Forms: Dependent List Box Group for Repeating Attribute?

I'd like to create a group of dependent values for a repeating attribute. I don't want three different distinct attributes but a single attribute that is composed of three values that are chosen independently.

Value A, B, and C would all come from a registered table that would look something like this:

Table A

ID	Value
1	General
2	Other

...

Table B

ID	Parent ID(FK)	Value
1	1	Materials (General->Materials)
2	1	Test (General->Test)

...

Table C

ID	Parent ID(FK)	Header 3
1	2	Value 1 (General->Test->Value1)
2	1	Value 2 (General->Materials->Value 2)

...

The first dropdown would be populated directly from Table A

The second dropdown would be populated by querying Table B where Table B.PARENT_ID = Table A.ID

The third dropdown would be populated by querying Table C where Table C.PARENT_ID = Table B.ID

I'm just doing this database modeling off the top of my head so please just overlook any inaccuracies or lack of optimal design. I'll work that out later to be sure. Just as long as you get the idea. I'm just trying to do a proof of concept so I need to know if I'm headed in the right direction.

Is this possible? Am I making more work for myself than I need to or am I just completly off-base? Suggestions, comments.

-Mark

Find more posts tagged with

Note:

If there are Accepted Answers, those will be shown by default. You can switch to 'All Replies' by selecting the tab below.

Accepted answers

parasj

One possibility is to accomplish this in two steps

Step 1: have 3 separate drop-downs, each using a DQL data source adaptor to populate its values. You could also link the 3 drop-down lists so that the values shown in the 2nd drop-down depend on the value selected in the 1st drop-down and similarly for drop-down list 3.

Step 2: Use a post-processor adaptor on the form to read the selected values from these 3 drop-downs and update the repeating attribute

hope this helps

All comments

lastnitescurry

I presume standard Documentum Value Assistance configuration works for Forms Builder. That being the case you would want

SELECT DISTINCT cat1 FROM dm_dbo.your_cats ORDER BY 1

NOTE: Rather than have DISTINCT and ORDER BY in the SELECT, wrap the table into a view

SELECT DISTINCT cat2 FROM dm_dbo..your_cats WHERE cat1 = '$value(cat1)' ORDER BY 1

SELECT DISTINCT cat3 FROM dm_dbo..your_cats WHERE cat1 = '$value(cat1)' AND cat2 = '$value(cat2)'ORDER BY 1

fainemr

Thanks for the reply. The information is helpful but I was really asking if such a grouping is possible with forms. Specifically, the use of multiple value assistance-driven controls to create a composite value for a repeating attribute.

parasj

One possibility is to accomplish this in two steps

Step 2: Use a post-processor adaptor on the form to read the selected values from these 3 drop-downs and update the repeating attribute

hope this helps