fix: Use JSON encoding for bracket-notation arrays and add sentinel for clearing

Fix bracket-notation array handling to prevent data loss:

1. Use JSON encoding instead of comma-join (lines 3358-3359):
   - Comma-join breaks if option values contain commas
   - Switch to json.dumps() to encode array values as JSON strings
   - _parse_form_value_with_schema() already handles JSON arrays correctly
   - Preserves values with commas, special characters, etc.

2. Add sentinel hidden input for clearing arrays:
   - Add hidden input with name="field[]" value="" in checkbox-group template
   - Ensures field is always submitted, even when all checkboxes unchecked
   - Backend filters out sentinel empty strings to detect empty array
   - Allows users to clear array to [] by unchecking all options

3. Update backend to handle sentinel:
   - Filter out sentinel empty strings from bracket notation values
   - Empty array (all unchecked) is represented as "[]" JSON string
   - Properly handles both sentinel-only (empty array) and sentinel+values cases

This fixes data loss when:
- Option values contain commas (comma-join corruption)
- All checkboxes are unchecked (field omitted from form, can't clear to [])

web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py

@@ -3337,25 +3337,34 @@ def save_plugin_config():
 
             # First pass: handle bracket notation array fields (e.g., "field_name[]" from checkbox-group)
             # These fields use getlist() to preserve all values, then replace in form_data
+            # Sentinel empty value ("") allows clearing array to [] when all checkboxes unchecked
             bracket_array_fields = {}  # Maps base field path to list of values
             for key in request.form.keys():
                 # Check if key ends with "[]" (bracket notation for array fields)
                 if key.endswith('[]'):
                     base_path = key[:-2]  # Remove "[]" suffix
                     values = request.form.getlist(key)
-                    if values:
-                        bracket_array_fields[base_path] = values
-                        # Remove the bracket notation key from form_data if present
-                        if key in form_data:
-                            del form_data[key]
+                    # Filter out sentinel empty string - if only sentinel present, array should be []
+                    # If sentinel + values present, use the actual values
+                    filtered_values = [v for v in values if v and v.strip()]
+                    # If no non-empty values but key exists, it means all checkboxes unchecked (empty array)
+                    bracket_array_fields[base_path] = filtered_values
+                    # Remove the bracket notation key from form_data if present
+                    if key in form_data:
+                        del form_data[key]
             
-            # Process bracket notation fields and add to form_data as comma-separated strings
+            # Process bracket notation fields and add to form_data as JSON strings
+            # Use JSON encoding instead of comma-join to handle values containing commas
+            import json
             for base_path, values in bracket_array_fields.items():
                 # Get schema property to verify it's an array
                 base_prop = _get_schema_property(schema, base_path)
                 if base_prop and base_prop.get('type') == 'array':
-                    # Combine values into comma-separated string for consistent parsing
-                    combined_value = ', '.join(str(v) for v in values if v)
+                    # Filter out empty values and sentinel empty strings
+                    filtered_values = [v for v in values if v and v.strip()]
+                    # Encode as JSON array string (handles values with commas correctly)
+                    # Empty array (all unchecked) is represented as "[]"
+                    combined_value = json.dumps(filtered_values)
                     form_data[base_path] = combined_value
                     logger.debug(f"Processed bracket notation array field {base_path}: {values} -> {combined_value}")
 

web_interface/static/v3/plugins_manager.js

@@ -3034,6 +3034,9 @@ function generateFieldHtml(key, prop, value, prefix = '') {
             html += `</div>`;
             // Hidden input to store selected values as JSON array (like array-of-objects pattern)
             html += `<input type="hidden" id="${fieldId}_data" name="${fullKey}_data" value='${JSON.stringify(arrayValue).replace(/'/g, "&#39;")}'>`;
+            // Sentinel hidden input with bracket notation to allow clearing array to [] when all unchecked
+            // This ensures the field is always submitted, even when all checkboxes are unchecked
+            html += `<input type="hidden" name="${fullKey}[]" value="">`;
         } else if (xWidgetValue === 'custom-feeds' || xWidgetValue2 === 'custom-feeds') {
             // Custom feeds widget - check schema validation first
             const itemsSchema = prop.items || {};

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html

@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@
                 </div>
                 {# Hidden input to store selected values as JSON array (like array-of-objects pattern) #}
                 <input type="hidden" id="{{ field_id }}_data" name="{{ full_key }}_data" value='{{ array_value|tojson|safe }}'>
+                {# Sentinel hidden input with bracket notation to allow clearing array to [] when all unchecked #}
+                {# This ensures the field is always submitted, even when all checkboxes are unchecked #}
+                <input type="hidden" name="{{ full_key }}[]" value="">
             {% else %}
                 {# Check for custom-feeds widget first #}
                 {% set items_schema = prop.get('items') or {} %}