Method Community

Since the update, there have been some problems with some dropdowns that I added in to the customer table. They were pulling from the record ID's of every customer and lead and then filtered through another field. The problem is that the selection for creating the dropdown list via the record ID goes blank after so much time/adding a third dropdown with the same starting list. The only selection I can make then is one that has no actual data for some reason. Is this because there can only be a specific number of dropdowns based on a certain table or even filtered a certain way from a table?

Matt

Also do the lead and customer screens need to be the same since they are both based on one table or can they be unique as in have certain fields put into the screen on one and other fields put into the other? I ask only in terms of would this affect dropdowns the way that I described?

Hi Matt,

Just to ensure I'm understanding you correctly, you have several dropdown lists that are linked to selection lists from the Customer table. However, when you want to add another dropdown field to pull from the same table, the field containing the choices (Step 3 of 3 on the Dropdown Wizard) only holds an empty value to select from. Is this correct? Or are you referring to the selection list being blank when editing your dropdown field on your custom screen?

The only time I've seen this happen is if there exists duplicates of FullName in the table being referenced, regardless, you should see RecordID as one of the fields to choose from. Try regenerating the Entity table, the Customer table, then the table where you're adding these dropdown fields. In order to regenerate a table go to Customize > Tables/Fields > click on the table name, i.e. Entity > then click Finished Editing Fields. But prior to doing that, make sure no one is currently editing any screens or tables in your account.

In regard to your second post, no, the two screens don't have to hold all the same fields. Just keep in mind the records are all being added to the Customer table, however, Leads are separated via a specific field. Both screens should contain the same Required and Unique fields but it's good practice to keep them similar incase you ever convert those Leads to Customers down the road. Different fields on those screens should not affect the behaviour of dropdowns.

- Ashur

It may be because of fullname duplicates then because it is when I am adding the dropdown fields into the custom screen that it messes up. The selection list is not empty though. Instead of having the option of choosing RecordID which normally would be my choice since there are duplicates, it states another option that has no records within it once selected. I'll give you an example of what I mean by this: I have created three dropdowns labeled fabricator 1, fabricator 2, and fabricator 3. I based all three of them on the customer table and I had to choose Record ID as the primary selection column because of duplicates. When I add them in and have more than one in the same screen though, the selection list for the dropdowns changes from Record ID via Fabricator 1 to Fabricator via Fabricator which does show the correct dropdown list when clicked upon in the actual screen, but if you select any of the options it does not show up as anything when the list is closed.

Hi Matt,

Not sure what exactly is causing that to happen. I created three Fabricator fields as well, the first two pull from the FullName field of the Customer table, where as the third field pulls from the RecordID field. When I edit the first two fields (Fabricator and Fabricator2) on my custom screen the Select Field option on Step 4 of 6: Dropdown Choices shows Fabricator via Fabricator and Fabricator2 via Fabricator2, respectively. However, when I edit the third field (Fabricator3), which is the one that pulls from the RecordID field, I see RecordID via Fabricator3.

Have you already regenerated the tables as suggested? And did that help at all? Try creating an additional field to see if the same thing happens. It may be worth to speak with a Consultant regarding this matter, even if for only 1 hour. If we find that this is an actual Method bug then you won't be charged for the consulting time, but if it's found to be a problem with the work you performed or something which you are doing then that will be considered a chargeable fee.

Let me know if you would be interested in having one of our in-house Consultants look into this and I'll get the ball rolling.

- Ashur

I tried that and now the problems start occurring when I add the third dropdown field when all three are pulling from the Record ID field. Since this is in the editing stages before any large number of entries have been linked and what not I just ended up creating dropdown objects that then push the selection choice to a text field. While it may not look as clean, it has no problems whatsoever. If problems pop up again with dropdowns once everything has been input I will definitely contact your consultants. I do have another question though, that several people have had a problem with on this forum ,and I have posted about it before too. When a customer is deleted in method but will not disappear, it is because quickbooks still has a record of it right? What then could cause the data to not disappear in method once the customer has been deleted from quickbooks and then a sync was made to method?

Also (not trying to be a bother with all of this) is there a way to restore a customer (a different one than the one asked about above) if it has been deleted from method but not from quickbooks so it is still visible now in method but it cannot be editted etc?

That's a good question. If a customer record is deleted from QuickBooks but still appears in Method after a sync then either it is a different record than the one that was deleted, or the unique identifier (ListID) no longer matches with the one stored in Method. Other than that I haven't seen records not sync to Method from QB. However our dev team will most likely be able to resolve a scenario like this.

Just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly, you want to know how to un-delete the customer from Method if the record still exists in QB, however you don't want the record to be editable in Method? If the record was deleted in Method, it will be deleted in QB once the sync occurs. The only potential way around this is if you ensure the Sync Engine is disconnected then give us a call to let us know the situation, as our dev's may be able to restore the record in Method since it's not officially deleted yet, however if this is an option then you would most likely be charged a consulting fee. In regard to making a record unedittable, this can't be done. But you can customize the CRM_EditCustomer screen and make the fields read-only, however this will affect all records you access on those screens. Hope this helps!

- Ashur