Option List Data Type
Also known as "drop down selection field". Saves property information to select from multiple choices (like colors, sizes etc.). Fields with
this data type are represented as a drop down list box. Once created, you are still allowed to rename, remove or insert new options at any later time.
Tip: Only a single choice can be selected in this field when creating/editing a record. If you need to check multiple options
at the same time, consider creating multiple checkboxes instead.
If the number of options you may want associate can be large (e.g. as many as hundreds), consider in that case creating
a Many to Many Relationship
with a catalog which contains those options as its records.
General Properties
Text Alignment: Sets the horizontal alignment of the text content. This setting applies to tabular views. You may still select
a different alignment to display on record window via "Form Designer" window.
Required: If checked, the user will be required to enter data to this field before the record can be saved.
Option List Field Properties
Option Items: The option items you have sofar created are displayed in this box. You may click an option item
if you want to rename, change order or delete.
Import: If there is a long list of option items (e.g. list of all countries), it is much easier to import them from a text file.
Open Notepad and just type each option item as a separate line, save and then import the file.
CAUTION! When you open an existing option list field to make changes, remember that
any changes like adding or deleting options are immediately saved to your database. It is NOT possible to undo changes by clicking
the "Cancel" button of the field properties window.
Numeric Value: It is possible to associate a fixed numeric value with each option item. Those values are not displayed
anywhere on the record but can be retrieved and processed by a computed field.
Set As Default: If checked, the currently selection option item becomes the default selected option when you start
creating a new record.
Creating Cascaded Option Lists
It is possible to force an option list field to display a specific group of options which depends on the selection of another (parent) option list field.
A typical example for this is a pair of option list fields like "countries" and "cities". Once the user selects a country from the first field,
the second field becomes automatically populated with the cities only belonging to the selected country.
Parent Option Field: Select the parent option list field only if this field is the child option list of another option list field.
Remember that, you must leave this setting as "None" if this field is the parent one.
Option Key: This setting is used only if this field is a parent option list of another option list field. Otherwise it has no function.
The initial option key is set same as the option name by default and you may leave it as it is as long as each option key is distinct.
The child option list field will refer to this key to determine which option item to show. You may also enter star character (*) here
in case you want the child field to display all of it's options when this option is selected.
Parent Key: This setting is used only if this field is a child option list of another option list field, so it is only displayed when
the parent option field was set. You may select here the parent option item to which current option item belongs.
Example:
- Start creating the parent option list field (e.g. "Countries"), add a couple of sample option items,
- SpeedBase will automatically set the "option key" for each option the same value as the option title.
You do not need to modify the keys as long as the options are not renamed at a later time and each key remains distinct.
- Save the parent option list field and exit,
- Start creating the child option list field (e.g. "Cities"),
- Click to the "parent option list field" box and select the parent field you have just created (e.g. "Countries"),
- Add the option items belonging to the first parent option (e.g. add sample cities for the first country),
- Select the related "parent key" for each child option and save the option (e.g. assign the right parent country for each city),
- Continue adding the child option items for the next parent option until you have added all.
- Save the child option list field and exit,
- Open Form Designer and add the new fields you have just created.
Open the record window. Once you make a selection from the "Countries" option list field, the "Cities" option list field will immediately get populated
with the cities of the selected country.
Note that, you must make a selection from the "parent option list field" box only if the field should work as the child option list field of a parent option list field.
Otherwise it should be set to "none".
Advanced Properties
Encrypt Data: If checked, data entered into this field will be encrypted.
You must have enabled the encryption feature from preferences window before you can activate it on field properties window.