Hard Code Value List or Lookup Table

[consultgal]

What types of things should I take into account when deciding between hard coding the values for a value list versus creating an actual table that holds the values that I want to populate the value list with?

What are the performace issues?

Also, how will one choice over the other effect my ability to sort in particular orders based on the contents of the field?

I'm on 5.5 if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

[Ender]

If it's just a small list of values (maybe 10 or fewer) and they don't change much, it's easier to use a custom value list. If there's a lot of values, they change periodically, or are in fact records in another file anyway, then it's best to use a value list based on a related file's field.

Also, if you think you might want to filter the values to show different choices based on some criteria in the current record, then a conditional value list based on a related file is the only way to go.

One consideration is that the values in a value list based on a field are sorted alphabetically. This can be good or bad, depending on what you're looking for.

As for performance, I think that value lists based on a related field tend to be slower, especially in versions prior to 7, but this shouldn't be the main consideration (if your list is so big that performance is an issue, it would be too big for a custom value list anyway. In this case a selection portal is a better choice.)

[Johnny5]

Is there any way to keep the original sort order of related records for a value list?

I do not want to create a custom value list because I want to give the ability to their superuser to change value lists but not through the define value lists menu.

So if I create a table with the values and enter them in a specifc order and then use that a the value list, it of course comes up sorted alphabetically now.

I want

Dog

Cat

Bird

and it comes out as

Bird

Cat

Dog

I thought about using an ID for each and define the value list by 2 fields sorted on the first, but then the Id will become the key and I do not want it to be they key value. I want the actual text to be it.

Any work arounds?

Thanks

[Johnny5]

bump. anyone?

[bdonelson]

I have the same problem with the sorting.

The only way that I know of to establish your own sort-order is with a value list. It would be useful to have sorting options when it is based on a existing field.