addedValues Plugin

Variables: Behaviour

Does the value of the field need to be constrained in any manner so that editors cannot make input errors. These questions are parameters that will be defined by selecting a variable and then clicking on the EDIT button; it is suggested that you edit many variables simultaneously to complete the work faster.

• have a maximum length
• if it is an integer, how many digits can it have
• there are also checks that can be carried out on such things as eMail addresses or URLs
• some characteristics have very specific uses. identifier, for example, is useful when calling up the variable in a macro; see the detailed manual & references for documentation on these.

However if you are importing large files of data and wish to validate that imported data comply to a given list, do the following:

1. create a global value, say for a list of country codes
   • in defining the value, make sure it is a type string and applies to globals, then make the attribute 'Pre-defined Values' to be True by clicking in its radio button, then enter in your value list by clicking on 'Edit Predefined'
   • if this value is to be indexed, select Index 'as one string'. You'll save system resources...
2. Then for you take the value against which you will compare the value of the global select the attribute 'Value must be...' and in the dropbox menu you will find an entry for "value of global [nameOfGlobalValueYouDefined]".

Values can have default values so that they may appear on the input forms, as they could have multiple values. A word of caution... multiple values here means that the object can have many attributes of that variable - the Pope can be called John & Paul. But if you're associating a monument within a city - the genuine Eiffel tower is only in Paris - then 'monument' is not a variable with multiple 'city' values. Note: addedValues will however allow you to search with multiple criteria - the monuments of London, Paris & Rome that measure more than 50 meters in height - but that is a function seen in forms.

Pre-defined values limits the list of possible entries (useful for creating dropbox menus..)

Variables can also be assigned to the hierarchy of who can edit the material. Hint: if you have a variable whose listing will be dropbox limited, but you only want a managing editor to change it, create a global variable with the listing and it being modifiable only by an ME (list_myVariable), then the variable itself, whose value must be 'Value of global list_myVariable) which can be editable by anyone. That way anyone can only pick from a constrained listing.