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CharlotteM's avatar
CharlotteM
Qrew Assistant Captain
8 years ago

conditional dropdown with add a record - populate child field from parent

I have two tables - company and contact.  One company (parent) has many contacts (child). I create a company.  Then click Add a contact.  The contact  form opens in another window - but the company...
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CharlotteM's avatar
CharlotteM
Qrew Assistant Captain
8 years ago
yes, I'm using the button.

It has this:

URLRoot() & "db/" & [_DBID_CONTACTS] & "?a=API_GenAddRecordForm&_fid_39=" & URLEncode ([Record ID#])& "&z=" & Rurl()

It seems that when I save the parent first, then click on Add Contact, it works properly.  I have
"Save parent record automatically when a child record is created" checked on both tables (because sometimes I'm wanting to create a Company from another table/ parent record).  So it's acting like it doesn't actually save the Company (parent record) before trying to add the child.

And it doesn't actually connect the two - the contact is saved, with no company.
  • ChrisChris's avatar
    ChrisChris
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    8 years ago

    charlotte

    The "Save Parent record automatically when a child record is created" is for when you have an embedded editable child report in the parent record being displayed in the form. So, if you make edits to the parent, then go to the embedded child report, which would be in edit mode too, and enter a new record there, then both child and parent changes or additions are saved.

  • QuickBaseCoachD's avatar
    QuickBaseCoachD
    Qrew Captain
    8 years ago
    Actually the "Save Parent record automatically when a child record is created" is for when you are in Add mode on a Parent and then user clicks to Add Child before saving the parent.  It will auto save the Parent and then go on to put up the Add Child form.
  • CharlotteM's avatar
    CharlotteM
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    8 years ago
    Exactly.... but that is what it does not seem to be doing. I am in add mode on the parent, then click to add the child.  The form to add a new child opens, with no link to the parent.  What am I doing wrong?
  • QuickBaseCoachD's avatar
    QuickBaseCoachD
    Qrew Captain
    8 years ago
    Charlotte, In your formula it is populating field ID# 39  in the child table with the [Record ID#] of the Parent.  Can you tell me what the field ID# is for the field called [Related Parent] in the child table.  I bet it is not fid 39.

    Also, what is the key field of the Parent record.  Is it still [Record ID#] or was it changed.
  • CharlotteM's avatar
    CharlotteM
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    8 years ago
    It was because the "save first" doesn't work when you ask for a new window. It works fine if you don't. (I think that might be a bug (!) 

    See below, for another wrinkle on this - when you access company through the picker, not directly via a button to get to the "add company" form. 
  • MCFNeil's avatar
    MCFNeil
    Qrew Captain
    8 years ago
    FYI, the 'save parent automatically' function is only evaluated it the original page is being redirected.  i.e. somebody tries to navigate away.  
    It has nothing to do with embedded reports or child records.  

    So you are correct, that it wont work when you open in a new window/tab.
  • CharlotteM's avatar
    CharlotteM
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    8 years ago
    So unfortunately, that seems to mean it won't ever be  evaluated if you got to the Add (company) page from a picker form - which I have to do because there are over 1000 records in the parent table.  See note below. Is there some way around this?
  • MCFNeil's avatar
    MCFNeil
    Qrew Captain
    8 years ago
    One option, that we have utilized for this workaround, is to have the 'add activity' button be launched from the companies table.

    i.e. Its a workflow change so people find the company first, or the contact first, then click 'add activity'  thus all the info is pre-populated.  If they can't find the company, or contact, they would add them first, then add the activity.

    Other than that, you could utilize some script to match the records up later, but the spelling would have to be perfect, and is not a great option.

    (this is one of the limitations of SQL database structures and conditional dropdowns)