Data Sources

Use the Data Sources feature to upload data to put values in form fields. 

There are two kinds of data sources:

1. A data source is a Microsoft Excel or comma separated value (CSV) file containing the data that appear as values in Data List  field types on a form/work item.

2. System data sources are data from other parts of the system (they are not uploaded) that are available to be loaded into forms, as above. These data sources are maintained in their original locations so they do not need to be uploaded like the files above. Examples include:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

   System Data Source	Location in System
   Facility	Facility Types
   Folders	Folders
   Groups	Groups
   Group/User	See Groups and Users
   Locator Company Name	Contractors
   Registration Codes	Registration Code Summary
   Users	Users

                                                               

    

Using Data Sources

There are three ways to use data sources:

1. One field: The data from the data source (file or form/app) supplies the values in one field 
2. Multiple fields: The data from the data source (file or form/app) supplies the values in multiple fields (Use the Data List field with  Text or Number field type)
3. Multiple fields (cascading list): The data from the data source (file or form/app) supplies the values in multiple fields, so that the user's choice  in the first field determines the values in the next field. In this option, the data flows or "cascades" from field to field based on the user's choice in each field (the term "cascade" does not appear in the system). Cascading lists use a Data List field with the  Multiple Choice field type. For details, see Cascading Lists. There are three ways to use cascading lists:
   1. The fields in the cascading list are in one form
   2. The fields in the  cascading list are in a component which is put into many forms
   3. The fields in the cascading list cascade from a parent form to a child form. To do this, the parent form must contain at least the first field  and the child form must contain a text field linked to the field in the parent form so that the value chosen in the parent form's field is pulled into the child text field.