Form is not autofilling based on Ref key

[whlim]

So recently i have tasked to continue on an already deployed App, adding a approval layer but i want the approval form to reflect the Serial No from the main table which to no avail. The main table have a column named [PR No] <- Key & Label, Approval table has a ref column [Ref ID]... the initial value expression is as follow [Ref ID].[PR No] but when i tested in in the App, the field return empty, and i couldnt figure out why... any help is appreciated....

[Gustavo_Eduardo]

Hello, does the table have any user filters; userid = USEREMAIL()? 

[whlim]

Hello @Gustavo_Eduardo  which table are you referring to? if its the main table then no, if its the approval table, its still no, i basically used action to filter based on useremail() unless that affects the app?

[Gustavo_Eduardo]

Hola, ¿cómo va todo? Lo que quiero decir es que las tablas tienen lo que se denomina filtros de seguridad en la configuración de la tabla. Comprueba que no haya ninguna expresión que pueda impedir que se obtengan los valores referenciados.

A continuación, le mostramos un ejemplo: si su tabla tiene un filtro como este y no hay ningún valor en la columna [userid] de la base de datos, no verá ningún valor en el formulario cuando muestre la columna de referencia, ya que no se está validando la condición del filtro.

To solve this, it’s not necessary to remove the filter; just make sure that the column where the email is stored (for example, userid) is not empty in your database table. Add the corresponding email there.

[whlim]

Hi @Gustavo_Eduardo, i do not have a security filter set up for the table itself but i did record the list of users that is granted access to this table view in the database table

[Steve]

The Initial value expression is only used when the row is first added or if the column's Reset on edit? option is enabled. Are either of those conditions true?

[whlim]

the column's "Reset on edit?" is not enabled. How do i check the first query? from my understanding, initial value should work as long as data in the field that is being referred to and  the expression is correct, or am i misunderstanding things?

[Steve]

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@whlim wrote:

from my understanding, initial value should work as long as data in the field that is being referred to and  the expression is correct, or am i misunderstanding things?

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Initial value is only used when the role is first added; it is not used when the role is edited or otherwise updated. Are you experiencing this problem when adding rows?

[whlim]

the data rows i have right now are not newly added, however i tried adding a new entry and yes the problem persisted.

[eangelc]

I don't know but the ref columns are having unusual behavior in the last few days.

[whlim]

hahaha, but probably we are missing something is what im guessing

[Steve]

Looking back at earlier followups, I noticed this:

The Initial value expression for the Ref ID column is dereferencing itself to give itself a different value. This just isn't going to work. What is it you're trying to accomplish?

[whlim]

Hi @Steve, good observation but here's the thing, correct me if im wrong, but to "extract" the data from a row of entry from the main table, i have to use "ref to key"  ? so in this case datatype ref[Ref ID] from the second table <- as shown in the picture, should reference from the primary key in the main table in this case [PR No], hence the [Ref ID].[PR No] <- at least from my understanding???

[Steve]

Nope. Again, what are you trying to accomplish? Do you want to change the value of the Ref ID column? If so, why?

[whlim]

oh... ok... so "table 2" is a form, i want the [Ref ID] to show the value of the specific row selected in "table 1" in this case [PR NO], so that when user reach the form view, they know what record they are filling the form for... more of a validation purpose... that's the aim

[Steve]

Please post a screenshot of the form view configuration.

How does the user get to the form view? From a menu option? From a button? From clicking "Add" in a detail view? If from a button, please post a screenshot of the corresponding action configuration. If by clicking "Add", please post a screenshot of the configuration of the column attached to "Add".

[whlim]

I use an action, named it approve and as follows...

[Steve]

Is the approval form adding a new row or updating an existing row?

[whlim]

Adding new row

[Steve · Accepted solution]

Rather than LINKTOROW([PR No], "Approval Form"), try LINKTOFORM("Approval Form", "Ref ID", [PR No]).

[whlim]

Hi steve, the expression works wonderfully. Cheers!