Field Properties

The Field Properties window contains information about the field and provides system admins with the ability to edit the properties of the fields. contains the following information:

To open the Field Properties window press Ctrl + Right-click while in view mode.

Field Properties

Caption

The field description displayed in Lucity

Field Name

The name used for the field in the database

Table Name

The name of the database table that the field is stored in.

Shared Field

If this box is marked that this field is a shared field. Any changes to it here will affected all users in all other modules that it is used in. Click the Display Shared Fields button to see which modules this field is used in.

Geodatabase integration

This field is a flag that lets the user know if this field in Lucity is linked to a field in a Geodatabase. If the In Geodatabase? field is marked the Feature Class Field Name, and Feature Class Name fields will provide more information about the link.

Editing

 

Allow Input

This allows users to make a field editable or static (static fields have a gray background) Mark this to make the field editable.

Note: Not all static fields can be made editable. Some are blocked by the system.

Definable in Code/Type List

This only appears if the selected field is the code portion of a Code Type set of fields. Marking this box will make the pick-list editable (to those is the correct permissions) within the module. Un marking this box will stop users from editing it.

Required

Mark this to make the field required. Users will not be able to save new or edited records until the field is filled out.

Restricted

Mark this to make the field restricted. Restricted fields are grayed out and un editable by all users that don't have a special Security Permission. Restricted fields cannot be edited globally.

Default Value

Enter a default value for the field. If the field is empty when the records is saved it will automatically be updated to this value.

Mask

This controls how many characters users can enter into a field. This gives admins the ability to adjust the mask for the field. What appears here depends on the type of field this is.

  • If it is a text field it will say something like 25x and users will only be able to enter 25 letters or numbers in that field.
  • If it is a number field it will say something like nnn and users will only be able to enter a number up to three digits long.
    • To allow for negative numbers as well as positive numbers place a - before the first n.
    • If the field also supports decimals add the decimal point and place n's after it to show how many decimal places should be displayed. -nnn.nn

      Warning: Use extreme caution when modifying a Mask. If you make a Mask smaller, all existing numeric field data may be lost.

Maximum Mask

This represents the absolute largest this field's Mask can be and acts as a guide when editing the mask.

AutoCalc *

The AutoCalc function allows an admin to include a custom calculation in a field. This calculation will be preformed be default upon saving a record or by using the Calculate tool on the module toolbar.

Enter an equation in the grid provided and use the Check Formula button to check for accuracy.  A prompt will appear to inform whether or not the calculation is valid.

Example: Users can enter something like this in the calculation field: (this example is for Sewer Pipe Inventory)

 [NT_DIA] / [NT_LENGTH]

The system will search through the user-defined formula and replace the field names with values from the current record.  For example, if the current record had NT_DIA = 8 and NT_LENGTH = 250, the system will return and calculate this expression:  8/250.

Notes:

  • Make sure that all field names are enclosed in brackets.
  • Make sure that you are not including table names.
  • Make sure that you are not using fields from tables other than the currently displayed module.
  • Make sure that you are not on a record that may cause a division by 0.  If so, you should move to a different record and enter the formula again.
  • Any calculated fields will be disabled or "grayed out" in the form.
  • The calculation function is not available in any of the child dialogs.

User Range *

This allows an administrator to include a minimum and maximum range for the values in a field.  User will receive an error message if the value entered in the limited field is outside of the range specified.  

  • For example if the Min Range is 1 and the Max Range is 5, only values (including decimals) 1 through 5 will be allowed in that field.  If someone enter a value outside of that range (e.g. 7), the following error message will appear:

    Min Range

    * Only appear if the field is a Numeric field

    Note: Changes do not take affect until all users have exited the module.
  1. Select Field Properties. The Field Properties window will appear:

The Field Properties window provides the following functions:

  1. You can deny or allow input in that field, meaning you can make the field static or editable.

    Note: Static fields cannot be modified and contain a grey background. Editable fields can be modified and contain a white background.

  2. You can choose whether the field will require input before the record can be saved.
  3. You can make the field restricted so that only certain users with permission to edit restricted fields can modify it. The field will be grayed out for users who do not have permission.
  4. You can enter a default value that will automatically populate the field if it is left null (empty).
  5. You can change the number of characters allowed in a field by altering the Mask.  
  6. In a code-description field, you can allow users to modify or add to code-description pick lists.
  7. In a code-description or numeric field, you can include default calculations.
  8. In a numeric field, you can include a minimum and maximum range for the values entered.

    Note: Certain field types may have additional functions on the Properties window. These are listed below.