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Duplicate fields

When are you going to update the software to allow duplicating field.  I have used my database apps and they all have this very basic ability.  It’s a huge omission from your software.  

11 replies

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    • Mel_Charles
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Adrian this is the user forum - you might be better to direct email Ninox support to ask this question

    • Lars
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Adrian,

    can you give me an example of a use case? I don't understand what should be achieved with this feature.

    • adrianlavery
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I need the same field duplicated many times with a look attached.  These fields would have the file title of dates and each duplicated field would be a week apart.  I don't want to have to recreate the same field over and over with the same parameters and the same look attached.  It would be much easier to duplicate the field and just change the field name.  Hope this makes sense.

      • Lars
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      adrianlavery I think i understand what you mean. I struggled with the same issue when I started with databases. If you come from programming, then you have to re-think things for databases.

      Have you already tried not to make it a field that needs duplication? Instead, create a new table with the properties of the field (and probably some more) and reference it from the current table? That way you can create as many elements as you want. If you give me a (simplified) example, I might be able to propose a database-way to solve this.

    • Mel_Charles
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Lars - I think Adrian is simply referring to when in design mode in Access/Filemaker/Dataease etc once you have defined a field property ie an address field (text) and added a few attributes for field style ie the field length- data type, style etc. Then you can simply copy that newly created field (with its attributes) and rename it to say Address2. Thus you are to build up the form design stage of the app quite quickly.

    Have to admit, I used Access and Dataease for some 20 years and this feature was always there!

    Maybe one day Ninox! please - if you are listening!) 

    • Lars
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Thanks Charles - now I understand. It's about the creation of a table ... not creation of content

    • zenmom
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I was just looking for this myself.

    [Semi-new at Ninox, using the local stand-alone version on a MacBook Pro, MacOS Monterey v12.3.]

    Here's my case: I'm working on a database to contain info about plants in my garden. I've got the "plant info" table selected. When I click on the "plus" sign for a new record, or one of the table's existing records (a line in the table), the form slides out from the right. 

    The dimensions of the plant ("height min", "height max", "width min", "width max") can be expressed as inches or feet. So I created two fields, "meas unit_1" and "meas unit_2", to contain the values "inches" or "feet". Then I created a formula field "f meas unit_1" that references the "meas unit_1" value. Works like a charm! And if I change my mind about whether I want to express plant dimensions in inches or feet, I only have to change it in one field, and the formula field that refs that will change also. 

    Here's the wrinkle: I've got more than one place on the form where I want  the word "inches" (or "feet") to show up. I thought I could just duplicate the function field and insert it everywhere I want to see "inches", but apparently I can't do that.

    I'm pretty sure Ninox wouldn't like it if I tried to create a bunch of formula fields that all have the same name. And if I have to create as many different formula fields as places where I want to display the value "inches", I might as well just have as many different text fields as I need, and type "inches" manually in each one.

    I'm currently out of ideas on this. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! 

    Marcia Morrison
    in Salem, Massachusetts

    • Rob
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, I'm in the same boat. I love using Ninox to generate small Apps for the office but they require design consistency for our users and needing to re-format every new field that I add can be a very time consuming process especially when I have so many common items. My headers, for example, use the same background colour, border set up and have hide and show buttons located with them. To have the option to copy and paste them would speed up my creation time dramatically. In the long term, I would love to see some form of user defined field options that could be selected form a pallet and added to any new table. Additionally, a field mechanics mass update option would be very useful. Sorry, adding a lot of items from my wish list :-)

    • Alan_Cooke.1
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    Format Painter - job done - how about it Ninox :-)

    • Mel_Charles
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    Strange thing is that in all the DB builder software I have used since early 1990's - they have all had save template fields/format save 'design/style ' options.

    and guess what we are in 2022 !!!

    • fmedeiros
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    adrianlavery See if this helps to solve your problem https://forum.ninox.com/t/x2hbnsg/dynamic-choice-fields

Content aside

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