ngx-sortablejs

This package is an Angular 2+ binding for Sortable.js. Supports standard arrays and Angular FormArray.

Previously known as angular-sortablejs.

Demo

See the library in action in a demo project (the source is located in src directory).

Trees are also supported: tree with fake root element (\ngFor once, root can also be hidden anyway) or without (\ngFor 2 times).

Installation

``sh
npm i -S ngx-sortablejs sortablejs
npm i -D @types/sortablejs
`

You are configured now. If you use Webpack or Angular CLI go to the usage. If you have SystemJS, that's sad, but you can go to the end of the document to find configuration steps there.

Usage

First, import SortablejsModule.forRoot({ / and here some global settings if needed / }) into the root module of your application:

`typescript
imports: [
// ...
SortablejsModule.forRoot({ animation: 150 }),
// ...
];
`

Then import SortablejsModule into the other angular modules where you want to use it:

`typescript
imports: [
// ...
SortablejsModule,
// ...
];
`

Then use sortablejs property on a container HTML element to tell Angular that this is a sortable container; also pass the items array to both *ngFor and [sortablejs] to register the changes automatically.

Directive API

- sortablejs - directive, accepts model to be auto-updated (see examples below)
- sortablejsContainer - directive input, CSS selector for the sortable container, string. Mostly required for frameworks that wrap the content into the elements where it is impossible to access the real container element (e.g. @angular/material). Example: sortablejsContainer=".mat-grid-list"
- sortablejsOptions - directive input, sortable options to pass in. Please note that in order to change the options later the whole object needs to be recreated, see below
- sortablejsInit - directive output, returns the current Sortable instance. Example: (sortablejsInit)="sortableInstance = $event"

Simple sortable list

`typescript
import { Component } from "@angular/core";

@Component({
selector: "my-app",
template:

Drag / drop the item

,
})
export class AppComponent {
items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
}
`

$3

Pass the options with sortablejsOptions property.

`typescript
import { Component } from "@angular/core";

@Component({
selector: "my-app",
template:

Drag / drop the item

,
})
export class AppComponent {
items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
}
`

$3

You can use the options' onUpdate method to track the changes (see also _Passing the options_ section):

`ts
constructor() {
this.options = {
onUpdate: (event: any) => {
this.postChangesToServer();
}
};
}
`

If you use FormArray you are able to choose a more elegant solution:

`ts
public items = new FormArray([
new FormControl(1),
new FormControl(2),
new FormControl(3),
]);

constructor() {
this.items.valueChanges.subscribe(() => {
this.postChangesToServer(this.items.value);
});
}
`

but note, that here you will be able to take the whole changed array only (no oldIndex / newIndex).

$3

You can pass a new options object at anytime via the [sortablejsOptions] binding and the Angular's change detection will check for the changes from the previous options and will call the low level option setter from Sortable.js to set the new option values.

> Note: It will only detect changes when a brand new options object is passed, not deep changes.

$3

The only thing which should be done is assigning the group option to the both list. Everything else is handled automatically.

`typescript
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { SortablejsOptions } from "ngx-sortablejs";

@Component({
selector: "my-app",
template:

Drag / drop the item

list 1

list 2

,
})
export class AppComponent {
items1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
items2 = ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e"];

options: SortablejsOptions = {
group: "test",
};
}
`

$3

The clone mode is similar to the one above (of course the proper Sortablejs settings should be used; see demo). The only important thing is that the ngx-sortablejs does clone the HTML element but does not clone the variable (or FormControl in case of FormArray input). By default the variable will be taken as is: a primitive will be copied, an object will be referenced.

If you want to clone the item being sorted in a different manner, you can provide sortablejsCloneFunction as a parameter. This function receives an item and should return a clone of that item.

`typescript
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { SortablejsOptions } from "ngx-sortablejs";

@Component({
selector: "my-app",
template:

Drag / drop the item

list 1

list 2

,
})
export class AppComponent {
myCloneImplementation = (item) => {
return item; // this is what happens if sortablejsCloneFunction is not provided. Add your stuff here
};
}
`

$3

By default, the boolean parameter runInsideAngular is set to false.
This means that the initial binding of all mouse events of the component will be set so that they will not trigger Angular's change detection.

If this parameter is set to true, then for large components - with a lot of data bindings - the UI will function in a staggered and lagging way (mainly when dragging items), while every event will trigger the change detection (which might be needed in some special edge cases).

$3

If you want to use the same sortable options across different places of your application you might want to set up global configuration. Add the following to your main module to enable e.g. animation: 150 everywhere:

`typescript
imports: [
// ...
// any properties and events available on original library work here as well
SortablejsModule.forRoot({
animation: 150,
}),
// ...
];
`

This value will be used as a default one, but it can be overwritten by a local sortablejsOptions property.

Angular Material specifics

$3

There is a bug with expansion panel which appears because angular material does not really hide the content of panel, but uses visibility: hidden. What we need to do is to actually totally hide it from the DOM instead.

Just add this to your global styles

`css
mat-expansion-panel.sortable-drag .mat-expansion-panel-content {
display: none;
}
`

and the issue should be resolved.

$3

The elements with ripple effect like mat-list-item are affected. The dragging is broken because there is a div created right under the cursor and the webkit has no idea what to do with it.

There are two solutions:

1. Disable the ripple effect

`ts

`

2. Use handle property and block propagation of mousedown and touchstart events on the handler to prevent ripple.

`ts



`

How it works

The model is automatically updated because you pass the items as