A choice field provides several predefined options to choose from, and only one option can be selected.

In SimpleOne interface, choice fields are displayed in two ways:


Drop-down list


Radio buttons


Create a choice field

This column database value can contain all kinds of symbols. If the string length is not set, then it is limited to 80 symbols.

To create a choice column, complete the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the System Definition → All Tables.
  2. Open the table for which you want to create a column.
  3. Scroll down to the Related Lists area and click on the Columns tab.
  4. Click New and fill in the fields.
  5. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

You can also open the form this way:

  1. Navigate to System Definition → All Columns.
  2. Click New, and fill in the fields.
  3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Please note that in this case, you will need to fill in the Table field manually.


FieldMandatoryDescription
TableY

Specify the table name that will be a parent for this column. This field is a reference to the Tables dictionary (sys_db_table).

Column TypeY

Specify the Choice column type.

TitleYSpecify a column title displayed on the form. It is preferred to be sensible and human-readable. You can use Latin, Cyrillic, [0..9] numbers, and the underscore symbol ( _ ).
Column NameY

A system column name. This field is populated automatically. Latin letters, [0..9] numbers, and the underscore symbol ( _ ) are used.

CommentsNWrite a comment with the additional information.
ActiveN

Select the checkbox to make it possible to add this field on the form and list.

If unselected, then field will be not available for choosing in Form Layout or List layout.

Read OnlyNSelect this checkbox to make the field read-only.
MandatoryNSelect this checkbox to make the field mandatory (appropriate for Choice columns with Choice Type = Dropdown with -- None --).
Full Text SearchNSelect this checkbox to enable Global Search for the current column.
Display by RefN

Select this checkbox to display the column's value in record titles and references.

UniqueN

Select this checkbox to forbid creating records with equal values in this field. If a record with value X already exists, there is no way to add a record with the same value.

Type Specification tab
Choice TableNReference to a table.
Choice TypeY

Define whether the option "None" is applicable for the field. Available options:

  • Dropdown with --None--
  • Dropdown without --None-- (specify a default value)

If the Dropdown without --None-- is chosen, the Default Value tab becomes mandatory.

Choice FieldYReference to a particular column of the table specified in the Choice Table field.
Extra AttributesN

Enter the text below to apply radio buttons style to the choice field:

choice_decorator=radio

Default Value tab
Default ValueN

The value of a choice option to be populated automatically by default. Check the value of a field in Choice Options dictionary (sys_choice).

The field is mandatory if the Choice Type is Dropdown without --None-- (specify a default value).

Use Dynamic DefaultNSelect this checkbox to specify the Dynamic Default field.
Dynamic DefaultN

Select the script from the Dynamic Default Values (sys_default_value_dynamic) dictionary, so its execution result will be automatically calculated and entered into this field. This value will be the default value for the column specified.

This field appears only when the Use Dynamic Default checkbox is selected.

  1. The script must be preliminary created in the Dynamic Default Values (sys_default_value_dynamic) dictionary; otherwise, you will be not able to choose it.
  2. You can choose only active scripts (the Active attribute is equal to Yes).


Sources for choice options

There are three ways to define a set of choices for the drop-down lists:

  • by inheriting values from a parent table (if current table is a child to another one).
  • by creating a set of records for this field in the Choice Options dictionary (sys_choice).
  • by defining a source table and its column in the Type Specification tab.

In the second case, you may need to create a different set of choices if the column is inherited and has predefined options. See Overriding of choice options set for child table to learn more.

In the third case, the available options are taken from a particular column of a source table. In the example below, the choice table Role contains a column Name and some records where Name is not empty. The choice options will be values of the Name column in this table.

Create a choice option

Before creating a set of options for a particular table and column, make sure that this column is already created (navigate to System Definition → All Columns).

To create a choice option for a column table, perform the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the choice column, for which you need to create a set of options.
  2. Scroll down to the Related Lists area and  navigate to the Choice tab.
  3. Click New, and fill in the fields.
  4. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

You can also open the form this way:

  1. Navigate to System Definition → Choice Options.
  2. Click New, and fill in the fields.
  3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Note that in this case, you will need to fill in the Table and Column fields manually.

Choice option form fields

FieldMandatoryDescription
TableY

Specify the table to which this choice option is related.

Select the same table for the translated choice version as for the original one.

ColumnY

Specify the column to which this choice option is related.

Select the same column for the translated choice version as for the original one.

TitleYType the translation of the source field there.
LanguageYSpecify the two-symbol name of the language (ru, en, and so on). Generally, references to languages are stored in the Languages (sys_language) table.
ValueYType the same value as specified for the source field.
OrderYEnter the number to define the option order in the choice list (options are arranged in the ascending order).


An easier way to quickly create several options for the same column is to use Make a copy:

  1. After saving a choice option, change the Title, Value, Order fields values.
  2. In the hamburger menu , choose Make a copy. A copy of the current choice option record will be created and saved.

You can also use the following way to create a translation for the choice options:

  1. After saving the record, enter the translation in the Title field and specify the language in the Language field.
  2. Then click Make a copy. A copy of the current choice option for the specified language will be created and saved. 

Note that the Value field has to remain unchanged.

Overriding of choice options set for child table

Override allows for changing choice options set for the child tables extended from the base table. For example, the parent table has the following options for a choice column State:

  • New
  • Rejected
  • Processed.

An overriding can change the quantity of these options or their values in the child table. For example, the new set for the State field can be the following:

  • Draft
  • New
  • Assigned
  • Completed
  • Rejected.

When creating a choice field, it is recommended to set text values in the Value field to increase code readability. For example, it can be incoming, or active, or failed values for Incoming, Active, and Failed choice options.

As for task states, it makes sense to make values numeric; this can help with selection construction in code.

To create a new option set, perform the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the column for which you want to create a new set.
  2. Scroll down to the Related Lists area and choose the Choice tab.
  3. Click New and fill in the fields.
  4. Fill in the Table field with the name of the table for which you need to configure a new set of options.
  5. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

You also can find the form this way:

  1. Navigate to the System Definition → Choice Options.
  2. Click New and fill in the fields.
  3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Please note that in this case, you will need to fill in the Task and Column fields manually.

To learn how to change the column attributes, refer to the Column Overriding article.

Choice list translation

You can provide a set of options for a choice field with localization, which will be displayed in the user's locale.

To localize a choice list, please complete the steps below:

  1. Navigate to System Definition → Choice Options.
  2. Click New and fill in the fields.
  3. Make sure the Value fields of an option in both languages are equal.
  4. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.
  5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 for the rest of the options on the list.


An easier way to quickly localize a set of options for the same column is to use Make a copy.

  1. After saving a choice option, insert the translation in the Title field and specify the language in the Language field.
  2. In the hamburger menu , choose Make a copy. A copy of the current choice option for the specified language will be created and saved.

Note that the Value field has to remain unchanged.

 


If some of the choice options are not localized, then in a user locale other than English, choice lists containing untranslated options will display them in English by default, regardless of the current user locale.

To avoid this, please be careful when adding options to your choice lists.