How to read value from plugin flexform in TypoScript? - typo3

Question

I have a plugin for a custom content element. The plugin contains a flexform. I'd like to use a value from the flexform in my TypoScript setup. How can I do this?
More specifically, the flexform is defined as:
<T3DataStructure>
<meta>
<langDisable>1</langDisable>
</meta>
<sheets>
<sDEF>
<ROOT>
<TCEforms>
<sheetTitle>LLL:EXT:cb_foundation/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_db.xlf:magellan.sheetTitle</sheetTitle>
</TCEforms>
<type>array</type>
<el>
<settings.magellan.cols>
<TCEforms>
<label>LLL:EXT:cb_foundation/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_db.xlf:magellan.cols</label>
<config>
<type>input</type>
<size>20</size>
<eval>trim</eval>
</config>
</TCEforms>
</settings.magellan.cols>
</el>
</ROOT>
</sDEF>
</sheets>
</T3DataStructure>
My custom element is added to tt_content using the following TypoScript:
lib.cb_foundation.magellan = HMENU
lib.cb_foundation.magellan {
1 = TMENU
1 {
sectionIndex = 1
sectionIndex.type = header
sectionIndex.useColPos = 0
wrap = <div data-magellan-expedition="fixed"><dl class="sub-nav"> | </dl></div>
NO {
allWrap = <dd data-magellan-arrival="c{field:sectionIndex_uid}">|</dd>
allWrap.insertData = 1
}
}
special = list
special.value.data = page:uid
}
tt_content.cbfoundation_magellan =< lib.cb_foundation.magellan
What I want to do is to set tt_content.cbfoundation_magellan.1.sectionIndex.useColPos using the value found in the flexform. How can I do that?

Answer 1

This is not possible. Typoscript does not parse values from a flexform, unfortunately.
You need an extbase controller or pi1 to get the values from the flexform and assign them to a separate template which renders your custom content element.
Extbase Example:
class ContentElementsController extends \TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Mvc\Controller\ActionController {
public function YourContentElementAction() {
// Get the data object (contains the tt_content fields)
$data = $this->configurationManager->getContentObject()->data;
// Append flexform values
$this->configurationManager->getContentObject()->readFlexformIntoConf($data['pi_flexform'], $data);
// Assign to template
$this->view->assign('data', $data);
}
}

Answer 2

I dont know, if the extension gridelements or TYPO3 6.2.26 bring the functionality, but the following works for me:
dataWrap = {field:flexform_YOURFIELD}

Answer 3

The following StackOverflow answer describes, how plugin flexform settings of EXT News can be accessed from TS Setup using a small PHP USER Class:
https://stackoverflow.com/a/40006158/430742
It should be easy to adapt for other plugins and their flexform settings.

Answer 4

As stated here there is a solution now in TYPO3 >= 8.4.
The feature is documented in the TYPO3 Core Changelog.