that stuff into lazy-model directive.

How to use it?

1. Create form with submit and reset buttons
2. In controls use lazy-model instead of ng-model

<form>
  <input type="text" lazy-model="user.name">
  <button type="submit">save</button>
  <button type="reset">cancel</button>
</form>

Now you can change username, but it will be saved to model only when you press save.
If you press cancel - your changes will be declined.
Try out demo: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/6/

It can be useful for popup forms and modal dialogs.
For example, popup form:

<form ng-submit="formVisible=false" ng-show="formVisible">
  <input type="text" lazy-model="user.name">
  <button type="submit">save</button>
  <button type="reset" ng-click="formVisible=false">cancel</button>
</form>
<button ng-click="formVisible=true" ng-show="!formVisible">show form</button>

Live demo: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/7/

How to validate?

Basically there are two ways of validation:

1. On-change validation (instant)

Use normal AngularJS validation described in docs. For example, ng-maxlength validator:

<form name="frm" ng-submit="submit()" ng-show="formVisible">
...
  <input type="text" name="username" lazy-model="user.name" ng-maxlength="10">

And check form.$valid in submit handler in controller:

$scope.submit = function() {    
  if ($scope.frm.$valid) {
    $scope.formVisible = false;
  }
};

Live demo: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/8/

2. On-submit validation

Alternatively, you can perform all validations inside submit handler and accept or decline changes by setting validity via $setValidity method. Don't forget to define name attribute of form and controls.

<form name="frm" ng-submit="submit()" ng-show="formVisible">
...
  <input type="text" name="username" lazy-model="user.name">
  ...
  <button type="reset" ng-click="cancel()">cancel</button>

In controller you should define both submit and cancel handlers:

$scope.submit = function() {
  if ($scope.frm.username.$modelValue.length > 10) {
    $scope.frm.username.$setValidity('maxlength', false);  
  } else {
    $scope.frm.username.$setValidity('maxlength', true);
    $scope.formVisible = false;
  }  
};

$scope.cancel = function() {
  $scope.frm.username.$setValidity('maxlength', true);
  $scope.formVisible = false;
}

Live demo: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/10/

How to send data on server?

Please note that in ng-submit hook original models are not updated yet. You may use it for validation but not for sending data on server.
To send data there is special attribute of <form> called lazy-submit. Inside this hook models are updated and you can freely manipulate your models.

<form name="frm" lazy-submit="save()" ng-show="formVisible">
...
  <input type="text" name="username" lazy-model="user.name" ng-maxlength="10">

In controller:

$scope.save = function() { 
  $scope.formVisible = false;
  sendToServer($scope.user);   
};

Live demo: http://jsfiddle.net/8btk5/12/

How to include it in my project?

1. Install via bower:

   bower install lazy-model
   

or dowload manually lazyModel.js.

2. Include lazyModel.js and set app dependency:

       var app = angular.module("app", ["lazyModel"]);