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Using the VA Custom Fields Wizard

The VA Custom Fields Wizard adds, changes, or deletes custom (user-defined) fields on forms so you can capture extra information. Trimble procedure title: Create Custom Fields. Usually wait until the module and forms are familiar. There is no live help slug using-the-va-custom-fields-wizard; use the form, Field Definitions (F1 on wizard fields), and Create Custom Fields.

Before you start​

  • Decide the need and type: text, numeric, date, or month.
  • Form/grid space limits how many custom fields a form can hold.
  • Put the field on the form that actually stores it. Secondary forms opened by double-click, menu, or button are separate. Example: on PR Employees, the Dedns/Liabs tab grid opens PR Employee Dedns/Liabs; add the field there, not on PR Employees.
  • Create Custom Fields does not document every wizard prompt. Press F1 on a wizard field for Field Definitions.

Steps (wizard fields)​

  1. Open VA Custom Fields Wizard.
  2. Action: add, change, or delete.
  3. What Form will the Custom Field Go On? (on change/delete: What form is the custom field on?). After you pick a form, FYI, these Fields are Already on the Form lists existing fields.
  4. Name the Custom Field: must start with ud (example Begin Service → udBegSvc). Do not delete ud. On change/delete this becomes Select the Custom Field.
  5. Optionally Enter a Description (editable on change/delete as Description).
  6. What is the General Type of Input? Drives later options.
  7. Optional Use a Pre-defined Data Type / Pre-Defined Data Type (type or F4). Datatypes cannot be modified when changing a custom field.
  8. Type-specific options when not using a predefined type:
    • Text: How Many Characters Do You Plan to Store? (max 8,000; above that use bNotes). Display defaults to 30 characters; resize later with Move Custom Fields on the destination form.
    • Numeric: Select a Numeric Precision (0-Tinyint 0–255; 1-Smallint −32,768 to 32,767; 2-Int; 3-Numeric/Decimal up to 38 digits plus decimal in the mask; 4-BigInt up to 19 digits) and Enter a mask (0 / # for leading zeros and size; example #,###,###,##0.00).
  9. Control to Use (when prior input is Text or Numeric): Web (default browser), Notes (scrollable), Formatted Notes. Combo box only when Control to Use is combo box; types come from VA Custom Field Combo Boxes.
  10. Form Label (system adds a colon); Grid Column Heading Text (defaults from Form Label); Form Tab where the control will reside.
  11. Optional defaults and validation:
    • How to Default: Standard (blank), Previous Value, Fixed Value, Variable Date.
    • Default Value: when Fixed Value, or when Numeric + Variable Date. For Text or Date, Default Value must be %T, %L, or %F.
    • Is the Field Required?; Minimum Value / Maximum Value; Hint Help Text (status bar).
    • Regular Expression plus Error Message (most users skip).
    • Stored Procedure from procedures created in UD User Validation; optional comma-separated parameters (-2 = the new field being generated until a sequence is assigned; -1 = active company).
    • Validation Options: Invalid OK no warning; Invalid OK with warning; Valid required but focus can move; Valid required and focus stays.
  12. Finish the wizard. Related follow-ons: Edit Custom Fields, Delete Custom Fields, Format a Notes Field, Set Data Level Security for Custom Fields, Assign a Field Type, Add Fields to Multiple Forms, Change the Position of a Field on the Form, Use Pre-Defined Datatypes.

Hard rules​

  • Keep the ud prefix on the name.
  • Datatype cannot be changed when changing a field.
  • Text store max 8,000 characters; display default 30 unless resized with Move Custom Fields.
  • Mask and numeric precision only when Numeric and not a predefined datatype.
  • Combo box only when control type is combo box.
  • Parameter -2 is temporary until the field sequence is generated.

Notes​

  • Related: VA Custom Field Combo Boxes; UD User Validation; Move Custom Fields / Change the Position of a Field on the Form; Format a Notes Field; Set Data Level Security for Custom Fields.