Define Auto-population Properties for a Field

You can use auto-population properties to automatically fill a Field value in based on defined conditions.

For example, when a User selects a value for the Status Field, another Field can be automatically populated with the descriptive text of the Status. Or, when a value is provided in one Field (Approve Reason), another Field (example: Approve Date Time) can be automatically populated with the date/time and the name of the User who made the change.

Use these methods to auto-populate a Field:

Auto-populate Based on Changes Made to a Table

You can automatically fill in the Field's value when another Field's value changes. This allows additional values to be retrieved from a validation table when a value is selected for one Field.

To auto-populate when a change is made to a table:

From the Validation/Auto-Populate page, select the Auto-populate check box.
From the Populate when there is a change in table drop-down, select a Business Object that, when changed, will trigger auto-populating the Field.
From the Fielddrop-down, select a Field from the selected Business Object that, when changed, will trigger auto-populating the Field (the trigger field).
Typically, the selected Business Object is the same as the one containing the Field being auto-populated, but it can also be a Business Object that has a 1-1 Relationship with the Business Object containing the Field being auto-populated.

Select one of these Populate with options:


Option	Description
Field from <validation table> lookup table	Select this radio button to populate the Field with a value from a Field in the table used to validate the selected trigger Field. Then, select a Field in the drop-down. This option is only available if the selected trigger Field is validated from a table.
Value	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field with a defined value. Then, provide a value. Click the Legal Values button for a list of valid values (only available if the Field is validated).
Field	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field with a value from another Field in the Business Object. Then, select a Field in the drop-down.
Function	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field using a System Function. Then, select a System Function in the drop-down.
Stored Value	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field using a Stored Value. Then, select a most recently used (MRU) Stored Value in the drop-down, or click the Ellipses button to open the Stored Value Manager, where you can select an existing Stored Value or create a new one.
Expression	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field using an Expression. You can use either a stored Expression or a custom Expression.
Business Object ID	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field using the Business Object ID. This option is only available if the selected trigger Field is validated using a Business Object name.
Action Name	Select this radio button to auto-populate the Field using the Action Name. This option is only available if the Field holds an Action Name (the hold property is set to Action Name in the Field's general properties).

Select the Only populate if Field is empty check box to only populate the Field if it does not contain a value.

Auto-populate Using a Group Map

You can use Group Maps to map values in Fields to members of a Group Object. This allows the system to select the appropriate Group Member within a Relationship. For example, a Specifics ID Field could use a Specifics Group Map that would populate the Field with the ID of a Specifics Group Member (example: Hardware Specifics or Software Specifics), and then show the appropriate Specifics Form in the Business Object.

To auto-populate using a Group Map:

From the Validation/Auto-Populate page, select the Populate Using Map check box.
From the Group Map drop-down, select an existing Group Map. Or, click the Group Map button to open the Group Map Manager, where you can select an existing Group Map or create a new one.