Administration Guide

Virtual Field Types

Alloy Navigator supports the following types of virtual fields:

  • Integer — an integer value between -99999999 and 99999999.

  • Logical — a boolean value (True or False). Logical fields appear as check boxes in object details windows and forms or as check marks in grids.

  • Currency — a currency value, which consists of a decimal value and a currency symbol, e.g. $500.00.

    NOTE: You can customize the currency format, if needed. For details, see Customizing the currency format.

  • Float — a decimal floating-point value. A Float field allows up to 15 digits, of which 9 can be to the right of the decimal. When creating fields of this type, you can specify a number of decimal places which will be used as a format for input and display of values.

  • String — a text up to 1000 characters long.

  • Memo — a text up to 1 GB in size. Memo fields appear in object details windows and forms as text boxes with a special icon in the upper-right corner that opens the field contents in a new window.

  • Encrypted — a text up to 1000 characters long that should be stored securely. The field of this type allows users to store and display sensitive data in encrypted form. Encrypted values can be read by business logic operations. Encrypted fields with no data or NULL value are displayed as blank.

  • Date — a date value.

  • Date/Time — a date and time value (a timestamp).

  • Duration — a time duration value.

    NOTE: You can customize the duration format, if needed. For details, see Customizing the duration format.

  • Lookup — a select field where the user can choose a value from a list of available items. These fields appear as drop-down lists or groups of radio buttons. These types of sources are available:

    • Static list of values (Radio Buttons) — a list of static values that you specify when configuring the virtual field. The field appears on the Form as a group of radio buttons, where the field name is the group label.

    • Static list of values (Drop Down) — a list of static values that you specify when configuring the virtual field. The field appears on the Form as a drop-down list.

    • Dynamic list based on custom SQL — a list of dynamic values based on a custom SQL query, which you create when configuring the virtual field. When the user opens the Form, the SQL query retrieves values from the SQL Server hosting Alloy Navigator database.

      This data type gives you the maximum flexibility and is especially useful when you need to create a complex filter or to display a list of calculated values. You can also use lookup virtual fields to display a list of values from an external data source such as another database or a text file that can be accessed using SQL Server API methods.

      NOTE: If you want to use an external database as a source, make sure that the users can access that database under their accounts. This external database must be hosted on the same SQL Server. If you want to access any external resource using SQL Server API methods, make sure that the SQL Server startup account has the access permissions to that resource. For details on the Automation Server startup account, see Installation Guide: Choosing Startup Account and Authentication.

  • Multi-select — a select field where the user can choose multiple values from a list of available items. These fields appear as drop-down lists or groups of radio buttons. These types of sources are available:

    • Static list of values (Drop Down) — a list of static values that you specify when configuring the virtual field. The field appears on the Form as a drop-down list.

    • Dynamic list based on custom SQL — a list of dynamic values based on a custom SQL query, which you create when configuring the virtual field. When the user opens the Form, the SQL query retrieves values from the SQL Server hosting Alloy Navigator database.

  • Reference — a reference to another object in the Alloy Navigator database. Reference fields appear on the Form as searchable drop-down lists. You can filter this list to display only certain items to the user.

  • HTML — a text field that allows users to apply HTML formatting and insert hyperlinks or images.