Skip to end of metadata
Go to start of metadata

You are viewing an old version of this content. View the current version.

Compare with Current View Version History

Version 1 Current »

Difficulty: starter

Content

Learning Objectives

After reading this article, you’ll be able to:

  • Tell the difference between various drop-down field types.

  • Add or remove data in a drop-down field.


Drop-down fields

There are several different types of fields used in Workplace Management. One commonly used field is the drop-down field. The drop-down field allows the user to select from a pre-defined number of options. A downwards pointing arrow to the right in the field can identify a drop-down field (See insert below).

The core strength of the drop-down field is that it is easy for the end user to make a selection from the selection list. It is, however, important that the end user is presented with only a few options in the drop-down field. Too many options can result in a hard-to-navigate selection menu. Moreover, every time the page is loaded, every selection option within each drop-down field will reload on that specific page. Henceforth, many selection options inside a drop-down field could hamper performance when loading the page.

On the surface, every drop-down field is the same. However, there are several different types. This article will help you to identify the types of drop-down fields and how to add or subtract the data presented in the selection menu of each drop-down field type.

 Enumerations

Enumerations

The enumeration fields allows you to add any value to the selection list. There are a few ways where it is possible to add or subtract values from the selection list. Where we make these adjustments depends on where the field’s value is set initially.

Object field level

When the enumeration field is a client-specific field, the values of the drop-down list will be determined on the Object field level.

Example:

A client-specific field has been added to the Property page.

To adjust the selection list:

  1. Navigate to Page definition;

  2. Click on the Fields tab;

  3. Search for the field;

    1. This is a client-specific field. Therefore, we expect to find the enumeration values on either the on the Object field level:

Object field level

It is possible to add or remove these values from this level. Note: The format ‘10: good, 20: average, 30: bad’ must be followed.

Baseline level

When the values of the enumeration field are determined at the Baseline level, we would have to access and adjust the enumeration values using the Enumeration button on the startboard or via the navigation menu. Note: Fields with enumeration values made in the client layer will not show up in this overview.

Example:

Under the General Tab on the Property page, there is a drop-down field called “Ownership.”

To adjust the selection list:

  1. Navigate to Page definition;

  2. Click on the Fields tab;

  3. Search for the field;

    1. In this case, it is the “ownershipTypeCode.”

      This is a baseline field. Henceforth, we have to look for the value using the Enumeration button on the startboard or use the navigation menu.

  4. Navigate to the startboard and click on the Enumerations button;

  5. Search for ownershipType;

  6. Click on the reference of the instance ownershipType;

  7. Click on New to add a new value to the field;

  8. You can navigate to the Property page and view the selection values in the property field.

    1. Note: To hide values from this list, the access rights can be adjusted for each baseline value. It is not possible to delete these baseline values.

 Codetypes

Codetypes

From an end-user perspective, the CodeType and Enumeration fields allow the user to select between different selection values. The advantage of the CodeType field is that it overcomes the shortcomings of the enumeration fields. This makes the use of CodeTypes a more future-proof option when compared to the Enumeration fields.

CodeType fields and Coding schemes

The main difference between these two types of fields is how the selection list values are extracted. The CodeType fields pull the selection list from a separate Coding scheme. The Coding scheme lists the various options that can be selected in the field. I want to point out that the naming structure to link a particular Coding scheme to a CodeType field is essential. A Codetype field is looking for a Coding scheme with the same name as the CodeType field. The Codetype field extracts the codes specified in this scheme and returns them to the option selection list.

The naming structure of the CodeType field and the Coding scheme is fundamental. If incorrectly implemented, the field list will remain empty. Another scenario could be that the field is extracting values from a different Coding scheme than the intended one!

Creating a new Coding Scheme

If you need to refresh your memory on creating a new client-specific field, please have a look at/wiki/spaces/KB/pages/93913144. After creating a code-type field, a new coding scheme must be made to make the field usable.

  1. Navigate to the overview of all Coding Schemes by clicking on the Code type button on your startboard.

  2. Click on New to generate a new coding scheme;

  3. Fill in the name of the coding scheme;

Select a single, unique name for both the CodeType field and the Coding scheme. This name must be a 100% match. Please take a look at the table below for an example.

Naming CodeType field

Naming Coding scheme

  1. Create a new code by clicking on New;

  2. Select a category;

  3. Fill in the details of the code and click Save and return;

Details of the code

List over the codes in the coding scheme

Values available in the drop-down field

Access to the Codes

It is possible to alter the access rights to each of the codes in the coding scheme. This can be done on each code in the coding scheme. In this way, it is possible to use the same field but present different selection options to different types of users.

  1. Navigate to the Coding scheme;

  2. Open the code;

  3. Click on access (top right corner);

  4. Alter the access rights based on access groups and click on the check mark (top right corner).

 Yes/No fields

Yes/No fields

A common sight throughout Workplace is the Yes/No field. Configuring an Enumeration or a CodeType field to return Yes and No is possible. There is, however, a built-in Yes/No field option.

To identify whether or not it is a pure Yes/No field:

  1. Navigate to the page definition;

  2. Open the Object field;

  3. If the display type is set to “Yes/No,” we are dealing with a pure Yes/No field.

 Problem Tree

Problem Tree

The request module in Workplace is designed to guide the user to submit the correct type of request by using the problem tree structure. By first selecting the overarching problem, the logic of the problem tree allows the user to select the available sub-problems.

To identify whether or not the drop-down field is coming from the problem tree functionality:

  1. Navigate to the page definition;

  2. Click on the fields tab;

  3. Look for The problemTypeSchemeId and the problemTypeId fields.

The problem tree functionality will only work if the problemTypeSchemeId is followed by the problemTypeId fields. See the example below.

The information displayed in the problem tree fields is extracted from a Problem type scheme. By default, Workplace extracts the problem types for the request module from the “problem tree” problem type scheme.

To find and to alter these problem types:

  1. Navigate to Requests via the navigation menu;

  2. Click on Problem type schemes;

  3. Open the problemtree problem type scheme;

  1. Click on New to create a new problem type;

  2. Fill in the necessary settings on the problem type. An explanation of these settings can be found. Problem tree/ problem type scheme

  3. The new value will now be available in the drop-down field of the problem tree.

Access to the problem types

It is possible to alter the access rights to each problem type in the problem type scheme. This can be done on each problem type in the problem scheme. In this way, it is possible to use the same field but present different selection options to different types of users.

  1. Navigate to the problem type scheme;

  2. Open the problem type;

  3. Click on access (top right corner);

  4. Alter the access rights based on access groups and click on the check mark (top right corner).

 Categories

Categories

Another commonly used field throughout Workplace is the category drop-down field. This field presents the various categories available on the object. By selecting a different category from the drop-down field, we redefine the category of the instance.

To identify whether or not the drop-down field is a category field:

  1. Navigate to the page definition;

  2. Click on the fields tab;

  3. Look for the categoryFolderId field.

The categoryFolderId extracts the data from the category list on the object. To create, change, or remove a category, please have a look at /wiki/spaces/KB/pages/93913144

Access to the categories

It is possible to alter the access rights to each of the categories in the category folder list. In this way, it is possible to use the same field but present different selection options to different types of users.

  1. Navigate to the object using the Object button on the startboard;

  2. Search for the object and open the instance;

  3. Click on the folder (top right corner);

  4. Select the category;

  5. Click on edit category;

  6. Alter the access rights on the folder and/or the object in the folder;

    1. Both can be found in the top right corner.

 Object

Object

It is also possible to generate a drop-down field from any data table in Workplace. The field will extract the data from an object database table and return the selection list.

In the example below, a property field on the request page allows the user to select any property that is available in the Property data table.

To identify the type of field:

  1. Navigate to Page definition;

  2. Click on the Fields tab;

  3. Search for the field;

    1. This field extracts the data from the Property data table.

    2. To remove or add data to this drop-down field, we would have to add or remove the data in the property data table. We can do this by adding a new property via the property module. The new property will thereby be available in the drop-down field.

Summary


Search

  • No labels