Using Check Boxes instead of Multi-Select List

[jmiskey]

We added a new field to the Problem table named "Contributing Factors".   Since there can be more than one contributing factor to a problem, we made this field a List type, so they can select multiple values under it.   We currently have nine potential contributing factors listed.

My boss does not really like the way these multi-select List fields look/work on the Problem form.   She prefers if it listed a check box for each factor, where the user can just check the appropriate contributing factors.   Is there a way to get a List field to work like this on the Problem form (without creating nine separate fields)?

Thanks

[Chuck Tomasi]

Hi Joe,

You may be able to do it with a UI macro and place it on the form with a formatter. It is going to take some Jelly code to get everything sorted out, but that's how I wold proceed.

http://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=UI_Macros

http://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=Creating_a_Formatter

For Jelly reference/learning: Watch episodes 1-3 in the TechNow series

TechNow Episode List

[jmiskey]

Wow, that was a fast reply!   I don't even think the ink dried on my question!

Looks like I got some homework to do!   I have not waded into the water of Formatters and Jelly Scripting yet.

I'll take a look at the references that you mentioned and see what I can figure out.   I may have some follow-up questions!

[jmiskey]

OK.   So I watched the videos (I have done a little programming in Java, but never Jelly before), and took a look at links provided.   So good stuff there for sure, but I have no idea how to apply it or get started.

Am I right to say that this will be a bit complex?   When you used of the phrase "may be able to do it", are you saying that you aren't sure if it can be done that way?

Are there other options to do what we want (have a field where you can select multiple values, but use something other than that Multi-Select List functionality, with the Lock and such)?   My boss thinks that users just aren't really going to like that, and wants to know what other options there are.

The only other thing I could think of was to create a separate field for each list value in the Table.   Then it is a simple one-to-one correspondence between the field and the form check boxes.   However, that is not the best design, especially going forward, as that would require adding fields to the table every time you wanted to add choices.

[Chuck Tomasi]

Hi Joe,

The 'may be able to do it' is because I didn't know your skill level and I haven't done it myself. I was throwing ideas how there how I would consider doing it. And yes, it is complex because it involves Jelly. Given an hour or two I'm sure I could come up with something, but with Knowledge 17 looming a few weeks away, I have other priorities. Perhaps someone else on the community can assist?