Configure Columns for File Generation and Data Entry

At the request role level, if Excel import is allowed for the template used by the request, a user assigned to the role can generate an Excel file to use for data entry.

NOTE: To enable Excel import for a template role, on the Template (Role Excel Column Control) page’s Vertical View, on the Import Settings tab, click the Excel Import Allowed check box to enable it. This check box is enabled by default.

After data entry is complete, a user can then upload the Excel file at the request role level and import the data to the mapped page. On the Vertical View of the Request (Roles) page, a user clicks the Import button to perform this action.

Column properties can also be added to Data Entry pages to control data entry on the Data Entry page or the Mass Change page.

NOTE: The column properties added to the Data Entry pages for a request are available for all additional requests based on the template.

Column properties specify required fields and ensure that specific values are selected through a list box or combo box when a user manually enters data. If the data for the request is imported from a view and the value of the field does not meet the criteria of the column property, the record displays as invalid.

Some effective column properties to control data entry are:

  • List Box - Displays a field as a list box with options from a selected table or view**.**
  • Combo Box - Displays a field as a text box with options from a selected table or view that display once text is entered in the field. To improve performance, use a combo box instead of a list box when the list view contains too many records to display suitably as a list box.
  • Check Box - Displays a field as a check box that can be enabled or disabled and apply the correct format and value in the database.
  • Required Fields - There are two types of required fields:

    • Hard Required - The record cannot be saved until the field is populated.

    • Soft Required - The record can be saved without the field being populated, but is not considered valid until the field is populated.

NOTE: Any field in the table that does not allow NULLS, such as a Primary Key, is automatically a Hard Required field.

To configure columns: