Method Community

How do we customize the search window?  We used to sort by Customer Type in the old Method version but our customization is gone with the new version.

I have no idea how to customize anything with the new version since the "customize" screen is gone.  But even when I go into the old "customize" screen, I don't see a screen listed as "search".  It used to be called Advanced Search, but I don't see that either.  

Under the old customize screen, I found the new search window titled "CRM_Search_CustomerList.  I edited this to show the "Customer Type" field, but it shows up as a text box instead of a dropdown box filled with the correct entries for customer type.  How do I change this from a text box to a dropdown box?

pdirect-

The CRM_Search_CustomerList is based on the Contacts table and the CustomerType field is linked in from the Entity table, which is why it shows up as a text field and not a drop down.

If you want to filter the grid by CustomerType you will have to add a drop down object and point it to the CustomerType table and then change the filter on the grid to include CustomerType.

-Michael

Sheesh! Something that should be so simple . . . again is not.  Method's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. 

I understand db tables, but I have no idea how to do this in Method and I have no way of finding out either.  It shouldn't be this hard!  People want customization, but not if it's this difficult to do and then redo every time there is an update.

pdirect-

In this instance you don't really need to understand db tables.

When you drag an unbound drop down to a screen and edit it, it lets you select which table to use to populate the drop down(In this case you want the CustomerType table and want to use the FullName field) and when you edit the grid just take a look at the existing filters and copy how the other fields are set up with CustomerType.

-Michael

I only wish it was as easy as you make it sound.  When I click on the "edit" button for the customer type field, there are 4 steps available and none of them have anything to do with linking the field to a certain table.  So that must mean there is another step I need to take to link a table to this field . . . another step that is not intuitive.

I see now what you mean by unbound object, but again, this is not intuitive.  It would make more sense to drag the Customer Type field onto the grid. 

And there aren't any step by step instructions anywhere (that I know of) for things like this.  It's up to us to mess around with it long enough to figure it out. 

I THOUGHT I was done after adding the unbound object, but now it won't actually filter based on this field . . . it just displays the list.

Do you have instructions on how I can make this customer type field actually filter the data?

pdirect-

You will need to edit the grid and go to Step 3 of 9, here you can set the filter, which should be CustomerType contains Screen.CustomerType.

You will need to add this for all the filter views.

-Michael

I tried that already, but now there are no results shown at all no matter what view I'm in and no matter what filter selection I make. And the filter says it's a "text" field instead of a "dropdown".

pdirect-

The CustomerType field is a text field(Linked) within the Contacts table as previously mentioned. I quickly tested this out and it seems to work fine. At this point i'm going to suggest going with paid consulting if you are still stuck.

-Michael

Amazing! Method will toute itself as being customizable, but then it's so difficult to customize I can't even do something basic like add one field . . . and so I need to pay for more consulting!  This reminds me of the days of DOS on PC's.  Sure, you can customize your computer if you memorized a bunch of crazy commands. 

Instead, you should be offering step by step instructions, like most applications provide, that shows me how to do this.  For example, I don't know what options you chose when you setup your filter. 

pdirect,

The purpose of this forum is to help to guide you in the right direction (which Michael has in this post) not to provide step-by-step instructions on how to customize something specific to your company.  This allows us to keep this as a free resource for all Method users.  It would be impossible for us to provide the exact steps for every scenario since each one can be different based on each users requirements.  If someone needs this sort of help, we are here for that but that's what consulting is.

We know that you would like this to be a standard feature but it’s not a field we have selected as a standard field for the search screen.  However, you have the ability to add this yourself by customizing it.  Keep in mind that this feature is something you may really need but we have to make the call as to if this is a feature that should be added to all accounts.  

Danny, did you have to lock the lower part of the thread because you don't want me to reply any more?  I'm not asking for step-by-step instructions in the forum, I'm asking for step by step instructions outside the forum . . . i.e. in a knowledge base or manual.  I'm also asking for customizations to be made a LOT easier!

And BTW, when you're defending, you're not listening to your customers.