question Set Default Value to field from Reference in SPM forum

Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:39:24 GMT

Is there a way to set the default value to a dot walked field of a reference field on the same table? See example below on the Change Order table. Would like to set the "Requested for" default value to be the business contact which comes from the Project itself (referenced in Project Number). Is there any way to do this?

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

Brad Tilton — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:45:35 GMT

On the Requested for you can set the default value to be the project business contact. You can right click on the requested for field and choose Configure > Dictionary. In the default value field you would put the following (I guessed at the field names so you would want to validate those):

javascript: current.u_project_number.u_business_contact;

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:58:58 GMT

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the information. This doesn't seem to be working for me. I'm actually using a dictionary override for the default value, since I don't want to modify the default value on the task table itself. But I would think that should work the same way? Anyway, I tried what you suggested and the field is still blank. I also tried using a function (see below) to see what it's returning. According to the message that comes up, current.u_project.u_business_contact is null.

javascript:_getID();

function _getID() {
var name = current.u_project.u_business_contact;
gs.addInfoMessage('name is ' + name);
return name;
}

Anything else I can try?

Thank you!

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

User179407 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:12:35 GMT

Can you try with an onLoad Client script to set the value of the requested for as per the Project number?

Suraj Chauhan

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

ITSMgal — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:17:34 GMT

Hi Jennifer,

What I have seen is when you point directly to the reference field - u_business_contact, it returns a sys_id.

I *think*, and sorry i dont have time to test right now, that if you add " _name" to the reference, it should work..

So you are actually pointing to the field name that contains the name, not the reference object.

I hope that helps.. Let me know if it works!

Emily

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

Brad Tilton — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:23:20 GMT

Hi Jennifer,

Have you validated that u_project and u_business_contact are the correct field names? Also, is u_business_contact a reference field to the user table? I would not do this through a client script.

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:45:54 GMT

Yes, those are the correct field names. And yes, u_business_contact is a reference field to the user table, so is the Requested For field.

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:46:20 GMT

Hi Emily,

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it didn't seem to work for me

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

Brad Tilton — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:57:28 GMT

How is the u_project field getting populated on the record? If that field is not yet populated when the record is created then we may not be able to use a default value.

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 20:56:18 GMT

It's being populated automatically to be whatever project is open when you click "New" from the Change Orders related list (which is on the Project form) - not sure if that answers your question? Thanks again for your help!

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

Brad Tilton — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 21:20:25 GMT

Hmm...If it's not working this way I would try it in a before insert business rule instead.

current.u_requested_for = current.u_project.u_business_contact;

Re: Set Default Value to field from Reference

jenn123 — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:47:36 GMT

That worked - thanks very much!