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I want to add 6 custom fields to the vendor screen some of which will be free text and some of which will be drop down lists.  Can you walk me through all of the steps I need to take to accomplish this?

For example I want to add a field called "Supplier Classification" to the vendor tab so that every time I create a new vendor or edit an existing vendor I can fill in this field with data.  I want this field to have the drop down results:  Factory, Independent, Franchise, Broker, Certified Indepdendent.   How would I go about doing this step by step?   Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi David, 

We'll focus on your Supplier Classification field. First thing you need to do is to add a dropdown field to your Vendor table. You can do this on the Customize>Tables/Fields tab link. Your Field Type should be Dropdown and then you will probably have to choose the Create a new Table option if your dropdown values (Factory, Independent, etc.) don't exist elsewhere. This new table will hold these values.

Now that the Vendor table has your new field, the second part of this process is adding the field to each screen that you need it on. You'll probably need it on at least your CRM_VendorList screen. Copy and edit this screen to get to the Screen Designer. From the Add Fields tab on the screen designer, you should see your new field (see my screenshot below). You can drag it where ever you like on the screen. Hope this helps!

Jason

Great instructions as always Jason!  Thanks.

I have another question about a potential field I woudl like to add.   I would like to add a field to the vendor table called "Total Orders" and I would like this field to automatically calculate the # of purchase orders that exist for that particular vendor and would constantly update as new orders are created.  Is this possible?  If so, how do I go about doing that?  

David,

This is totally possible. You'll have to decide where you want your actions to be triggered, but for this example we'll say they are in a button on your screen called "Calculate Total Orders". You could use a Retrieve Value from Table action to calculate the Count of records retrieved. Your Where clause might look something like my screenshot below. 

Notice that I placed the count value into a field on the screen, which in this case is your custom Total Orders field. Remember that your calculations and actions must be triggered somewhere, so it won't happen automatically. Instead of creating a button though, you can make the process easier by placing your actions right into the Select grid link that you use to select a vendor on the stock CRM_VendorList screen. Then you only need one click to load and calculate, instead of two!

Jason

Great instructions Jason!  Can you show me instructions for how to place the action into the select grid link?   I dont think I have ever seen the select grid link options before, not even sure where to go to find it.

Also, the next step of my project is this...... I already have 2 fields called "RMA Count" and "Total Orders".  I am going to create a 3rd field called "Vendor Rating" in which I will divide "RMA Count" by "Total Orders" to show a %.  This % is for our use to measure how accurate our vendors are.  

Ideally I would like to add an option to this select grid link so that when we select a vendor the Total Orders field auto calculates and then the "Vendor Rating" auto calculates too.  Can you show me the steps I would have to take in the selelct grid link to accomplish this?   I'm assuming if I put these actions in the select grid link that I can hide the "Calculate Total Orders" button that I just put on the screen as these actions would automatically populate.  Right?

Thanks again for your help

Also for the field "Vendor Rating" that I am going to add in......since the value is going to be a %, what field type would i use?   Decimal and then change the formatting to show it in %?

David,

To edit the Select link actions, edit your grid and click on Actions next to the Select field. See my screenshot below: 

You can use a Basic Math Calculation action in your Select link to calculate the Vendor Rating. You can't format the field to show in percent, but you can change the caption to Vendor Rating Percent, and multiple the result by 100 with another Basic Math Calculation. After you have done your calculations, you'll need a final Enter Value Into Field On Screen action to enter the calculated action result into the Vendor Rating field. If you have all your actions working correctly directly in the Select link, you'll have no need for a button that does the same thing. Just remember that you still have to click the link to trigger them. Hope this helps!

Jason