Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
Thanks! I like the second selection box approach - it is a lot cleaner than all those active links. I did have to run SUBSTR() on the field. Otherwise, I guess it was bringing in the ID thus causing an Arithmetic error. Thanks again. Alan -Original Message- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Carey Matthew Black Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 4:42 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, I realize you already found a solution... but I had already started this... so .. I will send it anyway. Ok... now that post defines what you are after... :) You need to find the string value (in a string form) so that you can pass the string out to an external integration. ( Sorry, but using a URL to pass data has to be defined as an external integration in my book. Even if the web site is the Mid-tier. Which RKM is not actually the Mid-tier anyways. But that is another fish to fry in a different thread.. :) ) One approach that I have seen people take... Create a second selection field that does not have a difference between the Alias and the Value values for the selection field. That way you keep the two fields in sync at design time and at run time you set the no-alias field with the current value from the Alias field then you can use the no-alias fields value and get the Value string your after. Note: You may have to set the no-alias selection field to a character field too. (But that should just be a few actions in one active link. Another is to go to the DB with Direct SQL. ( It can be done, but I would strongly suggest not going this route.) In the short term it should work. However, Remedy (and now BMC) has never made any promise of not changing the DB at anytime. So what may work now (at the SQL level) may not work after a patch is installed, or a version upgrade is done. Yet another route... is to use the ARS API. I would think that a Filter Plugin should be a very viable way to get at this information with minimal effort... I do note however, that you did not specify what AR Server version your using if it is =7.1 then let me know and I will whip up an example ARF for you for this function. It should be very trivial to implement in the Java API, but I just can not supply a C API plugin for you. ( I am thinking a method like getSelectionValue(String Form, int fieldId, int selection_field_value) Combine that with a Service call from an Active Link and there you go. :) Anyway.. hope some of that helps someone. :) -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 5:05 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: Makes sense. Yes it was in a message action that I was seeing the Alias value being used. So this is for a RKM integration where you push values as URL params. So I need the active link to read in the Value of the selection field so I can pass it as a URL param, not the Alias value. Alan -Original Message- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Carey Matthew Black Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:57 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, I think your confusing yourself a bit but maybe not... Selection fields are just an integer value as far as work flow (Active Links, Filters, and Escalations) are concerned. However, to the user the field shows the Alias String (for the integer) when the user looks at the field and when you echo the fields value in a Message action. So .. maybe you could explain more about what you are trying to do and maybe some suggestion could be made for how to do that? -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: ** I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
Alan, Workflow converts selection field values to numeric anyway, so it really doesn't matter what the text values are. Rick Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:34:09 To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan Alan Blake Knowlysis | Services Manager | Office: 801.224.0002 ext 105 ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
Alan, I think your confusing yourself a bit but maybe not... Selection fields are just an integer value as far as work flow (Active Links, Filters, and Escalations) are concerned. However, to the user the field shows the Alias String (for the integer) when the user looks at the field and when you echo the fields value in a Message action. So .. maybe you could explain more about what you are trying to do and maybe some suggestion could be made for how to do that? -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: ** I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan Alan Blake Knowlysis | Services Manager | Office: 801.224.0002 ext 105 ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
Makes sense. Yes it was in a message action that I was seeing the Alias value being used. So this is for a RKM integration where you push values as URL params. So I need the active link to read in the Value of the selection field so I can pass it as a URL param, not the Alias value. Alan -Original Message- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Carey Matthew Black Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:57 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, I think your confusing yourself a bit but maybe not... Selection fields are just an integer value as far as work flow (Active Links, Filters, and Escalations) are concerned. However, to the user the field shows the Alias String (for the integer) when the user looks at the field and when you echo the fields value in a Message action. So .. maybe you could explain more about what you are trying to do and maybe some suggestion could be made for how to do that? -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: ** I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan Alan Blake Knowlysis | Services Manager | Office: 801.224.0002 ext 105 ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
I basically have gone with the approach of using a hidden temp field that converts the Alias value to the underlying value needed for the URL param. I wanted to make it more dynamic but at least this works (even if it takes 10 active links to do it). _ From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Rick Cook Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:59 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, Workflow converts selection field values to numeric anyway, so it really doesn't matter what the text values are. Rick Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry _ From: Alan Blake Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:34:09 -0700 To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan Alan Blake Knowlysis | Services Manager | Office: 801.224.0002 ext 105 __Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are html___ ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
I know this from the API level. There's even a type that allows query but no admin tool has supported it since its introduction in 5.12. However, I would think that a simple SQL set fields on the data dictionary tables (see the Database Reference Guide) should suffice to get you the value. Also, simple as it may seem, try an assignment (set fields) to an integer field. I bet that works. That should at least remove a few of your ALs! Rick. A point a bit pedantic perhaps. Workflow doesn't convert it. It's actually a client responsibility. The type for an enum (selection field) is integer in the assignment structures. Cheers Ben Chernys Senior Software Architect Software Tool House Inc. Canada / Deutschland / Germany Mobile: +49 171 380 2329GMT + 1 Email:mailto:ben.cher...@softwaretoolhouse.com mailto:ben.cher...@softwaretoolhouse.com Web: http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com/ http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com A free notepad for Diary fields: http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com/downloads/DiaryFieldEditor.htm http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com/downloads/DiaryFieldEditor.htm An ARS API scripting tool used for migrations, integrations, imports, reports, extracts, batch jobs: http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com/products/SthMupd http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com/products/SthMupd http://www.softwaretoolhouse.com _ From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Alan Blake Sent: January 19, 2009 11:26 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? ** I basically have gone with the approach of using a hidden temp field that converts the Alias value to the underlying value needed for the URL param. I wanted to make it more dynamic but at least this works (even if it takes 10 active links to do it). _ From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Rick Cook Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:59 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, Workflow converts selection field values to numeric anyway, so it really doesn't matter what the text values are. Rick Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry _ From: Alan Blake Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:34:09 -0700 To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan Alan Blake Knowlysis | Services Manager | Office: 801.224.0002 ext 105 __Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are html___ __Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are html___ ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value?
Alan, I realize you already found a solution... but I had already started this... so .. I will send it anyway. Ok... now that post defines what you are after... :) You need to find the string value (in a string form) so that you can pass the string out to an external integration. ( Sorry, but using a URL to pass data has to be defined as an external integration in my book. Even if the web site is the Mid-tier. Which RKM is not actually the Mid-tier anyways. But that is another fish to fry in a different thread.. :) ) One approach that I have seen people take... Create a second selection field that does not have a difference between the Alias and the Value values for the selection field. That way you keep the two fields in sync at design time and at run time you set the no-alias field with the current value from the Alias field then you can use the no-alias fields value and get the Value string your after. Note: You may have to set the no-alias selection field to a character field too. (But that should just be a few actions in one active link. Another is to go to the DB with Direct SQL. ( It can be done, but I would strongly suggest not going this route.) In the short term it should work. However, Remedy (and now BMC) has never made any promise of not changing the DB at anytime. So what may work now (at the SQL level) may not work after a patch is installed, or a version upgrade is done. Yet another route... is to use the ARS API. I would think that a Filter Plugin should be a very viable way to get at this information with minimal effort... I do note however, that you did not specify what AR Server version your using if it is =7.1 then let me know and I will whip up an example ARF for you for this function. It should be very trivial to implement in the Java API, but I just can not supply a C API plugin for you. ( I am thinking a method like getSelectionValue(String Form, int fieldId, int selection_field_value) Combine that with a Service call from an Active Link and there you go. :) Anyway.. hope some of that helps someone. :) -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 5:05 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: Makes sense. Yes it was in a message action that I was seeing the Alias value being used. So this is for a RKM integration where you push values as URL params. So I need the active link to read in the Value of the selection field so I can pass it as a URL param, not the Alias value. Alan -Original Message- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arsl...@arslist.org] On Behalf Of Carey Matthew Black Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:57 PM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Selection Field: Value vs. Alias Value? Alan, I think your confusing yourself a bit but maybe not... Selection fields are just an integer value as far as work flow (Active Links, Filters, and Escalations) are concerned. However, to the user the field shows the Alias String (for the integer) when the user looks at the field and when you echo the fields value in a Message action. So .. maybe you could explain more about what you are trying to do and maybe some suggestion could be made for how to do that? -- Carey Matthew Black Remedy Skilled Professional (RSP) ARS = Action Request System(Remedy) Love, then teach Solution = People + Process + Tools Fast, Accurate, Cheap Pick two. On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Alan Blake abl...@knowlysis.com wrote: ** I am trying to create a selection field that has a value different than the alias value. Basically, I want a Label and a Value. I need to use the value in an active link, but when I reference the selection value with $template_type$ it returns the Label and not the value. Is this even an option on a selection field? Thanks. Alan ___ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org Platinum Sponsor: RMI Solutions ARSlist: Where the Answers Are
