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Dynamic Data Sets

Dynamic data sets are a way of narrowing the number of choices a user can make on a form field. By narrowing a user’s choices, they can enter data faster and more efficiently. You can also use dynamic data sets as a way of eliminating fields that are not necessary for specific situations. For example, instead of asking a user to choose one city among hundreds in a list, you can narrow the list of cities by state. Or, instead of asking the user to fill in every field in a form, you can “disable” those fields that are not necessary.

Dynamic data sets are governed by a master element (field) that dictates what some fields in the set will show and how others will behave. Data sets are considered “dynamic” because the values of the elements in the set change, depending on what the user chooses in the master element field. For example, on a form that requires a state and city designation, the list of cities changes, depending on the state the user chooses. The state and city elements become a dynamic data set, and the master element (state) dictates what cities will appear in the list.

Dynamic data sets work with pull-down lists and radio buttons. In Primavera Unifier, the administrator will populate the pull-down lists, and will also specify the behavior (enabled or disabled) of the fields in the data set.

For example, a form might require both national and international addresses. Some countries or states within a country require a postal code with a mail stop extension; others do not. The country, state, and postal code fields become the dynamic data set. In this dynamic data set, the country is the master element; it dictates which states the user can choose from and whether or not the user must enter a mailstop extension. For this example, the dynamic data sets would appear on a form in Primavera Unifier as shown here:

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Before you create the dynamic data set, be sure you have designed all the data elements you need for the set.

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Data elements (other than the master element) that are part of a dynamic data set cannot contain formulas, or be marked “read-only.”

Dynamic data sets are composed of the following:

Master Element

Controls the content or behavior of the other data elements (fields) in the set.

Value Set

Data elements (fields) whose values will be controlled by the master element. For example, if the master element is “Country,” then a value set might be a pull-down list of states.

Behavior Set

Data elements (fields) whose behavior will be controlled by the master element. These elements will be either required or disabled by the master element. For example, if the master field is an “Attachments” radio button, the behavior set might include “Web files” and “emails,” both of which will be disabled until the user clicks the “Attachments” radio button.

The value set and behavior set are independent of each other. However, the elements you select for a value set cannot be used as part of a behavior set. The master element controls the value of one field(s) and the behavior of another (or others). You must have a master element for a dynamic data set, but you do not need both a value set and a behavior set.

For example, you could use the master element and only a value set to create a country and state/province dynamic set.

Or, you can create a data set using the master element and only a behavior set to show or disable a field.

Using Multiple Dynamic Data Sets

You can include multiple dynamic data sets on a form so long as any single data element is used for only one dynamic data set. Multiple dynamic data sets can use the same master element, but the data elements in the value sets and behavior sets must be different from those in any other dynamic set on the form.

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