Make a Field Conditionally Required

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Overview

This article provides instructions for making a field conditionally required. The example that follows makes a field conditionally required when a ticket is being closed. However, the concept of this customization could be expanded to make a field required only if the condition has been fulfilled.

Procedures

Step 1. Create the script

A script is created as an .spl file and placed in the $NX_ROOT/site/mods/majic directory. When the Service Desk service starts, the contents of the majic directory are processed and cached. You can use any naming scheme you like for your .spl file, but it is recommended that the file be preceded with a 'z' for easy identification as a custom file (eg zMyCompany.spl, zcr_scripts.spl, zMyScripts.spl).

<source lang="javascript">// Use 'cr' for Requests, Incidents & Problems, 'chg' for Changes, and 'iss' for Issues cr::zmyscript(...) { string zmsg; // Enter an if statement, the string1 value should be replaced with the field you want required, for example "impact" for a change order if(is_null(string1)) { // Enter an alert message that appears when the if statement is fulfilled zmsg=format(" string1 is required in order to close this ticket"); set_error(1); set_return_data(zmsg); return; } }</source>

Step 2. Create the trigger

This step is to create the trigger that will initiate the script. The methods used to implement the trigger vary based on the Service Desk release.

For r11.x releases triggers are created via the Schema Designer utility. Simply add the following code as a Site-Defined Trigger to the cr (Request), chg (Change Order), or iss (Issue) table.

PRE_VALIDATE zmyscript() 111 FILTER(active==0);

For older releases triggers are made by creating a .mod file and placing it in the $NX_ROOT/site/mods/majic directory. Name the .mod anything you like, but it is recommended that it be preceded with a 'z'.

<source lang="javascript">// Use OBJECT cr for Requests, Incidents & Problems // Use OBJECT chg for Change Orders // Use OBJECT iss for Issues OBJECT cr {

 TRIGGERS {
   PRE_VALIDATE zmyscript() 111 FILTER(active==0);
 };

};</source>

Step 3. Publish the Schema changes

The methods used to publish schema changes vary based on the Service Desk release.

For r11.x releases, follow these steps:

1. Save your Schema changes
2. Stop the Service Desk service
3. Run pdm_publish from a command line
4. Start the Service Desk service

For older release recycle the Service Desk service.