Nested Database Values

Contents

• Why This Matters
• Do Not Use Dotted Keys Unless a Wrapper Supports Them
• Toggle Example
• Slider Example
• Color Example
• Reset and Defaults
• Checklist

Why This Matters

LibSettingsDesigner's documented simple DB path is direct key access:

opts.db()[control.key]

That is perfect for profile.enabled, but not for nested values like profile.bars.scale. For nested values, use explicit getters/setters so the stored shape, default behavior, and runtime refresh are obvious.

Do Not Use Dotted Keys Unless a Wrapper Supports Them

Avoid this in direct LibSettingsDesigner usage:

key = "bars.scale"

That reads as one literal table key named "bars.scale", unless your host addon wrapper adds dotted-path behavior before forwarding to LibSettingsDesigner.

Use this instead:

getValue = function()
  return MyAddonDB.profile.bars and MyAddonDB.profile.bars.scale or 1
end,
setValue = function(value)
  MyAddonDB.profile.bars = MyAddonDB.profile.bars or {}
  MyAddonDB.profile.bars.scale = tonumber(value) or 1
  MyAddon.RefreshBars()
end

Toggle Example

app:RegisterControl("alerts.core", {
  id = "lowHealthEnabled",
  type = "toggle",
  label = "Low health alert",
  description = "Show an alert when health drops below the configured threshold.",
  default = true,
  getValue = function()
    local alerts = MyAddonDB.profile.alerts
    return alerts and alerts.lowHealthEnabled == true
  end,
  setValue = function(value)
    MyAddonDB.profile.alerts = MyAddonDB.profile.alerts or {}
    MyAddonDB.profile.alerts.lowHealthEnabled = value == true
    MyAddon.RefreshAlerts()
  end,
})

Slider Example

app:RegisterControl("alerts.core", {
  id = "lowHealthThreshold",
  type = "slider",
  label = "Low health threshold",
  min = 5,
  max = 95,
  step = 5,
  suffix = "%",
  default = 35,
  parentCheck = function()
    local alerts = MyAddonDB.profile.alerts
    return alerts and alerts.lowHealthEnabled == true
  end,
  getValue = function()
    local alerts = MyAddonDB.profile.alerts
    return alerts and alerts.lowHealthThreshold or 35
  end,
  setValue = function(value)
    MyAddonDB.profile.alerts = MyAddonDB.profile.alerts or {}
    MyAddonDB.profile.alerts.lowHealthThreshold = tonumber(value) or 35
    MyAddon.RefreshAlerts()
  end,
})

Color Example

app:RegisterControl("alerts.colors", {
  id = "lowHealthColor",
  type = "colorpicker",
  label = "Low health color",
  hasOpacity = true,
  default = { r = 1, g = 0.1, b = 0.1, a = 1 },
  getValue = function()
    local colors = MyAddonDB.profile.colors
    return colors and colors.lowHealth or { r = 1, g = 0.1, b = 0.1, a = 1 }
  end,
  setValue = function(color)
    MyAddonDB.profile.colors = MyAddonDB.profile.colors or {}
    MyAddonDB.profile.colors.lowHealth = color
    MyAddon.RefreshAlertColors()
  end,
})

Reset and Defaults

Make sure the default has the same shape as the getter returns.

Good:

default = 35
getValue = function()
  return MyAddonDB.profile.alerts and MyAddonDB.profile.alerts.lowHealthThreshold or 35
end

Risky:

default = "35"
getValue = function()
  return tonumber(MyAddonDB.profile.alerts.lowHealthThreshold) or 35
end

The second example mixes string and number values, which can confuse customized comparisons and reset behavior.

Checklist

• Getter is nil-safe.
• Setter creates missing nested tables.
• Setter stores the intended type.
• Setter triggers only the needed runtime refresh.
• Default matches the getter's return type.
• Parent/visibility checks read the same nested structure safely.