# TypeAHead fields and value lists

**URL:** <https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002>\
**Category:** Classic Servoy\
**Created:** [April 8, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002 "2005-04-08T17:44:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![uwgenetics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dc4da7/32.png) [@uwgenetics](https://forum.servoy.com/u/uwgenetics)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/1 "2005-04-08T17:44:35Z")

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I have an order form for an order/purchase database. The tables in question here are agents (agentID, lastName, firstName, initialsCode), agents\_accounts (agentID, accountID) and accounts (accountID, accountName).

Most employees act as agents for a single account, but some do purchases for multiple accounts. To enter an employee/agent on the form, the user enters an id code based on that person’s initials. Once the initials are entered, a method is triggered (using onDataChange) that finds the person’s name, and lists the account(s) they are associated in a pulldown menu that displays the first account. It looks something like this:

```auto
controller.find()
agents_accounts_to_agents.initials = globals.AgentInitials
controller.search(true, false)
globals.AgentID = forms.Agents_Accounts.agent_id

//get account name(s) and populate account pulldown menu
var account_Array
account_Array = databaseManager.getFoundSetDataProviderAsArray(foundset, 'agents_accounts_to_accounts.account_name')

application.setValueListItems( 'Accounts', account_Array)
globals.AgentAccountName= account_Array[0]

```

Of course this requires that the data entry people know the initials for each person. What I would like to do is use this initials field as a type-ahead field to assist data entry staff. Using a value list, it can display a menu with initials, lastName, and FirstName. But the above method will not work when I do this. Nothing gets entered into the name and account fields. How can I get this to work? I would also entertain any suggestions for other ways to accomplish this.

TIA, Peter

PS - I’ve been trying to wean people off the initials code method, but they insist that they need it. Unless, perhaps, if I can provide them with an easier way to do it.

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**Author:** ![ebrandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ebrandt](https://forum.servoy.com/u/ebrandt)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/2 "2005-04-08T19:12:55Z")

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I have a similar situation, but in my employee’s table I have several classifications (checkbox) that determine which value list that a person shows up on based on global relationships that run from form load methods. You can then create dynamic valuelists this way.

I have a code associated with each employee, and employee code fileds located throughout the solution. You can enter the code, via a value list that displays the name and retuns the code.

I also use a similar method to load employee codes via a password relationship , that the employee code field uses as a look up, to create a relationship to display their name.

Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![uwgenetics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dc4da7/32.png) [@uwgenetics](https://forum.servoy.com/u/uwgenetics)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/3 "2005-04-08T19:38:27Z")

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Reading your reply prompted me to think harder, and the problem turned out ot have a simple solution. In the valuelist “Initials” I had checked “Return in DataProvider” checked for the last name and first name. As soon as I unchecked these, the method worked. Now, if only there were a way to have more than one customer separator character in the typeahead list – one separating items 1 and 2, and another separating items 2 and 3, that would be neat.

Example: rsm - Smith, Robert

But I suppose that would be getting greedy.

Peter

> ebrandt:  
> I have a similar situation, but in my employee’s table I have several classifications (checkbox) that determine which value list that a person shows up on based on global relationships that run from form load methods. You can then create dynamic valuelists this way.
> 
> I have a code associated with each employee, and employee code fileds located throughout the solution. You can enter the code, via a value list that displays the name and retuns the code.
> 
> Hope this helps.

![:twisted:]( "Twisted Evil")

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ebrandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ebrandt](https://forum.servoy.com/u/ebrandt)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/4 "2005-04-11T12:52:31Z")

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In my solution I created a stored calc called ‘full\_name’ in the people table :

return last\_name + ', '+ first\_name;

You can then display the calc in you value list.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![uwgenetics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dc4da7/32.png) [@uwgenetics](https://forum.servoy.com/u/uwgenetics)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/5 "2005-04-11T13:38:51Z")

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That’s a great suggestion, but I can’t seem to get the calculation to display. I created a stored calculation, and it shows up as an an optional field for displaying/showing in the data provider in the valuelist editor. I checked “show in field/list” and leave “return in dataprovider” unchecked. The initials field gets displayed as it did previously, but the calc does not. I can’t figure out why. I must have missed a step or something – do you have any suggestions/ideas?

Thanks, Peter

> ebrandt:  
> In my solution I created a stored calc called ‘full\_name’ in the people table :
> 
> return last\_name + ', '+ first\_name;
> 
> You can then display the calc in you value list.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ebrandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ebrandt](https://forum.servoy.com/u/ebrandt)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/6 "2005-04-11T13:40:50Z")

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Does the calc display correctly in the table is calculated on? Plus you might need to loop through the records to update the calc to the backend.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![uwgenetics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dc4da7/32.png) [@uwgenetics](https://forum.servoy.com/u/uwgenetics)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://forum.servoy.com/t/typeahead-fields-and-value-lists/4002/7 "2005-04-11T14:21:25Z")

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Ah, I didn’t realize how stored calcs worked, and that the backend needs to updated. Now the valuelist works beautifully. Hey, I learned something cool in Servoy this morning. Again. 🙂

Thanks a lot,

Peter

> ebrandt:  
> Does the calc display correctly in the table is calculated on? Plus you might need to loop through the records to update the calc to the backend.