Adding Filter Values List Item Actions

You can create a Filter Values List action that limits the items available in a Values List field. For example, if a Values List field contains these values by default: Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Blue, you can create a Filter Values List action that excludes Orange and Blue and displays only the Red, Green, and Yellow values.

If multiple Filter Values List actions target the same field within in the same rule, they have a cumulative effect. For example, if the example Filter Values List described above is executed, and then an additional Filter Values List action is executed that displays only Blue, the field displays the Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue values. However, if the Filter Values List actions are not in the same rule, the system only executes the Filter Values List action that is highest in the rule order.

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Guidelines for using this action type

  • A calculated field cannot be the target of a Filter Values List Items action. If a Filter Values List Items action is defined and the target values list field is later changed to a calculated field, Archer deletes the Filter Values List Items action.
  • If a child value in a hierarchical values list is selected in a Filter Values List Items action and the parent value is not, the parent value is displayed after the action is executed but is not available for selection.
  • If a values list field is the target of a Filter Values List Items action and is deleted, the Filter Values List Items action is also deleted.
  • If a value list value is selected in a Filter Values List Items action and is deleted, that value is removed from the Filter Values List Items action. If that value is the only value selected in the action, the field is also deleted from the Filter Values List Items action.
  • If a values list has an existing selection that is not in the filtered subset of values for the Filter Values List Items action, the existing selection is removed when the Filter Values List Items action executes.

  • For example, if a Values List field is currently set to Green, and the Filter Values List Items action filters the list to Red and Blue, Green is replaced by Red and Blue, making them the only values available for selection.

  • The Combined Values List filtering option on the Layout Properties panel allows Filter Values List Items actions that target the same field in different rules to have a cumulative effect.

  • Example: Combined Values List filtering The following table provides an example of combined values list filters. Scenario Field C is a values list with available values of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue. Field C currently is set to Orange. Action 1 is a Filter Values List Items action that filters the list to Red. Action 1 is linked to Rule 1. Action 2 is a Filter Values List Items action that filters the list to Orange. Action 2 is linked to Rule 2. Action 3 is a Filter Values List Items action that filters the list to Yellow. Action 3 is linked to Rule 3. The Combined Values List filtering option is selected. Result When all three rules are true at the same time, the following occurs in this order: When Rule 1 is true, the list is filtered to Red being available for selection, and the current value of Orange is not selected.When Rule 2 is also true, the list is filtered to Red and Orange being available for selection, and the current value of Orange is selected.When Rule 3 is also true, the list is filtered to Red, Orange, and Yellow, making these values available for selection. As an end result, the values Red, Orange, and Yellow are available values for selection and the current selection (Orange) remains selected.

See Conflict Resolution for DDE Actions for information about remediating ACL conflicts.

Add a filter values list action

  1. In your application or questionnaire, select your layout.
  2. Click the Designer tab, and then click the Actions tab.
  3. In the General Information section, select the action type and enter a name.
  4. In the Values List Filter section, from the Field list, select the values list field that you want the action to set.
  5. In the Available Value(s) field, click to select the values that you want to make available for selection in the filtered list.
  6. In the Associated Rules section, click to select, create, or copy a rule.
  7. Click to save your changes.