Adding a Child Picklist and Mapping Data Items

Complete the following steps to add a child picklist and then map data items in the child picklist to data items in a parent picklist:

  1. If the Field and UDF Customizations window is not open, click Tools > Field and UDF Customizations to open the window.

  2. Select an item in the Properties panel that includes the initial parent picklist added earlier. (See Adding the Initial Parent Picklist.)

    For example, double-click Facility Surveys > CPDM > Test Point > Test Point Inspection to display a grid with fields and property settings related to the Test Point Inspection data entry grid.

  3. Click Picklist in the toolbar of the Field and UDF Customizations window to open the Select Picklist Type dialog box.

    Select Picklist Type

    Select Picklist Type

  4. Click Dynamic in the Select Picklist Type dialog box. Then click the down arrow in the adjacent field and select the parent picklist you want to associate with the child picklist. Click OK to close the dialog box.

  5. When the dialog box Add Picklist Field (Add Picklist Field) opens, set properties and add data items for the child picklist in the following manner:

    1. Type a unique name for the child picklist in the Caption field.

    2. Indicate the number of characters to allow in the name of the child picklist. Type a value in the Width field or use the up/down arrows to select a value. Clicking the up arrow increases the value; clicking the down arrow decreases the value.

      Add Picklist Field

      Add Picklist Field

  6. Choose an option for displaying the child picklist in data entry grids. Click the down arrow in the field Cell Style and select one of the following options in the selection list:

  7. Choose an option for displaying data items in the child picklist. Click the down arrow in the field Dropdown Style and select one of the following options:

  8. Select an option for sorting data items in the child picklist. Click the down arrow in the field Validation Order and select one of the following options:

  9. Complete the following steps to add data items in the child picklist and then map these data items to data items in the associated parent picklist. Data items you add become selections in the drop-down list of the child picklist.

    1. Click the message Click here to add a new row to add an empty row of fields for data entry.

    2. Associate a code with the name of the data item. Type one or more letters, numbers, or a combination of both in the Value field. Then type a description for the data item in the Description field.

      The example below shows a data item labeled TX-1 Travis as an item for selection in the child picklist labeled My Pipeline County (Add Picklist Field).

      Add Picklist Field

      Add Picklist Field

    3. Click the parent picklist button to open the dialog box labeled Select Parent Picklist Values (Select Parent Picklist Values).

      Select Parent Picklist Values

      Select Parent Picklist Values

    4. Map a data item in the parent picklist to the currently selected data item in the child picklist. A list of data items related to the parent picklist display in the left pane of the dialog box (Select Parent Picklist Values).

      • Double-click a data item in the left pane of the dialog box to move the data item to the right pane.

        You can also map data items by clicking a data item's check box and then clicking the right arrow button. A check mark beside a data item indicates that data item is mapped.

        If you want to unmap a data item, double-click the data item in the right pane of the dialog box to move it back to the left pane. Or, select the data item in the right pane and then click the left arrow button.

      Select Parent Picklist Values

      Select Parent Picklist Values

    5. Click Save to save settings and close the dialog box.

  10. To add another data item in the child picklist, follow these steps (Add Picklist Field):

    1. Press Enter on the computer keyboard to add another empty row of fields for data entry in the dialog box Add Picklist Field.

    2. Associate a code with the name of the data item. Type one or more letters, numbers, or a combination of both in the Value field. Then type a description for the data item in the Description field.

      The example below shows a data item labeled OK-2 Marshall as data item for selection in the child picklist labeled My Pipeline County (Add Picklist Field).

      Add Picklist Field

      Add Picklist Field

    3. Click the parent picklist button to open the dialog box labeled Select Parent Picklist Values (Select Parent Picklist Values).

    4. Map a data item in the parent picklist to the currently selected data item in the child picklist (Select Parent Picklist Values). Click Save when you finish to save settings and close the dialog box.

    5. To add additional data items in the child picklist, repeat this step as needed.

  11. When you finish adding and mapping all data items in the child picklist, click Save to close the dialog box and return to the Field and UDF Customizations window.

The process for adding a Dynamic Picklist UDF is now complete. You can add the Dynamic Picklist (parent and child picklist fields) in the layout theme of a data grid, form, or report, as well as in a prompt theme for prompts sent to the Allegro Field Computer. Refer to Working with Themes and Filter Groups for information. For information about editing a picklist, refer to Editing a Picklist (Standard or Dynamic).