Default Values

The following section will explain what Default Values are, and how you can define them in the Web Application.

Why do I need Default Values, and what are they?

Default Value are assigned by the application every time when a New Record is being created.

They are mostly used for either of these purposes:

• To ensure accurate information.
  For example by defaulting Date and Time an Incident has been reported.
• To enhance the user experience.
  For example by defaulting the field 'Reported by' to the name of the current user.

Depending on your configuration, these defaulted fields can be either set to

• Read Only, meaning that the user cannot make any changes to this field.
• Allow the user to make changes.
  This means that the user can override the defaulted value, and it is the user's selection which will be used for this record.

What is required to define Default Values?

In relation to Default Values, you will need to consider the following:

• If you intend to default fields to a user specific value, for example the user's name and current department, it will be necessary to have these values defined as User Profiles.
  

  A user profile is a collection of settings ('user profile entries') that allow you to customize certain data entry fields. You can set frequently-used data entry values - such as your Supervisor’s name or Department - so you don’t have to enter them every time.

• When it comes to "fixed" values which apply to ALL users, for some field types you have the option between a "Fixed Value" and a "Constant".
  As a "guideline" for which one to select:
  • When the Default Value is to be applied to more than one Field: use a Constant.
    By doing so, you can change the value from one central location.
  • When the Default Value is to be applied to only one field: you can select a Fixed Value
    

Examples for such fixed values could be:

• A default duration for a Training Course, e.g. 2 (days).
• A specific date, for example start of the financial year.

Once I have defined a Default Value, when will it be available to the End Users?

Every change made to a Form, being:

• Changes to the Form itself (adding/removing fields, changing labels etc.)
• Making changes to Actions, Validations and Default Values

will require

• a Publish
• a restart of the Tomcat Web Server
• closing and opening of all your Browser Windows connected to the application