Update Parent Record Push to Child Record(s)

Question

Please refer to image below:

Theme is the parent of Capability (theme has many capabilities). The image is showing a Theme record.The user wants to avoid updating individual Capabilities and instead update all or a selection from the Theme level. In the image below this Theme only has two Capabilities but some may have over a hundred.I have two items the user may want to update: Status (text) and Launch Date (date). They may not need to update both values at the same time. I have added a checkbox field on the Theme record labelled "Update All" for them to indicate they want to update all related Capabilities. There are also individual checkbox fields on each Capability where the user can select one or more records to be updated. Has anyone done this or something similar before? Or have a suggestion for a solution?------------------------------Thanks in advance,Jennifer Paschal------------------------------

markshnier__you · Answer

there are two choices i see.The first is just training the users to use Good Old Grid Edit and the short cuts like copy and paste (right clicks), highlighting a block of cells ands copy and paste and also clicking he column heading (right click)&nbsp; and then "Fill down".&nbsp; There will be a link for that at the top of the embedded report.Plan B if that is not good enough is to have fields on the parent record for the new values and then checkboxes on the records to be updated. Note that the built in checkbox on the record is for delete so NOT that checkbox!!Then you would have a checkbox field to flag the record to trigger an Automation.The Automations will copy the values from the parent record into the checked children, and then blank out the data in the two data entry fields on the parent as well as the trigger checkbox.&nbsp;The only unsatisfying aspect to that method is that the user will not see the update until they refresh the page and if there are hundred of record, it will take a whole for the Automation to complete.&nbsp; I suspect the child updated will run at a rate of about 5 per second, which is OK for 5 - 10 records, but if there are a hundred records, well, you can do that 20 second math too.This can also be doe with a more satisfying button click and instant screen refresh with the updates done, but&nbsp; the setup for that is beyond the scope of what I can explain here on his Forum unless you are familiar with using URL formula buttons.&nbsp; Contact me directly if you want to implement that method.------------------------------Mark Shnier (YQC)Quick Base Solution ProviderYour Quick Base Coachhttp://QuickBaseCoach.commark.shnier@gmail.com------------------------------

jenniferpaschal · Answer

Thanks Mark! I have a few questions as this is similar to what I have implemented in the picture from the original post (and did not work):

The issue I have had with using automations is that I cannot find a way to exclude pushing fields that have been left blank (User could update Status but not Launch Date or vice versa. How would you implement that piece?
The Automation checkbox...would the users check that on each row they want to update before save &amp; close? Or is checking the checkbox a part of the automation?
------------------------------Thanks in advance,Jennifer Paschal------------------------------

markshnier__you · Answer

You could have two Automatons with different filters being triggered by the same checkbox. The trigger checkbox would need to be on the Parent record.

------------------------------
Mark Shnier (YQC)
Quick Base Solution Provider
Your Quick Base Coach
http://QuickBaseCoach.com
mark.shnier@gmail.com
------------------------------

jenniferpaschal · Answer

I have (1) my automation that checks all the "update record" checkbox fields on the child table when checked on the parent table, (2) my automation that copies the value inputted in the parent table to the child table when it is not blank (3) and my automation for the second field that does the same as (2).How would you&nbsp;- set up the proper trigger to uncheck the "update all" "automation" checkbox fields on the parent table and the "update record" checkbox field on the child table? What trigger should be used so that the automation runs AFTER updates have been made to the two fields (ie the other 3 automations run)?- reset the status and launch date fields on the parent table? when I attempt to add this part to an automation is does not take blank as an input and upon saving the automation it removes that line in the action.------------------------------Thanks in advance,Jennifer Paschal------------------------------

markshnier__you · Answer

Let me answer the easy part first.When I attempt to add this part to an automation is does not take blank as an input and upon saving the automation it removes that line in the action.Ya, that bugs me too.&nbsp; I should put in a User Voice.&nbsp; What I do is to create a formula field of he same type as ai need such as a date field, but with no formula.&nbsp; Then I call it like null date used in Automation.&nbsp;As for ensuring that both Automatons complete, good point.Maybe you can go back to just 1 Automation,&nbsp; but each Action will have it own filters as to which records are modified.------------------------------Mark Shnier (YQC)Quick Base Solution ProviderYour Quick Base Coachhttp://QuickBaseCoach.commark.shnier@gmail.com------------------------------

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Update Parent Record Push to Child Record(s)

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