Create Columns

There are two types of objects in the system: tables and columns. Tables consist of columns that store different information depending on the type.

You can create a column in two ways:

• via table forms.
• by adding a record to the All Columns (sys_db_column) table.

note

You can add columns only to the existing tables.

To create a column via a table form, complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to System Settings→ All Tables.
2. Open the table you need to add a column to.
3. In the Related Lists area, select the Columns tab.
4. Click New and fill in the fields.
5. Click Save or Save and exit to apply the changes.

To create a column record in the All Columns table, complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to System Settings → All Columns.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and exit to apply the changes.

tip

A column can be configured from any form it is displayed on. To do so, complete the following steps:

1. Open any record in the table that contains the column you need to modify.
2. Right-click the title of the required field → Configure field.

Column form fields

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Field	Mandatory	Description
Table	Y	Specify the table in which the column should be created. If this table has child tables, then this column will also be added to them. After the record is saved, this field becomes read-only.
Column type	Y	Specify a column type. The column type specifies the type of the data stored. See the Column Types article to learn more. After the record is saved, this field becomes read-only.
Title	Y	Specify a column title displayed in the interface. It should be meaningful and human-readable. You can use Latin or Cyrillic letters, [0..9] numbers and the underscore symbol ( _ ). The Title field can be translated to other languages.
Column name	Y	System column name. This field is populated automatically, depending on the Title entered, and becomes read-only after the record is saved. Latin letters, [0..9] numbers, and the underscore symbol ( _ ) are allowed. The system name must begin with a letter. System column names are used in scripts.
Comments	N	Add some comments that describe the column.
Active	N	Select the checkbox to activate the column. If the checkbox is cleared, the column is not available in the form layout or list layout configuration.
Read only	N	Select the checkbox to make the field read-only. This checkbox is hidden if the Column type is set to Journal Input.
Mandatory	N	Select the checkbox to make the field mandatory.
Full text search	N	Select the checkbox to make it possible to perform a global search against the column values. When selected, search indices are created for the column values.
Display by ref	N	Select the checkbox to display the column values instead of record IDs in the reference fields that refer to the Table. A table can have only one column with this checkbox selected. If another column is set as a displayed field, the previously selected Display by ref checkbox is cleared.
Unique	N	Select the checkbox to prevent from creating a new record in the Table if a record with the same value in this column already exists.

Column naming policy

Column name prefixes are added, depending on the circumstances listed below:

1. If you create a column within any table related to vendor applications (Simple, ITSM, or Personal Schedule), then this column automatically gets the "c_" prefix. For example:

Title	Column name
New column	c_new_column

2. If you create a column within a table related to non-vendor applications, then the prefix is not added.

Type Specification section

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The presence of this section on the column form and the field available to vary depending on the Column type selected.

Field	Mandatory	Description
Max length	N	Specify the maximum value length for the value. The value length cannot exceed the allowed length for the specified data type. These limitations, if any, are specified in the Column Types article.

The field is displayed in the section for the following column types

• Encrypted Password
• HTML
• Journal Input
• Password
• Record Class
• Script
• String
• Template
• Text
• Translated text
• URL

The Choice, Conditions, Reference, List, Image, Template, and Field Name column types have a specific set of fields. See the description in the sections below.

See the Choice Fields article to learn more about this column type.

Field	Mandatory	Description
Choice table	N	Specify a table that contains the choice options.
Choice field	Y	Specify a column of the Choice table to use its values as choice options.
Choice type	Y	Select the list type. Available options: Dropdown with --None-- Dropdown without --None-- (specify a default value) If the Dropdown without --None-- is selected, the Default Value section becomes mandatory.
Extra attributes	N	Input the text below to apply the radio buttons style to the choice field: choice_decorator=radio

Conditions column type

Field	Mandatory	Description
Dependent on column	Y	Specify a reference column of the Table. The column should have the table_id name and reference to the Table dictionary to build conditions.
Extra attributes	N	Specify the extended condition operators. For example: extended_operators=VALCHANGES;CHANGESFROM;CHANGESTO;IS_CALCULATED These operators become available for use in the condition builder.

Reference column type

See the Reference Fields article to learn more about this column type.

Field	Mandatory	Description
Reference	Y	Specify a table with the values you need.
On delete	N	Define actions to be taken in case the referenced record is deleted. Available options: No action – no actions will be taken. Set NULL – the reference to this record will be deleted from the field (the value will be equal to null). Cascade – the record containing reference to it will be deleted as well. Restrict – deleting the referenced record is forbidden. Set default value– the reference to it will be changed to the default value defined on the Default Value tab. The field appears when the Reference option is selected in the Attribute type field. Ensure that you set the default value on the Default Value tab if the Set default value option is selected. In case the default value is not set, and the referenced record is deleted, the reference to this record will be deleted from the field (the value will be equal to null).

If the Set NULL option is selected

When deleting a record A, an update error of a record B can occur if the record has a column that references the record A and the Action on delete for this column is Set NULL.

Unable to update the {link} record because it references to the deleted one

Image column type

Field	Mandatory	Description
Extra attributes	N	Specify the maximum image width and height. For example:width=1600 height=800

Field Name and Template column types

Field	Mandatory	Description
Dependent on column	Y	Specify a reference column of the Table. The column should have the table_id name and reference to the Table dictionary to build conditions.

Default Value section

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The Default Value section is available for all column types.

Field	Mandatory	Description
Default value	Y/N	Specify a default value that will be populated automatically to the field when a new record is created. The field is mandatory when the Choice type is Dropdown without --None-- (specify a default value).
Use dynamic default	N	Select the checkbox if you want to generate the default value dynamically.
Dynamic default	N	This field appears only when the Use dynamic default attribute is set to true. Select the script from the Dynamic Default Values (sys_default_value_dynamic) table, so its execution results are automatically calculated and entered into this field. This value will be the default value for the column specified.

caution

1. The script must preliminarily be created in the Dynamic Default Values (sys_default_value_dynamic) table; otherwise, you will not be able to select it.
2. You can select only active scripts (the Active checkbox is selected).

Reference Qualifier section

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The section appears for the following column types:

• Field Name
• List
• Reference

Field	Mandatory	Description
Reference qualifier type	N	Specify the type of the reference qualifier. Available options: Simple Dynamic
Reference qualifier condition	N	Configure filters using the condition builder. The field appears when the Simple option is selected in the Reference qualifier type field.
Dynamic reference qualifier	N	Select the dynamic reference qualifier from the list. The field appears when the Dynamic option is selected in the Reference qualifier type field.
Reference qualifier fixed	N	Select the checkbox to fix filters in breadcrumbs. This functionality blocks the use of the condition builder.