Using Manipulators can be annoying and confusing, use this to create simple, elegant ones: {{{ #!python from django.core import formfields, validators class Manipulator(formfields.Manipulator): default = {} done = False def getData(self, request): return request.POST def getForm(self, data, errors): return formfields.FormWrapper(self, data, errors) def process(self, request): data = self.getData(request) if data: new_data = data.copy() errors = self.get_validation_errors(new_data) if not errors: self.do_html2python(new_data) self.done = True return self.complete(request, new_data) else: errors = {} new_data = self.default self.form = self.getForm(new_data, errors) return self.form def complete(self, request, data): pass }}} Now to use, subclass it, and fill in the necessary methods ("{{{__init__}}}" and "{{{complete}}}"), also give it the fields: {{{ #!python class PollEdit(Manipulator): fields = ( formfields.TextField("title", maxlength=32, is_required=True), formfields.TextField("question", maxlength=128, is_required=True), ) def __init__(self, poll): # You can also define your fields here, if you'd like. self.poll = poll ## Luca M.: 03/09/2006 ## I've to uncomment the following line to fill the form with the current data # self.default = poll.__dict__ ## Is this correct ? I'm using django 0.91 def complete(self, request, data): self.poll.title = data['title'] self.poll.question = data['question'] self.poll.save() }}} Usage of the final Manipulator is quite simple: {{{ #!python def edit_poll(request, id): poll = polls.get_object(pk=id) #Assume it works manipulator = PollEdit(poll) form = manipulator.process(request) #Process returns a form if it's needed if (form): return render_to_response('polls/edit_form', {'form': form}) else: return HttpResponseRedirect("/polls/%d" % poll.id) }}} Here's a custom Add Manipulator, I like to build off of the first, so that the fields are the same: {{{ #!python class PollAdd(PollEdit): def __init__(self): self.default = {'title': "Unnamed", 'question': 'Insert your question here.'} #This sets your default values. def complete(self, request, data): poll = polls.Poll(title=data['title'], question=data['question']) poll.save() return poll }}} And here's the add usage: {{{ #!python def add_poll(request): manipulator = PollAdd() result = manipulator.process(request) if (manipulator.done): #Are we done processing? return HttpResponseRedirect("/polls/%d" % result.id) else: #Otherwise, place the form. return render_to_response('polls/new_form', {'form': manipulator.form}) }}}