Value Sets are used throughout the system to display drop down list values for selection, these values can be changed to better suit your organisations local Contract descriptions and management processes.


Navigate to: Configuration > Configuration > Define Value Sets


Fig 1 - Value Sets



Each folder can contain relative field values, clicking on an arrow will open the folder and show each value currently available for selection.


These values can be added to, renamed or deleted by using the right click of your mouse which will display a list of options.


Fig 2 - Right click options


If you have multiple values to add to a list you can enter them as a group by selecting the option of 'Import Values' here a pop text box will appear, add your values to the box each unique values should be on a new line (you can cut and paste from another sheet into this box), once entered press [Import] and all your values will appear in the list.


Fig 3 - Import Values


You can also delete multiple values assigned to a Value set by using the checkbox's next to each value.  Select the values you wish to remove and click the [Delete] button.


I

Fig 4 - Deleting multiple values


If you delete a top level value is a hierarchy structure (see below) then all values below that level will also be deleted.


Hierarchy Value Sets

There are three fields within the solution that will allow you to create a hierarchy structure, Contract Type, Contract Category and Organisational Units.  By creating a hierarchy structure it enables you to accurately point to an exact match based upon your organisations structure or terminology  this can also aid in either generic or specific filtering and reporting.  


In the Example in Fig 1 you have Contract Type values of:

  • Customer
  • Other
  • Supplier


Within the Parent value of 'Customer' you have child records of:

  • Maintenance Service
  • Product
  • Professional service
  • Service
  • Subscription
  • Support Service
  • Warranty


This means that you can identify a Contract Type as 'Customer > Maintenance Service', by identifying the value this way it means that you can filter and report on the higher generic value of 'Customer' Contracts or your can be more specific and filter and report on the your specific 'Customer > Maintenance Service' Contracts.


To create hierarchical values you simply click on the value above right click to 'Create New Value' 

Your selected value will change into a Parent value and you can name your new Child record - there are no limits to how many parent and child values that you can create..


Fig 5 - Adding a Child value


There are additional controls for each of these three fields to either allow or prevent a User from selecting a Parent value within a record, so for the above you might want to prevent your Users from selecting the generic value of 'Supplier' and force them to choose a relative Supplier > 'child value' from your structure.  The controls for each field are separate and are maintained in the Account Configuration screen. 


Note: You cannot use the 'Import Values' option to load values that have a hierarchy value, i.e Supplier/Construction/Building Materials you must enter each level one by one and then add values to each value using this option if you wish.


Custom Value Sets

To accurately capture relevant information for your organisation, instead of just using a free text field that could cause issues with typos then you can create your own Custom Value Set with a unique set of values to select from.  At the bottom of the Value Sets page there is a option of 'Custom Value Sets', here you can create you own list of values ready to be used when creating your own Custom Value Set field. 


Highlight the 'Custom Value Sets' option and right click and select the 'Create new Value Set' option, this will create your new folder and then as before add Child values until you have created them all.  Once there are created they will be available for you select when creating a new Custom Value Set field, please refer to this article all about Creating Custom Fields.


Fig 6 - Custom Value Sets


Fig 7 - Custom Value Set field


TIP - You can create a Custom Value Set that has a hierarchy structure - create as detailed above

Editing and Deleting Values

If you have used a value on a record i.e. a specific Contract Type and then try to delete this value from the Value Set the system will stop you.  An error message will appear detailing why the value cannot be deleted and also detail the records that are using the value.


Fig 8 - Deleting a value


You will need to first remove the value from any record that has that value selected i.e. select an alternative, either manually or by using the Bulk Update feature, once all records are updated then the value can be successfully deleted.


If you rename a value, then this updated name will appear on all records where it has been selected i.e. change a Contract Type value from 'Energy & Utilities' to 'Energy' any Contract record that has previously been assigned the Type of 'Energy & Utilities' will now show as 'Energy'.


Defaults for Value Sets 

You may wish to set a default for a Value Set field, this is especially useful for 'Yes' 'No' values but can be applied to all the Value Sets in the screen, highlight the value you wish to set as a default and then right click - there will be an option to 'Set as Default', when selected the value will be displayed as such and the value will always default into the field.


Fig 9 - Setting a Default


If you wish to remove or choose an alternative value as the default, you can either right click on the default value and there will be an option to 'Unset Default Value' or select the new default value and right click, choose the 'Set as Default value' and the default setting will be removed from the old and applied to the new value.




Admins editing Value Sets


If you are an Administrator than rather then editing your Value set data via the Configuration screen you have the ability to adjust some of these values whilst within a form.


If you click on certain drop down lists you may see an option to 'Edit Values':


Fig 10 Edit values within forms


Once selected, a pop up will appear listing all your existing values, right click on a value and you will have various options:


  • Create New Value
  • Import Values
  • Delete
  • Archive 
  • Rename


Adjust the values as detailed above, validation will occur when trying to delete a value if it is already used in another record as mentioned above.


Fig 11 - Adjusting value set options


The ability to edit values will only be available for certain drop down fields, system drop down values for example Status and Currency will not have the option for edit, as it does not have the option to edit in the normal Value Set field.

Select All / Delete All option


Multi-select pickers will have extra options at the bottom of the picker, these options are for User to be able to:


  • Select All will populate all the drop down list values int he field rather than selecting one by one.  
  • D All option will remove all selected values from the field.


Fig 12 - Select all / Remove all options