How do you submit a reference variable from a record producer?

[mahudg2]

I understand that to submit data from a record producer from a variable you can simply name the variable the same thing as what you're submitting.

This is working fine for strings, but when I'm trying to submit data into reference field it just shows up blank in the actual record it produces. How would I fix this?

[JonathanJacob · Accepted solution]

You can use the 'setDisplayValue' (via a script) if you know the display value since the system stores references as sys_ids. But it sounds like you are trying to create a variable that is a reference that already exists, is that correct? If so just create a reference type variable and point that to the table that you want to reference, this should be the same name as your field on your actual form. Also take a look at the 'Report an Outage' out of box record producer, it uses reference fields.

Hope that helps.

[mahudg2]

Hmm setting the variable to type reference seemed to work. But I've run into a new problem. We don't want the user to be able to use the magnifying glass to lookup other items in the table. Is there a way to just submit a string and end up with the proper item in the reference field in the record that is being produced?

[JonathanJacob]

Great news! Glad that worked.

To correct the next issue you can change the variable type to a "lookup select box", specify the table, and the field value as sys_id. To Further narrow this you can use a reference qualifier.

[mahudg2]

I'm not sure how a lookup select box would work. I have a field that is asking for a verification code.

I don't want users to be able to lookup or see any values in that box.