Conditionally change field behavior or make invisible

[hal9000]

Hi,

I have a field that I only want to allow data entry into if it is empty. Is this possible? If so, what is the best way?

Hal

[bcooney]

I suppose you could create a field level access priv restriction. Or, you could have an Edit button next to the field (the field's behavior has Browse mode unchecked). The Edit button could check priv set (admin only, for example) or show some sort of dialog, then popup an edit layout.

What's the real-life scenario?

[mogg851]

If it's one field I would agree that the button is the way to go. I have the button point to a script that runs as admin and the users have no edit access to that field. Script reads as follows:

If [isEmpty ( Table::Field)]

Show Custom Dialog ["Title"; "Please enter text for field:"; Table::Field

Commit records/Requests [No dialog]

End If

My problem is that I now have 30 some fields on a single layout that need to be able to be changed if it is empty, but not changed if someone has already put in data. All fields are text fields. I'm really disappointed they don't have an "edit once" option for a field.

As far as I can tell the field lvl access privileges are Modify, view only, or no access, there is no custom restrictions. I implemented something similar where there was a lock button/script that would only change the value of a lock field. Edit privileges checked against that field, but it effects the entire layout, not individual fields. In this case I have about 100 fields and only half need to be protected.

There must be a better way to do this. Anyone have better ideas?