Forum Discussion

JenniferJuhasz's avatar
JenniferJuhasz
Qrew Trainee
2 years ago

Formula Field - If this, then that; otherwise allow text entry

Hi everyone, Just finished building a new tool for my team, integrating reporting to contacts tables to allow staff to look up contact records rather than repeatedly inputting the same data. How...
Formulas and functions
MarkShnier__You's avatar
MarkShnier__You
Qrew Champion
OK, this will be no problem. The key field of your table is the email address and that must remain as a data entry field. Key fields must be data entry field and not formula field.

So you're on the right track, make a formula field as you suggest, and then use a Form Rule that will say

When the email address is blank and that boxes checked than the action will be to copy the value of the formula field into your email address field.


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Mark Shnier (Your Quickbase Coach)
mark.shnier@gmail.com
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JenniferJuhasz's avatar
JenniferJuhasz
Qrew Trainee
2 years ago
Okay - will give this a try this morning; so the formula field I create can also include the action to populate the record ID field with the 'fake' email address.  Can I do all of this with just a formula checkbox then?

And thank you!!! Your advice is always so helpful!

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Jennifer Juhasz
FamilySmart
BC, Canada
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  • MarkShnier__You's avatar
    MarkShnier__You
    Qrew Champion
    2 years ago
    Just to get our Terminology straight, the key field of your table is the email field. Every table still has a Record ID field even if it is not set as still being the key field.  

    The formula will do the work of what you want to go in that field if the user does not have an email address, but the work of putting the value from the formula field into the email field will be done by a Form Rule.

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    Mark Shnier (Your Quickbase Coach)
    mark.shnier@gmail.com
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    • JenniferJuhasz's avatar
      JenniferJuhasz
      Qrew Trainee
      2 years ago
      Hi Mark,

      I thought I was on the right path, but getting an error.

      I've created my checkbox.
      Created a 'Formula Email Addess' field (and alternatively tried both a Formula Text and Formula Rich Text field), but the following formula keeps generating a syntax error:

      If([No Email Address for Contact],true,[Staff Member - Community]&"@noemail.com")

      If I say ,true, - it says - expecting bool but found text
      If I say ,1, - it says - expecting number but found text

      I'm puzzled, why this isn't working.

      If I understand your guidance correctly, once I can get this field to populate, then I'll use the form rules to populate the 'Email Address' field with this content.  Is that right?

      Thank you!

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      Jennifer Juhasz
      FamilySmart
      BC, Canada
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      • MarkShnier__You's avatar
        MarkShnier__You
        Qrew Champion
        2 years ago
        I suggest simply a  formula email field called [Email address to use if no email]

          [Staff Member - Community] & "@        noemail.com"

        Then a form rule that says,

        when multiple conditions are true
        When
        all of
        email is (leave blank)
        No email available is checked

        Change [email] to the value in the field [Email address to use if no email]
        Change [No email available is checked] to unchecked

        ------------------------------
        Mark Shnier (Your Quickbase Coach)
        mark.shnier@gmail.com
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