Background

Dropdown types define the customized drop-down lists used by Aspen Workflow.  Some Dropdown types are pre-defined, such as Prefix. Others can be created as required.  Each table in Aspen Workflow has 10 user-customized fields, internally called Flag0 - Flag9.  Dropdown types (and their corresponding drop-down options) customize the presentation and control data entry for each of these fields.

Names vs. Lables

By default, each Aspen Workflow insert and update page does not display Flag0 - Flag9.  These fields are hidden, and thus not available for data entry by the user.  Each time an insert or update page is rendered, Aspen Workflow looks for a matching Dropdown type.  Matching Dropdown types are named as follows:  <tableName>Flag[n].  For example, "MatterContactFlag0" would control the data entry for the Flag0 field of the MatterContact table.

The Description field of the Dropdown Type is used as a label for the end user.  In the example above, entering "Defendant" as the description of the MatterContactFlag0 field would cause a "Defendant" label to be displayed to the left of the Flag0 field on the matterContactInsert.asp and matterContactUpdate.asp pages.

Data Entry

Creating a Dropdown Type enables data entry for a table flag field.  Dropdown Options determine the allowed data for the field, as follows:

[FrontPage Save Results Component]

Examples

Step 1:  For the MatterContact table, define a Dropdown Type called MatterContactFlag0, and enter "Defendant" as the description.  This will enable users to enter information into the Flag0 field of the MatterContact table.  No Dropdown Options for this Dropdown Type have been created, so users will see the following:

Defendant:

Step 2:  After creating the MatterContactFlag0 Dropdown Type, search for it, open it, view a list of the Dropdown Options for this Dropdown Type.  Add a Dropdown Option called "Lien-Senior", with a label "Senior Lien Holder".  At this point, the user will see the following:

Defendant:

If a user checks the box and inserts (or saves) the page, Flag0 of this record will updated with 'Lien-Senior'.

Step 3:  Add two more Dropdown Options to this MatterContactFlag0 Dropdown Type, as follows: "Lien-Junior" labeled "Junior Lien Holder", and "Interested Party" labeled "Interested Party".  At this point, the user will see the following:

Defendant:

Note that:

  1. the 'None' option is automatically generated,
  2. the dropdown list options are displayed in alphabetic order, and
  3. the label can, but do not have to be, different from the values stored in this flag field.

 

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